September 13th, 2002 Roy and Faithy received the special "Healing Heart Pillow" that Laulani finished on the day that George Kahumoku came over with some of the Imua Ohana and they sang two songs for Bruddah Roy over the phone. Each signed it and when Warren Dennison came to the Northwest and Theone got back they both signed it. There is Roy holding the pillow with all of the "hearts" showing and the backside with all of the little writings and signatures. Faithy says, "Roy was so touched....now days, he is so appreciative of everything, and it doesn't take much at all to wet his eyes" We are so grateful for all the love and prayers of everyone. I thank Laulani...We thank Laulani.

September 11, 2002 Bob Wagner, former UH football coach and now Kamehameha Schools Athletic Director for the Keaau campus was the key note speaker at the Rotary Club of Hilo Bay. On behalf of our class Nate Chang presented him with a 50th Birthday Bash bag. He's a super speaker and provided info on the Sports program that's developing on the campus here.

August 26, 2002 Roy had a distinguished visitor who drove to his home to visit with him. She talked about health and how nutrition and exercise are "key ingredients" in ones daily life. Linda Lingle is currently a forerunner for the Hawaii Gubernatorial race.

August 25-27, 2002 Warren Dennison dropped into the Pacific Northwest for business and looked up fellow Imua 69'ers in Seattle. Deprived of dim sum and manapua way out in Connecticut, eating in Chinatown was a must! Wayne, Flora, Laulani and Theone overwhelmed Warren with hours of laughing, talking and "jogging" memories of what really happened back on the Kapalama campus.

August 11, 2002 George Kahumoku took a rare 'day off' from his hectic schedule at the generous invitation of Laulani and Mike Donlin. With George there, storytelling and music were the highlights... DJ and Russell Lee providing the ukulele melodies; Mahea and Nancy Sweeney providing the hulas; Laulani and Mike, Wayne and Flora, Kimberly and Greg trying to follow along with vocals as best we could. We had Bruddah Roy on the phone so we did a long distance request with a rendition of Peter Moon's He Hawai`i Au. Attached is a snapshot of Mahea, George, Laulani, DJ and Russell leading the rest of us.... note the Telephone on the table with Roy on the line. So many memories both old and new, and the love and laughter of ohana...... and of course, teriffic food and deserts! The weather in Seattle was perfect that day and Laulani and Mike's deck provided the perfect venue.

August 9, 2002 A special Queen Surf get-together happened tonight with special appearances by Stan Baptista, Sam & Theone, and... who was that kissing bandit? Too many stories and pictures to post here so keep and eye out for the link to a webpage dedicated to this special night!

June 26, 2002 Nathan Chang is the new Hilo Bay Rotary Club President. Despite this honor, Nathan is still contemplating whether he should enter the "Political Arena" in the future! Good going Nathan!

Stuart Henderson writes "Nathan was presented this gorgeous painting of Princess Pauahi framed in koa to thank him for his five years as president of the Kamehameha alumni East Hawai'i chapter. This was June 10, during an alumni dinner in the pavilion at the Waiakea Ponds, and Terry Plunkett ('51 and one funneeee buggah) said many great things about the work Nathan did in reviving that chapter and making it one of the most active anywhere."

June 24, 2002 Gerry Lam writes "I attended George Kahumoku's workshop this past weekend on Maui from Thursday through Sunday. George has created an incredible legacy in slack key. Something that makes our community proud. He is one of Hawaii's foremost ambassadors of Hawaiian culture on the mainland and here at home. He brings in mainlanders who love slack key music. Funny seeing haole people struggling with classic slack key and Hawaiian songs, but endearing to see their souls rejoice and love for the islands and peoples. George is certainly a work from Ke Akua and he is unselfish in sharing himself and his enterprise of Hawaii with everyone.

He has worked hard often without thanks or recognition. He is another current master of slack key guitar and of blood roots in Hawaii. Cyril Pahinui participated as did Carlos Andrade (Class of 1962) who composed Hula Lady, and Ozzie Kotani (my second mentor after Aunty Alice Namakelua). George's son, Keoki, who performs professionally also, was a master in residence there. Keoki look just like George during small kid times. He reminded me of George in school - exactly like how George spoke and acted. But boy can Keoki sing. All the pro's were unselfish with their 4 days and had true Aloha and charity. And then stayed to give even more at the Slack Key Festival on Maui. Most pro's would be grumpy, self-absorbed, and on their way home early. What impressed me was that not only did the pro's make a difference in other people's musical experience, more importantly, they made a difference in their personal lives by sharing their personal time unselfishly and tirelessly.

George put on a great workshop and those that came from the mainland had 4 days of life changing experiences with George, Ozzie, Cyril, Keoki, Carlos and a few other local bruddahs. Every night was kanikapila where each individual got up to play plugged in the amp solo in front of everyone including tourists at the hotel. What a personal revelation for many. But good experience with stage fright, screeching strings from stiff fingers, buzzing notes from nervous hands, and dribbles of shee-shee in da Beebeedee's when the piko goes numb. Nevertheless, everyone got enthusiastic ovations. The workshops with the pro's were wonderful. Cyril really put out and for those who like play in C tuning - nothing like Cyril. I'm a convert. Carlos did his D tuning as well.


Sunday, the whole group went on stage at the Annual Slack Key Guitar Festival in Kahului and performed two songs - Waikapu and Haleakala. The applause was so loud I think the auditorium got noise complaints from Lihue around there kinds."