Aloha Everyone, it's Bobby Lu from Oregon. I decided that I would write something about the Graduation Luau for Donnette Paishon's daughter Lindsey because it really was a special time for family and friends and I was able to share in this important celebration.
I drove up to Lacey, WA, which is about a two and a half hour trip from Portland, and was greeted by Donnette, her mother Irene, whom I hadn't seen since 6th grade, and a niece. What a thrill! They had flown in from the Big Island to take part in all of the festivities. Lorraine Alo and Nancy Souza put together the most beautiful fish and poi package I've ever seen and contacted Manu to get it from Oahu to Washington State. Talk about networking. Those girls are fantastic and so dependable and I love them. YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAW girlfrens!!!!!! Okay, I have to compose myself! (Hee, hee.) The luau was for 350 people and the class of '69 was well represented. Of course we all sat together and talked story. Joslyn (Noa) and her husband Mike Donlin, Wayne and Flora, Theone and her daughter, DJ had her little granddaughter with her and one of many of the ukuleles she has acquired. So here we are, enjoying all of this wonderful food, that we don't get too often and then the show begins.
Out comes Donnette and the girl is chanting. It was mesmerizing. Did
I know that my friend of forty years plus could chant? I knew she could jump
on the trampoline and dive. Chant? No way. She was fantastic! Then, her two
daughters came out and the three of them danced together. Am I getting
emotional? Are tears appearing out of the blue? Yes, yes, yes. Sooooooooooooo
emotional. Why would I be surprised? Donnette comes from a family of
entertainers in Hawaii. To sum it up, Donnette's halau put on a show for an
hour, with DJ playing her ukulele with about ten others, and it was so
entertaining that Theone kept saying, "She should be a Kumu Hula." What a
treat! It was a wonderful time had by all and we were all so happy to
see one another.
-Lots of love... Bobby Lu.
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