Monthly Archives: January 2017

January 24, 2017 · 8:34 pm

Burial Service For Michael Oasay.



This morning of January 24, 2017 from 10:30 A.M. I attended the burial service for my friend Michael Oasay Hawaii Veterans Cemetary at Kaneohe, Oahu, Hawaii. It was performed with military honors by the Hawaii Air National Guard that included the presentation of the U.S. flag to Mike’s wife Yvonne and a gun salute. Rev. Nakano of Jodo Mission of Hawaii conducted the service with a chant for Mike and a sermon on how Mike will always be with us. 

I got to be friends with Michael Oasay because he, his younger brother Leighton, and I are Eagle Scouts from the Boy Scouts program at Troop 75 in Pearl City, Oahu, Hawaii. Leighton and I are the same age and three years younger than Mike. The three of us attended Pearl City Highlands Elementary School, Pearl City Highlands Intermediate School, and Pearl City High School.

Mike served in the Hawaii Air National Guard and worked for Hawaiian Electric Company for many years. He is survived by his wife Yvonne, children Jacqueline, Steven, Andrew, and Sean; parents Manuel and Carol Oasay, and younger brother Leighton Oasay.

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January 19, 2017 · 1:47 pm

Goodbye Stretch


Thank you for all of your warm thoughts and comments for Stretch. He passed away this morning at his home around 9 AM, 1/19/2017 after my dad had a chance to comfort him by talking to him and petting him. I last saw him alive late last night. I got to talk to him, let him, and rub my nose onto his nose. A couple of times, I placed my face next to his face and told him how much I loved him, and how much our family loved him. This is the last picture I took of Stretch as we kept him warm with the roof of his dog house. This morning, my dad and I carried him into the car, and with my mom, we took him to the veterinarian to be cremated. With heartfelt thanks, I send my love to you all.

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January 18, 2017 · 10:29 pm

Stretchy Boy


Stretch or Stretchy Boy as we like to call him is slowly fading out. He’s more relaxed now compared to earlier so he’s spending his last moments at home. I’ve been sitting by him this afternoon and this evening. I don’t want him to go, but I know it is near. Through him, I appreciate life, and make an effort to be mindful of all the good things I have in my life, especially the simple pleasures of life like being around those you love. For Stretch, he was always so happy to see us, enjoyed walks, going to the beach, and his favorite foods. He reminds me of the importance of loving others in the purest form as he demonstrated it towards us. I love Stretch with all of my heart.

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January 18, 2017 · 8:00 pm

Opening day of the 2017 Hawaii Legislative Session.


Opening ceremonies of the 2017 Hawaii Legislative Session on January 18, 2017.

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January 17, 2017 · 11:22 am

Stretch


Our family dog Stretch isn’t doing too well. Today may be his last day with us since my dad is planning to take him to the veterinarian. He’s been coughing out blood, threw up his food last night, hasn’t eaten today, and his breathing is getting worse. The cancer has taken its toll. The blood might be filling in his lungs. Through it all, he never complains. Stretch is 14 human years old so he is on the older side for a dog. It’s so hard to see him suffer. Stretch has such an unconditional love.

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January 17, 2017 · 9:53 am

My Friend’s Mom’s Memorial Service


On the afternoon of Sunday, January 15, 2017, I attended my friend Gregg Teruya’s mom’s memorial service at Nuuanu Memorial Park. When we were in our teenage years, we used to sleep over Gregg’s house to watch movies, play video games, and play basketball. Mrs. Teruya was always so kind, and often cooked or picked up food and beverages for us. I remember having some very nice talks with her. I’m grateful to have these nice memories of her. My thoughts are with Gregg, his dad, sister Marcie, and their family.

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January 15, 2017 · 12:50 pm

Memorial Service For My Friend Michael Oasay.


I was MC for my friend Michael Oasay’s funeral at Jodo Mission of Hawaii this evening, January 11, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. He was such a caring and good hearted person. Mike’s three years older than me and we are Eagle Scouts from Troop 75 and graduates of Pearl City High School.He is survived by his wife Yvonne; children Jacqueline, Steven, Andrew, and Sean; and parents Manuel and Carole Oasay.

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January 13, 2017 · 8:23 pm

Stretch


My dad and mom’s dog Stretch on January 13, 2017. He’s lived 14 human years, and right now he’s coughing and having trouble breathing and walking due to his fight with cancer. Stretch is such a kind and loyal dog.

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January 11, 2017 · 12:06 pm

President Barack Obama & First Lady Michelle Obama


Yesterday President Barack Obama made his farewell address. I’m very proud to see history being made in that President Obama is the first African American U.S. President, and also the first U.S. President from Hawaii.

My favorite moment from President Obama’s farewell speech was when he thanked Michelle for being his best friend and wiped away a tear from his eye.  I admire the love between the two of them.  Having a loving, smart, and compassionate partner like Michelle is what many men yearn for, including me.  Here are some of my favorite pictures of Barack and Michelle, clearly showing how much they love each other.

