Ephemeral Life...

My Father left Tonight... In a Leap of Faith... Into my Beloved Mother's waiting and Loving Arms... As the Skies poured forth their Deluge... And the Winds of Twilight Caressed his Face... The Blood of Christ Cleansed his Soul... And his simple dying message to the World... Exhaled in the Breath of God... One Love...

To Believe... Or Not to Believe... That has always been the Question... And the Answer...

Another friend in the same wall...

On my walk home today, I made a new friend. He was just hanging out on the corner...

When you stop seeing a stranger's Exterior... And allow yourself to only see their Soul... It becomes so easy to Love them...

Selected scenes from Her Majesty Queen Kapi'olani's 180th Birthday Celebration...

I had just finished visiting my Father. I caressed his head and chest, over and over, held his hands and also caressed his arm, like my Mother used to do to me, or to soothe and put to sleep any fussy infant or child. I talked to him about his Life, recalling certain events, or stories he once shared with me, or achievements of his that I was proud of. He just lay there, teary eyes looking deep into mine. We just looked longingly into each others eyes for quite awhile as I professed what a great Father he was, and how lucky he was to see my Mother, sister Nalani, and other relatives whom I missed very much, soon enough. I didn't know how much he understood, or what he was thinking, but in our silence, I tapped into his Soul as I looked deep into his eyes. I knew his Soul was very much alert, cognizant, and transmitting Love. My Soul talked to his Soul as the words formulated in my Mind.  Then I spoke out loud again, about all kinds of crazy things, whatever popped into my ...

I stopped by Walls in Waikiki to watch the Sun setting this afternoon. The final days of 2014, producing an array of colors that even the eye can't discern, but the camera sensor surely reproduces vividly. I was thinking about Christmas Eve and how I had wanted to share this story, but had come across a photo of homeless Tony and his crooked back, and ended up sharing his story. Now I can share about my Christmas Eve. Work released us early and I stopped by the Honolulu Post Office parking lot to run over to pay my electric bill. I quickly pulled into the only visible stall open and right in front of my car was a disheveled looking man holding a little piece of cardboard. I didn't really look at him, but chuckled to myself, that the only open space in the lot had a gentleman looking for assistance right in front of it. As I dug around my cup holder for quarters to feed the insatiable meter, I felt Blessed that I often find encounters so readily, and they are always memo...

As my Father rests... In between Worlds... Neither here or there... I quietly read to him... His own words... To my Mother... Of his Undying Love... Of Sweet Stolen Kisses... In a Soliloquy of the Night... Praying Faded Memories... Sustain an Enraptured Heart...

Poor Rusty getting the good old silent treatment from Violet...

The wonderful talented crew of ʻŌiwi TV at the historic Hawai'i Theater filming the Kamehameha Schools Christmas Concert for 2014...

Heritage...

We are so Blessed... To be so close to Nature... And the Lush Verdant Beauty... That Heals our Souls...

Through the Kindness we share... And the Compassion... And the Forgiveness... And especially the Love... We Keep Each Other Afloat... And Alive... In the Sea of Life...

I came across this photo tonight as I was going through my albums. As I was leaving Chinatown one night, I passed this gentleman pushing his shopping cart headed in the opposite direction. I was in a hurry, but pulled out what I had in my wallet and gave it to him. He smiled and thanked me profusely. I wished him a good night. I snapped this photo of him as we parted. I noticed that his spine was crooked and he was hunched over, laboriously walking and pushing his cart, with great strain. I said a prayer for him as I walked away... I wouldn't see him again, or learn his name, for three years where a chance encounter led me to a conversation as we both walked in the same direction one late afternoon. I slowed my pace tremendously so he wouldn't feel rushed. He was self-conscious about holding me up with his hobbling. I noticed how people gawked at him or averted their eyes as we passed. Vehicles cut their left turn dangerously close to him down King Street, as if his Li...

We put our Christmas tree up just in the nick of time. We are still decorating it and have a ways to go. I thought of dozens of reasons why we were too busy this Year to put up the tree, especially so close to Christmas and with everything going on right now. However, I realized that we needed to. For this would be the last Christmas for my boys while their last remaining Grandparent, their Grandfather, is still alive. We pray he will see the New Year. Next Christmas, we know he will be celebrating Christmas by wishing Christ a Happy Birthday...in person...Face to Face...

The unpredictable rush and tumble of Life...

I sat for several hours with my Father at his bedside, talking with his Soul at times, other times, quietly listening. In between, I was able to meet and thank the nurses, aides, and other beautiful workers helping to comfort and attend to him as the shifts changed. His labored breathing, gurgling and sporadic mumbling gave me much insight into what lay ahead for him with various decisions on treatment. His hand grasp is still strong as he wouldn't let my hand go, even in his ethereal sleep. I spoke to many loved ones on the other side of the Veil. Much like my Mother, they are arriving on this side for him already. The door is being opened. My job is to keep the Love and Light surrounding him.  At one point, sitting in the darkness, I was transported back to my own battle at Queen's Honolulu in July of 2012. My physician recently reminded me how a brave surgeon, Dr. Pedro, saved my Life against incredible odds. I remembered how my beautiful late sister, N ā lani, stay...

How do you even begin to express your Love and Gratitude to someone who cared about you, and loved you...long before you were born. Someone with such gracious foresight, that they helped set up a Healthcare system that would not only help save the lives of so many of your family and friends, but even bring you back from the clutches of Death...

I found some much needed Solace at the Royal Coconut Grove of Helumoa tonight in  Waikīkī of all places.   A  phone call from my Father's physician caught me off guard this afternoon and left me in the middle of Macy's Ala Moana trying to suppress wave after wave of tears. I quickly made my way to the store exit and through the crowds, desperately trying to hide my anguish. Last night, I had thought my Father was getting better and going to be discharged from the hospital this weekend. His fever returned. It seems like his aspirational pneumonia came back as he can no longer distinguish between swallowing and breathing with his Severe Dementia. I may have to make one of the most difficult decisions in my entire Life. Leilani the social worker called me tonight about Hospice options. I pray I can connect with my Mother tonight for guidance in my dreams. I don't think I can do this alone...