Las Vegas Ohana Reunion

It's been almost 3 weeks since I've been home from my family reunion in Las Vegas, but I wanted to write sooner. Hopefully I can remember all the wonderful that happened. Thursday, Aug 20th, Mom and I flew standby on Delta. We got bumped off 2 flights in Atlanta. I thought we'd never get out. By some miracle, we got on a flight that was said to be full. Good thing cause I was ready to give up on the idea of going to Vegas. After finally checking in the hoteland getting situated in our room I was ready to meet everyone. I went to the "office" to see Keala. I hung out there for a while. We had a get-to-know-you meeting the first night. I helped Keala pass things out. It was interesting to me cause my grandma's family was last to show up and first to leave. And while they were there, most looked uncomfortable. Everyone introduced themselves and their families. I wanted to try to get to know everyone, and Keala told us the perfect way for me to do it. She wanted us to play this getting to know you game. We had to meet as much family as possible. Learn something about them and get them to sign our paper. Whoever met the most people got their pick of a prize for the raffle on Sunday. When the meeting was over, I got to work. I started talking to Uncle Sonny's side of the family. Most of them I didn't know and hadn't even heard of. I stayed out pretty late talking to everyone but it was so much fun.

Fri Aug 21 - A group of us went to New York New York to ride the roller coaster on top of the hotel. Melinda got us a military discount. The ride was cool and unique cause it was on top of a building and it had some moves that others I've riden don't have. It was definitely fun! After the coaster we went to Island Flavor for lunch. The food was good. I spent a lot of time meeting people I hadn't met before and got them to sign for the game. Our family took up the whole restaurant (though it wasn't very big). For the game, I was in competition with Ammon and Nalani. Not sure if anyone else is trying as hard as we are. After lunch, I went swimming with some people at the Golden Nugget. There was a slide at their pool that goest through a shark tank. It was pretty neat. Had to look quickly while going through it or you'd miss the fish. It was a little cold but fun. We got in the hot tub after a while which felt so good! My eyes started burning from all the chlorine I think. After we got back I had just a little time to hang out til I got ready to go with some people to ride the rides on top of the Stratosphere. Susan and Tammy went so it was nice to hang out with them a little. The rides were interesting being 10,000 ft + in the air. One ride was swings that turned you around mid-air while facing a little toward the ground. Not so bad. Anoter ride was like a roller coaster cart that was first tilted up then quickly tilted down and shot you down really quickly. It looked like you were going to fly right off the building to the ground. Susan chickened out for that ride. My picture for that ride was hilarious. The look on my face was pure terror. The last ride was one that shot you straight up in the air at 45 mph then brought you down quickly and bounced a few times. It was just the ride I didn't want to ride but somehow managed to get on. I don't know why I got on but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. After the rides some of us went out to a club at Mandalay Bay called Rum Jungle. Keala, Kaika, and I went to it last year. It was pretty fun. I don't mind clubs, I'm just not really a dancer. But I would be the designated driver tonight if anyone decided to drink. Susan asked me to take her home early. I guess she was ready for bed and her knee was bothering her. I didn't mind at all. I was ready for bed myself. It had been a great day!

Sat Aug 22 - All of the family went to Makino's for lunch. It is a Japanese buffet. The food was very good! I only got to eat one plate. I made a dessert plate but didn't eat anything off it because I had so much more family to meet. There were about 6 tables of people I hadn't met yet. I met the family that talked to Mitchell. He was going to stay with them but he decided not to come because of money. It was Uncle Doug's daughters. They are very nice girls. We took a family photo outside the restaurant. It took forever to get everyone rounded up. And everyone wanted pictures on their cameras so we had to stay in pose for a while too. We also took one where the camera person was standing 2 stories up. After lunch I started working on my lei. Everyone had to make their own lei for the banquet. It seemed like it was going to take forever. All the 3rd and 4th generations learned a hula we were going to dance at the banquet. I had never learned hula so this was new and interesting. Kinda hard to remember each step but I did learn a lot about the dance of hula. We learned 2 dances. I worked on my lei more then went to dinner with some of Uncle Sonny's family. I hung out with the Serrano's a lot. They were very nice and accepting of me. Then I walked down the strip with Lehua and Hoku and their husbands. They are really awesome people! I got along with them like I had known them for years. We were going to try to watch all the shows on the strip like the ship at Treasure Island, Water at Belagio, volcano at The Mirage, and moving statues at Ceasar's Palace. We saw the last minute of the volcano and the last couple minutes of the statues. All the other one's we missed. It seemed like we got stuck in Ceasar's Palace for hours! We walked around looking at everything. When we tried to find the exit, all we ran into were emergency exits. The ceiling was astonishing! It was painted with sky and clouds. I felt like I was outside. That's probably the feeling the designers were going for so people would stay longer and spend more money. We met up with Nawai, Troy, his sister and their spouses to eat. I didn't eat. I felt a little outta place being the youngest and the one that didn't have a spouse. But they did well with making me feel welcome. After a long night of walking around, I passed out when we got back to the hotel.

