Can you feel the energy?! Look around…our community is transforming in front of our eyes. Development and construction are a part of our everyday lives. Our elected officials, along with both public and private sectors, have worked diligently with our city and state representatives to shape our community balancing economic growth, while ensuring our infrastructure meet current and future challenges. We are all witnessing the birth of a well thought-out plan. Enjoy it now. As residents, we are very fortunate to be a part of this great change. Get involved, share your mana’o, and make a difference…2008 will be unbelievable!

On a personnel note, we send our condolences to the Asuncion ‘Ohana of Honokai Hale. I grew up with Randy, thus, can honestly say, “He was the weirdest of us all.” I remember the days he would write words on his jeans with bleach, which would then become permanent (we sure got a lot of attention whenever we went to Pearlridge or Ala Moana). He would also dye the front of his hair orange and grow it long (think about it, a Filipino boy with long orange “bangs”). I guess, “trendsetter” is a better word to describe him.

One thing Randy did not lack was courage. As one of the “boogie boarders,” everyone knew when he was in the water. He would be very patient and only go for the biggest waves. The best way to get him mad was to “drop-in” on him, jump off your board, and jump on his back. He used to get so mad, then swear and cuss at us for so long that it became funny. By the end of the day, we would all be laughing.

One of the funniest things about Randy was that he would “pressure out” so bad. Anytime we did something wrong, he would start sweating under his eyes, lock his knees, then say the first thing that came to his mouth (what a dead give-away). One day, while “visiting” Pearl City High School, he ran into one of his old teachers. Being that we shouldn’t have been there at the time, the teacher recognized Randy and began to walk toward us. Randy, in his “pressure out” mode, called the teacher Mr. Moron then walked into a wall. We didn’t know weather to run or laugh. We did both…hysterically.

I have known Randy my entire life and could always count on him for anything. He has been a true friend. Everyone who knew him was blessed with his grouchy sense of humor, over the top fashion, and great passion for life.

Aloha, my brudda, and see you at the next big “chicken fight” in the sky.