A bit of description of your route profile.

Starts with a 450ft descent through my neighborhood, then MUP along Pearl Harbor for a few miles, then bike lanes for the most part until I hit downtown Honolulu where I ride in traffic for a half mile or so. I don't vary the ride up much so the way home is the opposite with that wonderful hill at the end.

What kind of bike you ride.

A Kestrel RT700 with my wife's Cannondale Hybrid as backup.

How you carry your gear and what or how much (volume) stuff you bring on the ride.

I wear a backpack with my lunch, clothes, and patch kit etc.

Distance & time (average speed if you care to share)

12 miles each way and the total way home takes me about 45 minutes. On the way home the first 10 miles are relatively flat and the best average speed I've had for it is 21.7 MPH.

How long you've been doing this and any thoughts you have toward the future of your commuting.
I LOVE commuting and have been doing it on and off since 6th grade and plan to continue doing so until I am an old man.