… and we’re back!

Howdy, folks!

Flew back from Kaua’i yesterday afternoon after a quick overnight trip.  ManoaDNA performed at the Grand Hyatt in Po’ipu last night for Monsanto Corp.’s big farewell event which turned into quite a music marathon for us.  People were having so much fun that they asked us to play longer … we gladly obliged and the end result was a super long final set!  I was so exhausted by the time we finished that I was walking around like a zombie afterward.  But I have to admit I had a lot of fun too, and it was the first time we’ve ever played 20-minute versions of Wooly Bully and La Bamba!  After we got back to the room, we “decompressed” with a few beers and some awesome lobster and spicy ahi poke which we picked up at the Big Save market in Koloa town … so ono!  The next morning, I got up at 5:45am to have an early breakfast with aunty & uncle, and then drove over to Hanapepe to the temple where my dad’s ashes are resting.  It was a beautiful day and so very peaceful as I sat and quietly said a prayer for my dad.  Suddenly, I could feel his strong presence around me and it was so warm and reassuring … it really gave me “chicken skin”!  I had to start heading back to get ready for our flight home but decided to make a stop at the Small Boat Harbor at Port Allen where we used to fish when we were kids.  What happened next was awesome … as I was standing on the breakwater looking out over the bay, I remember thinking to myself how I’d never seen a shark during all the years I’d been fishing and diving there.  Then lo and behold, about a hundred yards away a fin pops up out of the water.  At first I thought it was a turtle, but after watching closely for several minutes, it was definitely a shark.  A coincidence you say?  I think not.  Mahalo, dad!

After we got back to Honolulu, I dropped my stuff off at home and then headed down to IOLANI.  Things were a bit slow, but I got to see several of our friends from Japan who stopped by to shop and say hi.  Afterward, I went downstairs to Side Street to grab some take-out and bumped into fellow musicians Chino Montero, Sonny Lim, Brian Tolentino, and Nathan Nahinu … talk about an all-star lineup gathered together in one place!  Great bunch of guys, too …

Ahhhh … it’s now Saturday morning and it’s Dunkin’ Donuts time!!!  Have a great weekend everybody!

Aloha, “D”

2 Comments

  1. Susan Sunderland

    Chicken skin on experiencing the spirit of your dad. I believe.

    • Yeah, it was. How was your Korea adventure? We just got back from Japan today and I’m down with some sort of virus … even lost my voice!