Sun Aug 23 - A group of us met to go to church at 9am. We finally found the building and went for sacrament meeting. I could hear Uncle Richard falling asleep. Then he would wake up to sing. It was funny. After church, I went to Keala's room to practice the hula for tomorrow. The one Keala was teaching was complicated with the hand motions plus moving your feet. But the practice helped. A group of us went to the Hoover Dam. The drive there took forever cause Uncle Paul drives really slow. And the traffic near the dam was horrible. It took us about an hour just to get to the dam. It was pretty cool. I didn't know it was on the border of Nevada and Arizona. It took 4 years to build and if it cracks or breaks the whole valley would flood. Getting back didn't take as long cause I didn't follow Uncle Paul. We found our own way back. The people in the car actually told me I was a good driver...that's pretty much a first for me. It was great! We got back in just enough time to get ready for the banquet. I helped with preperation for the banquet. I finished sewing my lei and Mom finished it off. I helped Keala pass out raffle tickets for all the prizes. A lot of people bought. They were to help pay for the plane tickets that were donated as prizes and for all the money Keala put into the reunion. She did a lot to get this reunion together, mostly by herself. She found people that hadn't talked to family in years and found people that didn't even know they were family. She did an amazing job and I am so glad she was able to get everyone to come together. The only name I wasn't able to get myself was Auntie Leimana. She flat out ignored me when I tried to talk to her. She still has a grudge against Mom and I'm not even sure she remembers why. Everyone knows about it but doesn't know why. Keala told me she asked about me though. She asked how I was doing and what I was doing with my life. That's good she even cared to ask. The banquet was great! We took another family picture. The food was great and the entertainment was wonderful! We had singing and dancing and the raffles. Lots of good prizes. Keala counted up the names. I know Ammon and I were really close. I really thought he'd win...but alas, it was me! I was so happy! I do think I was able to talk to everyone. The good thing was I am better able to remember everyone's names in the future and who they come from. I got to pick from the prizes so I picked 2 delta buddy passes. I can fly anywhere Delta flies. I want to go to Hawaii finally. The dances were great. I messed up a little but I wasn't the only one. I think I did pretty well for just being introduced to the dance yesterday. I got some good videos of dances and of the family singing and holding hands at the end. I was so thankful to have been able to come. I wouldn't have missed this for anything! Family means a lot to me, I just haven't known much of them. Now I do and I hope to keep in touch with everyone. There is talk of another reunion in 2 years. A cruise around the Hawaiian islands! That should be wonderful! After the banquet, people were going to the Golden Nugget to exchange pictures. I showed up after packing my stuff then talking with Ammon. It was nice seeing him again and I probably won't see him for a while. I haven't talked to him much since he got back from his mission. I was pretty tired by the time I got to the Golden Nugget so I wasn't too social. And I was sitting at the end of the table. I talked to Kela Kane, Doug's daughter. She's one that talked to Mitchell. I went to sleep once I got back.

Mon Aug 24 - We woke up pretty early to get to the airport. I thought Jacob was going to take us to the airport but he already had a full load. I was a little worried about us getting there. I thought we'd have to take a cab but Kim finally offered to take us. I felt bad cause she was on the way to eating breakfast with her husband and daughter. It was very nice of her. We got there 2 hours early. We were supposed to be on the same flight as Auntie Leimana and Susan but Delta offered us an earlier flight. Thank goodness! We got to Atlanta earlier which was probably good for us to not get bumped. It was a good day for us for flying. Meredith picked us up from the Birmingham airport. I was so worn out. I got home and unpacked and relaxed. Vacation was wonderful! I was so glad we were able to go. It was great being able to see family I hadn't seen in so long and meeting people I didn't know. It was nice putting faces to names. I have created lasting relationships with people I will never forget! What a wonderful feeling!