sunkissed and spoiled

I've only been back 17 hours and I'm already complaining about the weather. After being in Hawaii the last week, this high of 62 degress bulls**t sucks. dammit.

Day 7: Ala Moana and visiting the Youngs

(more to come)

Day 6: Celebrating Grandma Yuri and Horseback Riding

At the northern most point of Kaneohe Bay, the family gathered at Kualoa Regional Park for a small, casual service in honor of Grandma Yuri. Then, as the tide was heading out, we waded out and spread her ashes where Grandpa Manny's were spread here 17 years ago.

It was followed by a small chinese luncheon at Joyful Garden Restaurant we were caught up with relatives we hadn't seen in years.

Since we were on this side of the island already, we enjoyed a 2-hour horseback ride through Kualoa Ranch. Established in 1850, Kualoa is a 4000 acre working cattle ranch, spread from the steep mountain cliffs to the sparkling sea. Located on the northeastern side of Oahu in the Hawaiian countryside, it is less than an hour from Honolulu. The ranch terrain varies from dense rainforest to broad open valleys and from beautiful white sand beaches to awesome verdant cliff faces.

KUALOA NAME: Kualoa means 'long back'; the ranch is full of beautiful valleys and mountain peaks.
There are two major areas of the ranch: the northern half of the ranch including Ka'a'awa Valley which contains most of the movie locations sites, and the southern half that includes Hakipu`u Valley, the 800 year-old Moli'i fishpond, and Secret Island. If the ranch's views look familiar, that's because Kualoa Ranch has been the site of many television shows and Hollywood films such as Jurassic park, Windtalkers, Pearl Harbor, Godzilla, Tears of the Sun and 50 First Dates. TV shows include Hawaii Five-O, Magnun P.I. and most recently the hit show LOST.

Grandma Yuri's Eulogy -- Kualoa Park, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, HI

These things often start with -- Yuri Sasaki Watanabe was born May 3rd, 1920 and passed away last year on July 19th.

Today, rather than focus on the beginning and the end, let's celebrate the in between and how Grandma Yuri touched us all throughout her life and will continue to have an impact on each of us now and into the future.

Grandma Yuri was the second youngest daughter of 7 -- she had 5 sisters and 1 brother. She had only an 9th grade education but supported her family by working at Sears. I would hear stories from her work days of how she would rally the employees, bring food, train the rookies and be sort of an iconic spirit of good deed and togetherness. A loyal workhorse and innate leader, she stayed with Sears for 19 years, a few years short of full retirement, leaving to take care of Manny.

She and Manny moved to the mainland in 1957. I remember afternoons spent at her and grandpa's El Monte home, where many friends and neighbors would pass through. She always had stories to tell and food to give.

In 1990, she moved to northern California to be closer to her daughters and grandchildren. She spoiled us as all, as grandparents do, but you never left without your lesson. "Eat, eat, eat she would say, and finish every grain of rice on your plate...there are starving children somewhere."
Lauren recalls sleeping over at grandmas, spending early mornings going through the garden while grandma attended to her veggies with utmost diligence. Lauren played "insect keeper" while grandma was "gardener". Grandma Yuri's green thumb not only harvested the yummiest of fresh veggies and fruits for breakfast but also snails and caterpillars for Lauren's insect collection.

During the holidays, grandma was in full force. Kelvin remembers her ruling the roost, delegating responsibilities to the grand kids all the while cooking up a storm with dishes chock full of fresh veggies from her garden. And these dishes were so yummy! Megan always looked forward to feasts at grandmas.

It seems that every time I visited, I not only gained 5 pounds but left with leftovers, sometimes char sui or even a bag of manapua to bring back to my college dorm freezer for those breakfasts on the run.

Her love had few bounds and was even blunt. One thanksgiving, the family was gathered in her Stanley road home, sharing the meal. she was the first at the table and always the last to finish eating. Each bite seemed purposeful. She always complained that we all ate too fast; and a half full plate was no good, it should either be full or completely empty. In the same breath, she would again tell you to eat, eat, eat some more, but also tell you that you were too fat.

As she aged, she aged with grace. Head held high, she moved herself closer to family, knew when it was time to give up her drivers license, when to move in literally next door, when to move IN with Auntie Carol, and when in the end, to finally let go. with grace too came pride, she took ownership of every role she played, as attentive next door neighbor, dutiful babysitter, courteous hostess, diligent house guest, loving mother and indulgent grandmother. She felt shame to be a burden to her daughters, who really only saw their reciprocation of care as an extension of thanks for bringing them into this world...it was no burden at all.

I'd like to close with a poem called The Dash by Linda Ellis.

I read of a man who stood to speak

At the funeral of a friend

He referred to the dates on her tombstone

From the beginning to the end

He noted that first came the date of her birth

And spoke the following date with tears,

But he said what mattered most of all

Was the dash between those years

For that dash represents all the time

That she spent alive on earth.

And now only those who loved her

Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own;

The cars, the house, the cash,

What matters is how we live and love

And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard.

Are there things you'd like to change?

For you never know how much time is left,

That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough

To consider what's true and real

And always try to understand

The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,

And show appreciation more

And love the people in our lives

Like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,

And more often wear a smile

Remembering that this special dash

Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read

With your life's actions to rehash

Would you be proud of the things they say

About how you spent your dash?

***

May you walk away today with happiness in your heart, celebrating the life of Grandma Yuri, and like she did, making the most of her dash.

- kimiko nishikawa, granddaughter

Day 5: Ko Olina Ocean Adventures and visiting Auntie Gladys

(more to come)

6:15 am: meet at Ko Olina harbor, register, nibble on donut holes, and choose lunch item for later

6:45 am: board "Passion" boat, receive life jacket and snorkel gear

7:00 am: depart harbor and begin the dophin hunt

"Passion"

8:00 am: dolphin sighting a ways off. Captain Mark turns off the engine to lay low for a bit before proceeding and can't get it restarted. The new electric motor has an auto shut off that needs resetting but it's not cooperating. Eventually, we are resuced by "Maui Explorer" and all 21 of us transfer boats to join an all japanese tourist boat owned by the same tour company. We are one shy of the 48 person coast guard maximum.

"Maui Explorer"

8:30 am: ditch the dolphins and head for the power plant where we are guaranteed the best snorkeling on the island for tropical fish.

9:10 am: move to turtle bay

9:50 am: final reef area

10:45am: head back to the harbor, lunch is waiting

Book tickets direct (rather than thru the concierge) and save: http://www.koolinaoceanadventures.com/index.html

Day 4: Swap Meet and Fia Fia Luau

(more to come)