March 7, 2015 “I was moving around trying to capture different scenes away from the stage during the event to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the Selma to Montgomery civil rights marches. When I glanced back towards the stage, I noticed the President and First Lady holding hands as they listened to the remarks of Rep. John Lewis. I managed to squeeze off a couple of frames before they began to applaud, and the moment was gone.” (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.

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January 9, 2017 · 10:23 am

Feels Right


An energizing song “Feels Right” by Jocelyn Alice (Galloway Remix). A good song to dance to and lift your spirits.

Lyrics:

We don’t care if we do it right.
We don’t care what it looks like.
We’ve got love in the nightlife.
We’ve got love and it feels right.

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January 5, 2017 · 10:37 am

Nice talk with my friend in my dream, the late U.S. Congressman K. Mark Takai.


I woke up this morning of Thursday January 5, 2017 from a wonderful dream in which I had a great talk with Congressman K. Mark Takai who I became friends with while I was a student government leader at the Associated Students of the University of Hawaii at Manoa (ASUH) and Mark was a young newly elected politician in the Hawaii State House of Representatives. In my dream, Mark and I were talking in his old townhouse in Waiau, Pearl City on Oahu, Hawaii.  We were smiling and laughing like the times when we first met.

At one point we were lying down and staring at the ceiling as we chatted.  It was like before I got elected into the Hawaii State House of Representatives, which distanced our relationship because I was part of the faction aligned with Hawaii House Speaker Calvin K.Y. Say, a family friend and friend of my late grandfather Maurice Karamatsu.  Speaker Say married the daughter of grandpa Karamatsu’s really close friend Stephen Kotake, founder of Kotake Shokai, an import company, and a leader at Jodo Shu Hawaii with my grandfather.  I became good friends with Speaker Say, and I know that was hard on Mark because his faction was trying to take over the House from him.

Well in my dream, Mark and I were friends like before the whole political faction issue.  Prior to Mark passing away on July 20, 2016, I had called his cell phone and left a heartfelt message for him.  I’m not sure if he listened to it.  I’m hoping that he did.  It’s for this reason that I never felt closure with Mark because I wanted him to know that I really enjoyed our times together and that I cared deeply for him as my friend even though we ended up in opposite political factions.  In my dream, it felt so good because I knew that the politics didn’t matter anymore to him – all that mattered was our friendship.  That was the talk I wanted to have before Mark passed away.  I miss him.

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January 2, 2017 · 9:29 pm

Lost In A Forest


Lost in a forest.

Rain washes away my tears.

Whispers – I love you

– Jon Riki Karamatsu, 1/2/2017, Haiku #53 –

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January 2, 2017 · 4:43 pm

Memorial Service for Spencer Ueda


Today, January 2, 2017 at 1 p.m., I attended the memorial service for my friend Spencer Ueda who I met back in 1992 when I was 17 years old. We worked at DFS Hawaii’s Flightline delivering goods to customers at the international flight gates. Spencer is one of those pure, innocent, and joyful people that radiates positive energy. He was always smiling and laughing. He laughed at all my weird comments and we joke about anything. I nicknamed Spencer Tora-san because his hair was thick and raised around his head like a tiger. I can’t remember the animal he chose to name me. I was told that he still had my campaign shirts when I was a politician, which I gave him, I believe when he visited me at the Hawaii State Capitol. Spencer went on to work at Japan Airlines and then Department of Transportation Harbors Division, which he held until his passing due to the vehicle accident. We kept in touch by email over the years after I left DFS Hawaii in 1996. Until we meet again, I will do my best to emulate your pure positive outlook on life.

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January 1, 2017 · 2:12 am

Locations I’ve Experienced


​Alabama  

Alaska 

Arizona ✈

Arkansas 

California ✈️

Colorado ✈️ 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

Florida ✈️

Georgia  

Hawaii ✈️🏡

Idaho ✈

Illinois ✈️ 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana ✈️

Maine 

Maryland ✈️

Massachusetts ✈️

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

Montana ✈

Nebraska 

Nevada ✈️

New Hampshire

New Jersey 

New Mexico ✈

New York ✈️ 

North Carolina 

North Dakota 

Ohio 

Oklahoma 

Oregon ✈️

Pennsylvania ✈

Rhode Island 

South Carolina 

South Dakota 

Tennessee 

Texas ✈️

Utah 

Vermont 

Virginia ✈️

Washington ✈️🏡

Washington DC ✈️

West Virginia 

Wisconsin 

Wyoming 

Asia ✈

Japan ✈

China ✈

South Korea ✈

Thailand ✈

Mexico 

Bahamas  

Caribbean 

Canada ✈️

Central America 

South America 

Middle East 

Europe

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