Honolulu: Operation Touchdown – Full Brovider Mode Activated
Every mission starts with Day One, and when you’re running point for a traveling unit (aka family), you don’t ease in—you launch. This was a full-stack travel op: Oakland to Honolulu, burrito-fueled, poke-finished, minivan-acquired. Let’s break it down.
Phase 1: OAK Protocols – Pack Mule Energy
Early dispatch to Oakland Airport (OAK) with the crew. We hit daily parking for the ideal cost-to-walk ratio. Downside? No carts. I was out there hauling bags like a Sherpa with a tech startup pitch deck. Because Broviders carry the weight, metaphorical and literal.
Check-in at Southwest Airlines was seamless. No lines, no drama—just swipe, tag, and roll. Security? Efficient. Energy? High.
Fueling strategy was clear: Cancun Sabor Mexicano in the terminal. We crushed:
One super burrito
One regular
Both chicken. Both hearty. Brovider-grade budget win.
Phase 2: Boarding – Survival of the Fittest
Southwest is a vibes-only airline… until boarding hits. With no assigned seats, it's a battle royale with B-groups. Family boarding (13 and under) is your only safe harbor—so be ready to roll when it’s go time. No lollygagging. No missed stroller tags. You sleep on that, and you're middle-seated across three rows.
📱 Also: Download the Southwest App ahead of time.
🎧 And: Bring headphones for everyone.
No screen time = seatback kickboxing from your mini-Broviders. Broviders preempt turbulence.
Bonus win? The Southwest crew handed out a solid snack spread:
Strawberry Bobo’s
Almonds
Ritz cheese crackers
Not full tactical meal mode, but good enough to sustain the mission.
Phase 3: HNL Touchdown – Minivan Acquisition
Arrived at Honolulu Airport (HNL) and beelined to Budget Car Rental. We locked in a Kia Carnival (aka CRV minivan upgrade). Solid ride. Sliding doors. Maximum Brovider capacity.
Pro tip: Do the pre-check online. Skip the counter, skip the "would you like full or just liability" script. I hit ’em with:
"Neither, thanks. That’s what my credit card and auto insurance are for."
They’ll try to scare you: “You’ll be fully responsible…”
Yeah, no kidding. Broviders know the game.
Also: Decline the pre-fill gas upsell. You’re not paying for convenience. That’s a backend trap. You refuel on the way out like a grown man with a Costco card.
Phase 4: Refueling the Team – Local Style
First stop in Honolulu? Ahi & Vegetable – Dillingham Location. Let’s just say this was a high-trust situation:
Locals posted up with chicken karaage, mandoo, and full poke plates
We locked in ahi poke salads + teriyaki beef for the kids
Bonus: 5pm rolls around and their grab-and-go sushi hits 50% off
Scooped California rolls like a clearance sale at REI. It was a budget feast for the mini-Broviders and a strong start to local immersion.
Day One Debrief:
✅ Daily lot, pack mule vibes
✅ Smooth check-in, snack wins
✅ Secured the family pod
✅ Minivan acquired, upsells denied
✅ Local eats, 50% sushi flex
System initialized.
Because Broviders don’t just arrive—we launch.
Stay tuned for the Next Mission: where we go full aloha and probably get sand in everything we own.