DADA

Once a stud, always a stud.  Happy Father's day Dad! 

WHEN WE WERE PEANUTS...

Oh, I miss childhood. 

19 + 26

It was both of my brothers birthdays last week.  July babies.  Only just a few days apart except for in different years.  We didn't get to celebrate Tyler's birthday since he's living up in Seattle but we did have a nice chat with him on the phone.  For Trevor's birthday we went out for dinner.  Prime rib!  He was very happy and it was actually a nice family dinner.  I still can't wrap my head around how old we're all getting though.  Tyler turned 26 and Trevor 19.  However, it seems like just a few years ago we were still kids again with the two of them always ganging up on me, or playing copious amounts of Nintendo 64 (Super Smash Brothers was our crack), or riding our bikes/skateboards/scooters around our neighborhood.  As much as I wished I had a sister growing up, I am so grateful to have two brothers.  I may have suffered a lot of bruises growing up from all the horse playing or was always out voted in which TV show we would watch (hence, a lot of Gundam, Dragonball Z, and Pokemon), but at least I always had two people around that I could always play with.  I have nothing against only children (my best friend is one), but seriously having another sibling around growing up is so much fun.  

I'm really glad that my brothers and I will all be living in the same city together soon.  It's been years since we've all lived in the same place together.  Even though we'll all be leading separate, busy lives it's very comforting to know that family is just a short ride away.  I'm hoping that we will grow back to that closeness we shared back when we were kids.  It's been way too long. 

HILO DAYS

I found an old box of photos and discovered these gems from when I used to go to Hilo to visit family friends.  I must have been two here.  I obviously don't remember this particular time because I was too young, but those tidepools  have always been etched vividly in my memory.  I remember going to that same spot when I was a few years older and going fishing and paddling.  Those were some pretty great times I wish I could go back too.  

YOU MAY JUST BE ALRIGHT

My younger brother finally graduated from high school!  His ceremony was way better, I admit, than mines five years earlier.  One thing is for sure, Punahou graduation is unlike any other graduation in the country.  For one, the traditional cap and gown is replaced by suits and muumuus and the ceremonial stage is adorned with aromatic plumeria flowers and ti leaves.  His class was very unique from what I could tell from the speeches I heard, with teachers and students referring to his class as a "potluck" or an "alien culture."  The highlight of the night was when the class broke out into an epic flash mob dance after the diploma handouts.  How they organized it, I have no idea, but I definitely didn't put it pass them after seeing this massive lip dub music video his class also did on school campus.  What a crazy class for sure.  Seeing the strong bond his classmates had made me a bit teary eye.  Oh how I wish I could go back to high school and relive all the wonderful memories and friendships I made.

Also here's a fun fact: My brother's dean of four years was also the dean of  President Barack Obama (seen below) and coincidentally, was my dean my freshman year.  He's retiring now after 43 years of teaching.  How cool is that connection? 

BACCALAUREATE

My little brother had his baccalaureate this past Sunday.  It was like being transformed back five years before when I had mine.  The ceremony was held at the same church down the street from the school.  The students wore the the same graduation attire - boys in crisp suits and ties and girls in long, white muumuus. A farewell address was delivered to the graduating class with speeches from their deans and some of their fellow students.  They sang a few graduation songs and it was just an overall intimate moment for their families to see how far their sons or daughters have come in their high school career.  In a week, my brother will officially graduate after thirteen years at the same school.  I still can't wrap my head around how fast those years went by.  Time sure does fly. 

BAI SAN

 

 

The month of April marks the start of the Ching Ming Festival, a Chinese tradition in which the living pay tribute to their ancestors by visiting their grave sites. Since I could remember, my Popo has always been adamant about paying respect to those before us because she believes our ancestors are the ones watching over us and keeping us safe.  Ever since my Gungung died over ten years ago my Popo insists that she has never gotten sick once.  "He's looking after me," she says and at 88 years old she is still holding up as healthy as ever.  So every April she honors her husband and provides him with offerings to help him in the after world.  This past weekend was my first time participating in the ceremony, also known as Bai San, in over four years.  It was nice to see my entire extensive family come together (which doesn't happen often) to celebrate the life of my Gunggung.  One custom of Bai San is setting a table of my Gunggung's favorite food dishes such as shrimp, noodles, fish, and of course some shots of his favorite whiskey.  Also, a ceremonial fire is lit and gold paper and "Hell money" are burned which function as payment of spiritual debts.  Despite it being a cloudy, spring day there was definitely a warm presence that I (and I'm sure others, too) could feel over us.