AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2023 - 62

to the ramp, Rose tells me to look out the window. A
truck keeps pace with us, and a little girl waves out
the window. We all wave back until the road turns
and the truck drives away.
Originally named Mokuleia Airfield when it was
built by the U.S. Army in 1941, the recently embattled
airport was renamed Dillingham Airfield in 1945 for
a B-29 airman killed in action over Japan. Officially
now listed by Hawaii's DOT as Kawaihapai Airfield
(although still Dillingham on FAA publications),
it recently survived a closure threat thanks to
coordinated efforts from local airport supporters
and AOPA advocacy.
After a quick walk around the field, we start up
and depart, offsetting over the ocean before turning
onto a downwind to continue our island tour. Climbing
up with Dillingham behind us, we check out the most
western part of the island, Kaena Point, before turning
down the coast toward Honolulu. The second we
get on the other side of the point, the bumps begin.
" And now we're on the windy side, " says Nikkhoo.
Pineapple fields near the Dole Plantation; on final
approach for historic Dillingham Airfield.
It smooths out once we climb a little more, and the
soon-to-set sun paints the coast in golden light. A
rainbow halos almost all the way around us, and
there's even a hint of a double rainbow for a few
seconds before it dissipates.
" This side of the island is really beautiful, and it's
also super local, " says Nikkhoo, noting that visitors
will likely find a better welcome in the touristic
areas than on the west coast. Nikkhoo points out the
power plant ahead and on the coast that essentially,
he tells us, powers the whole island. At the power
plant we'll also plan to begin our turn inland and back
into Honolulu.
Nikkhoo, who beside being a co-founder of the
side of the island has led us to rain and overcast skies.
Clouds obscure the mountain peaks in the Jurassic
Valley, where they filmed shows like Lost and Hawaii
Five-O, and of course, the movie Jurassic Park.
Turning over the north shore, the terrain turns
from lava rock to farmland. Legendary big waves roll
in beneath us at Banzai Pipeline, Sunset Beach, and
Waimea Bay. In the distance, the 9,000-foot runway
of Dillingham Airfield (PHDH) gleams, and we
set up for a left downwind for Runway 8. A yellow
gyrocopter takes off while we're on downwind, and
the base turn points us right at more verdant cliffs
that make me instinctively want to turn away and
dog-leg the final. Even on this relatively calm day, the
windsock points at an angle across the runway, yet
we touch down smoothly in a left crosswind. Taxiing
flight school is also an airline pilot, is sharp on the
radios, and we get cleared in with ease. Despite
what the chart might lead you to believe-there's an
intimidating " for reasons of national security " request
to avoid flying over Pearl Harbor on the chart-we are
advised to approach the field over Ford Island. When
we ask for even more privileges, to circle Ford Island
for photo work, it's approved, to my surprise.
" It's pretty common, " says Nikkhoo. " And it sounds
really quiet on the radio right now and that's not
common, so maybe it's just perfect timing. "
The white memorials for each ship lost on
December 7, 1941, line the island, and we fly over the
official bookends of United States involvement in
World War II: the USS Arizona, the entry, and just a few
hundred yards away, the USS Missouri, where Hirohito
signed the unconditional surrender. It's somber to
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AOPA PILOT / August 2023
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2023

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