The title track of an old friend's CD said it all. Home is where
you want to be"I'm Going Home" by Randy Lorenzo jumped out at me while I relearned the limitations of the H-1. Its chorus warmly says:
I've missed those island daysThe former Country Comfort member sings from the soul, and I know what he was talking about. We had spent some cold months together in Portland, Ore., a few years back, but he could've been writing about anyone who's spent time away.
And Hawaiian ways that I know
I miss those smiling faces, beautiful places
Time is being wasted
I'm going home.Ask June Jones.
It's hard to believe the former UH quarterback and assistant coach would give up the top job with the NFL's San Diego Chargers to try and rebuild the country's worst college football team.
But with everyone from corporate titan Doc Buyers to small business owner Genevieve Salmonson cheering his arrival at a Washington Place reception this past Monday, Jones said the words all were starving to hear.
"All of you are the reason I came back here," he opened, conveying a sincerity that had nearly all 400 guests ready to throw a downfield block for the man.
Later, Jones told me that if he were offered a similar package in a similar situation at any other campus in the country, there's no question about the deciding factor.
"It was Hawaii," he said convincingly, about his aloha for his Fantasy Island. "People on the mainland don't understand what I'm talking about.
The reception's host -- who probably wished he'd see such excitement over his good intentions -- laid out the "Welcome" mat and handed over the keys.
"It's such a good feeling to have June Jones come home," said Governor Cayetano.
I know of another guy who returned to Hawaii this year. He had also been in Asia, having worked for the biggest media companies in two countries.
He was at the top of his profession, doing what he liked to do, but not really in the place he wanted to be. So after eight years of hefty expatriate packages and expense accounts, he made the move home with a pregnant wife and no job in hand.
All he first wanted was his baby to be born on island soil, and his feet to walk again on island sand.
He was greeted by, "Eh, why you came back? You can do better over there, ah?" more than once. And many thought he was just in for a long vacation.
But friends saw he was serious when he talked of returning to work. Here. He began making the calls and writing the letters. Few called back. Some never even acknowledged his contact.
"I don't understand," he said to his equally puzzled wife. "I went away and learned things that can help somebody here. I would've hoped to have had some response."
As the year draws to a close, he's had the pleasure of watching his daughter feel the warmth of the afternoon waves splash on her legs. But no job offers are on his table. And anxieties are beginning to creep into family conversations.
But you know what? I'm just glad to be home. And if I had to do it over again, I'd be singing the bridge of Randy's song all the way here:
I'm going home, where the sea and skies are blue
Always follow your heart
And if you go, the stars watch over you
Home is where your heart will follow you.Dalton Tanonaka is a veteran print and broadcast
journalist who's worked in Hong Kong, Japan, the
mainland and Hawaii. He can be reached by
e-mail at tanonaka@aol.com