My January streak of solo runs broke on O’ahu last week. I joined runners who gather on Tuesday evening at running store Runner’s Hi in Aiea. Runners meet at the store at 5:30 and run to and around Ford Island in Pearl Harbor on O’ahu.

I was beat from an earlier long run, so when someone said they were walking, I decided to join them.

Ford Island is an active duty military base located within Pearl Harbor. To get on the island you must have identification and unless you are military or retired military you must be accompanied by someone who is.

So with my driver’s license tucked in my shorts pocket, I was accompanied by my retired military walking companion, Alan, as we made our way through security. Walking across the bridge, there was a clear view of the USS Arizona Memorial in the harbor.

During our walk, Alan filled me in on interesting features and the usual path the running group makes in order to get a 7-mile run. We scouted the water for sea turtles but none were showing their heads.

For me tonight, it was a walk across the bridge and a short walk on the island before we made our two-mile turn-around for a total of four miles walking plus a couple miles running to the meetup.

As we jogged a bit on our return from the island, the sun was setting, I could hear Taps wafting across the water.

I hope to join the group another evening for the full seven miles loop. If you happen to be in Hawaii in the Pearl Harbor area and looking for a group run, stop by Runner’s Hi for their Tuesday evening run.