If you've been reading our blog, you know that my Dad passed away back in May.
I'm thankful that my brother was there with him when he passed and together with the care givers help, they all looked after him for the past 5 years.
We finally had a service over the weekend.
It was nice hearing all the different stories about parts of his life that I had not heard about before.
It was also nice to meet new people and reconnect with some, whose lives he touched.
Yesterday, we laid him to rest in the columbarium at Punchbowl (National Cemetery of the Pacific).
(I knew he was in the Army, and was a paratrooper, but didn't realize he had been in the Korean War!)
With one of his aloha shirts, I turned it into a furoshiki of sorts for his urn.
I don't know if this shirt was his favorite, but I noticed he was wearing it in a lot of pictures.
My Dad was a quiet man, never very chatty.
But, when he did say something, it usually made an impact and/or it made everyone laugh because you knew "he was really listening to our conversations"...
Two things that he said to me, still stick out in my mind...
"All the makeup in the world won't make you beautiful. You have to be beautiful inside."
"If your room is clean, happiness will come."
My father worked for the City's Parks & Recreation Department.
He refereed many basketball games and (I thought) his most busiest job was during the summers when he oversaw the Summer Fun Program.
The Summer Fun Program was a city-run free program (I think now there might be a small fee...does the program still exist?!) where elementary kids could go during the weekdays of summer vacation while their parents went to work (and hopefully keep them out of trouble), and where college students could practice their teaching skills in hopes of becoming teachers.
Another thing my father did was teach After School Classes (something to also keep elementary kids "busy" after school) during the school year...I learned many things from him through these classes like how to play the ukulele, archery, tumbling and embroidery to name a few.
He was active in sports...hand ball, racket ball, tennis, softball, golf (he had two hole in ones on the same hole on the same golf course but in different years!)...and he ran several marathons and many fun runs.
He loved puzzles and crafts.
He also loved music...studying shakuhachi, taisho koto, playing the piano, ukulele and guitar (I also learned the harmonica from him.).
Growing up, whenever he would go out, I would "wait up for him" to come home, of course, I'd usually end up falling asleep and he'd have to carry me to my room, but still...and when I started going out, he almost always waited up for me until I came home.
My first time trying coffee, he sweetened it up with lots of milk and sugar...
And to deter me from smoking, he let me take a puff of his cigar *cough*
One of the many things he taught me was how to smile...but, was super bad at teaching me how to drive (I can still hear him yelling, "brake brake!")...
And when he had depression, he confided in me and I'm glad he was able to get some help.
I'm not too sure when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's, but watching him stop driving, golf, pretty much all the things that used to keep him busy/mobile was tough.
Where he was never verbally picky about things, OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) seemed more pronounced, and verbalized.
And when they put in the G-tube (gastrostomy tube), I think it put a damper on his eating.
It is hard to believe he isn't physically here, but I know he is still around.
(especially with all the rainbows we saw over the weekend and also those huge moths that I believe mean someone who has passed is visiting you.)
Thanks Dad for everything.
I know you told me once that you weren't good enough as a Dad and that you didn't do anything for us, at the time I told you that I thought you were a good Dad, doing your best for us, I still believe that.
Where ever you are, I hope you are eating whatever you want and running/walking around.
Love you.
Thank you to all of you who reached out to us, sending us good vibes, messages and just being there, we really appreciate your kindness.
If you live in or planning to visit Hawaii, a new law applies a 15-cent charge for bags which started on July 1st.
Some of the new things I tried in the first half of July...
Juicy and ice cold mountain apple...delicious!
!st time at Pieology.
Firestone Walker's Nitro Merlin Milk Stout...chocolatey, a little smokey.
Moena Cafe in Kapolei serves dinner and we went there while my Dad's sister was in town...
Restaurant Kuni's catering menu...great service and perfect for the memorial service we had for my Dad.
Zippy's Dream Cake...Dream cake was one of my Dad's faves...this version was kinda meh...
Gina's Fish Jun...the sauce was sweet and sour which was different from other fish jun I've had. 
7-eleven has a 7-eleven day on July 11, in which they give away free small slurpees.
Meat Jun Bento from Paalaa Kai Mini Mart...only $6 and the meat is tender and flavorful.
The malasadas from Paalaa Kai Bakery, called Sada's Malassadas...are super poofy and stay that way the next day.
Black Sheep Cream Co.'s "Rub some bacon on it"....Peanut Butter Cream and their Homemade Maple Bacon Toffee...so so good!
Earlier in mid-June, BFF Wen and I were able to get in our last Tacos Zarate fix, they closed up for good June 14, 2018.
Fish jun bento from Palama Supermarket...enough for two meals!
Kalapawai Cafe & Deli has a shop in Kapolei, I tried their tuna sandwich.
Lychee from the Big Island (Island of Hawaii) were being sold at Costco...some weren't too sweet but for the most part they were delicious.
With all the krazy vog (volcanic smog) from the Big Island, it makes for beautiful sunsets.
Tried Ruscello restaurant in Nordstrom with my aunties. 
Pineapple Mint Iced Tea from Island Vintage Shave Ice...super refreshing on that blazing day. (Thanks Aunty Merle!)
Mango from another Aunty Vi's stash...Thank you!
Tillamookies...Tillamook ice cream sandwiches filled with mint chocolate chip was meh...the mint seemed to be more peppermint like those hard red and white candies than spearmint.
1st time trying the baked manapua and custard bolo bao from Honolulu Kitchen. 
Have you tried the fried chicken from Paalaa Kai Mini Mart (next door to Paalaa Kai Bakery)?
Da Snack Shack is a tiny food court at Pearlridge with 3 shops sharing the kitchen.
1st time trying HAL special from W & M Bar-B-Q...teri cheese burger topped with lettuce, tomato & onion AND slices of teri beef!
1st time trying Donut King.
Teri beef sandwich from Shiro's...the beef was super tender...delicious.
Been wanting to try Aloha Cones for some time, but their shop in town has parking issues, so am glad they also have this shop in that Da Snack Shack at Pearlridge.
You may have heard that a huge earthquake hit Osaka and the surrounding areas.
Thought I should update you as to what is happening "in real life"...
In the past couple of weeks, we got to eat some peaches.
We also got to eat some sakuranbo from Yamagata prefecture.
I am pretty sure the Japanese do not realize the goodness of beets (yet), these beauties were in the "old veggie" area of the market...only 398 yen (plus tax)...so cheap and so big!
I am not sure how I heard about Verve Coffee, a coffee shop from Santa Cruz, California.