To remember, recall, commemorate, reflect deeply on, meditate.

Today marks the 9th anniversary of the passing of my dad, Shermaih Kahuakai Iaea, Jr. He died exactly one month before his birthday and his funeral was held exactly one week later on the birthday of my oldest grandchild.

Forever on this day, I will hoʻomanaʻo my dad. He had a tattoo on his arm that said SKI and for the longest time I had no idea why. Finally figured out it was his initials. He also had what looked like a self made tattoo of a cross on his hand between his thumb and pointer finger. I was his “Princess”, so much so that there was a time kids from the neighborhood would come to the door and ask for Princess because that is what he called me. He loved my kids and they loved him. I miss him everyday. I hear his voice. I see his smile. And I feel the warmth of his hugs. Oh I remember the maybe not so good stuff, too, that we all have. It is an entire package. But today I remember the laugh and hugs and crunching sound of him eating raw crab. Usually from Tamuras. And drawing out the word, “H e   l l oooooo” whenever we talked on the phone.

It is amazing how just a simple reflection, hoʻomanaʻo, of my dad causes tears to well up in my eyes. It is a haliʻa aloha, a fond remembrance, for sure.

This is one of my favorite pics of my dad. He loved to hoʻomanaʻo his younger days, how naughty he was, always getting in fights during his years at Kamehameha. And, most fondly how he loved spending his summers in Manaʻe with his ʻohana.

Copyright: 2017 – Liana Iaea Honda. All rights reserved. All versions of “He Momi e Lei ai”, in its entirety, past and present, is the property of L. K. I. Honda. Reproduction and use of any kind other than the sharing of this website is prohibited without written consent. Alteration to the original content in any form is prohibited in every and any instance, and use in any other variant is prohibited without written consent of the author. Address inquiries to: hemomi [at] gmail.com. Definitions and wise sayings are from: Hawaiian Dictionary by Pukui and Elbert, 1986. ʻŌlelo Noʻeau – Hawaiian Proverbs & Poetical Sayings by Mary Kawena Pukui, 1983.