Our Google doc calendar--which I KNOW was the bane of everyone's existence!-- said December 23rd would consist of "lunch at Jade Garden, Waikiki Walkabout, J&D at Moana." Here's to bringing those few words to life.
Family lunch at Jade Dynasty. Captured beautifully by our resident emcee Eva Geisinger and her trusty producer and camera (wo)man Maya Terhune. The food was transformative and abundant.
David and Diamond Head. EVERYTHING.
My Waikiki walk with David and Sasha. Totally loving this preview of this next phase of Sasha just being a cool adult chick with whom we get to hang out, dropping wisdom and sharing insights on all things life.
Let It Snow performed by Brandon No'eau Serrano. For me, the marvel was to hear a Christmas song about snow in this magical perfect temperature sunset environment scented with fresh pineapple and Coppertone. For the more musically inclined, they noticed that apparently he was playing a right handed guitar left-handed. Or the other way around, I can't remember. Either way, the experience was everything that is surreal about Waikiki. And Hawaii in general.
Fresh (!!!!) Mai Tais with Moana Surfrider Chef de Cuisine Ed Morris in the background catching up with Chef Raki on all the chismis that comes from the small world that is the restaurant hospitality business on Oahu.
Waikiki sunset. A breath-taking moment where all humans in witness come together as a HIVE in silence and awe, no matter their political affiliations, age, race, wealth (or lack thereof), rank, emotional state, or anything else that separates them from others. We did this one moment together as humans.
Briscoe Ohana starts HERE. No words needed.
Thank you to whoever captured this moment of bliss. I know it was a long journey for you all to wait for me to get here. Thank you for traveling with me. And for "getting it" when you met David. Special nod to Maya and Greg for David's Aloha tee shirt which completes this moment.
Kamuela Kahoana, a descendent of the first provincial governor of Hawaii who inhabited the Moana Surfrider back when it was the governor's mansion. This dude took REQUESTS!!! Including Brittany Spears. But rather than his kickass capture of Toxic, I chose to share his rendition of Mr. Jones. I swear that the Counting Crows album from which this song came, August and Everything After, came out at a pivotal time for so many people in my sphere, including apparently those in the audience, so hearing this comes with a flood of memories and gratitude for the past and what came from it.
Wrapping this up with Christmas colors flashing through the 100 year old banyan tree at the Moana Surfrider, listening to Kahoana's version of Cold Play's Fix You.
How to thank Grommy and Papa for such an amazing day? Impossible. Especially when we consider the 50+ year path of decision-making and partnership that gets us here to this tiny but magical moment under this tree. Just know that we know. At least to the best of our abilities. We know. Maraming salamat po. And mahalo.
Great and poetic words, Jeleen. I'm envious of your striking photo reproduction. Mine from the past are a bit shop-worn and fuzzy. Even the new ones lack the crisp presence of your beautiful post. You've also got the inherited tradition of getting all the necessary names, titles, credits and details for a full-dimensional feel of a great time.💗