Dear Rose,
We just returned from a trip to Hawai’i because your Grandpa Lau, unfortunately, passed away suddenly. Your grandpa was 92 years old and lived a very full life. And while we are sad that you were not able to meet your Grandpa, we were delighted that you were able to meet your Ni-Ni (Grandma) Yee-Ling way before we thought you would. To say that Grandma was overjoyed to meet you is the understatement of the year.
Grandpa passed away on Monday, April 26. We made plans to travel to Hawai’i on Tuesday and we left on Thursday to fly to Oahu, where Dad was born and grew up. We were a little nervous about flying with you, but you were a champ! You ate and sucked on your pacifier during take-off so the change in air pressure did not bother you. You fell asleep for about 4.5 hours (it was a 9-hour flight, by the way, so you can see why Mama was so impressed with your flying ability!) and then woke up and ate some more and hung out with Mama and Dad. All of the flight attendants LOVED you and were also very impressed with how well you behaved. Mama and Dad were very proud of you.
When we got in to Honolulu, we checked into our hotel and you got to meet your Auntie Kay. She was so delighted to meet you! We got into our room and discussed how this 5-hour time change was probably going to mess with you. Dad called Ni-Ni and Uncle Luther and he went over to see them. You and I fell asleep about 8 pm. You then promptly woke up, ready to go about 2 am. Hello time change!
On Friday, we went to Grandma’s condo so she could meet you. She was so excited, she flew down the elevator to see you in the lobby. Dad was so filled with emotion that he cried. Grandma cooed over you and talked to you nonstop! (I don’t think she even noticed that Dad and I were there!) After visiting with her and Uncle Luther, we had lunch at the Royal Garden. Grandma gave you a beautiful jade necklace that she had bought many, many years ago to give to her very first granddaughter!
On Saturday, we drove out to the various cemeteries to pay our respects to your ancestors. This meant that we drove all over the island to three different cemeteries. You slept the entire time. Saturday night, we had dinner with Dad’s friend Jay, his wife JoAnn and their two daughters Rachel and Emily. We went to Shokudo and had a very delicious meal. The Stones were happy to meet you and Dad was comforted seeing his old friends. Mama was also happy to see our friends and also enjoyed the delicious food!
On Sunday, Grandma threw a party to celebrate you at Makino Chaya. She invited your cousins and aunties and uncles. Uncle Myron, Auntie Kay, their kids Bryon and Bruce were there (Crystal couldn’t make it and was very disappointed!) Auntie Teri and Uncle David were there, and Po-Po (Grandma Oi) was there too. 
They fought over who got to hold you. Mama and Dad got to eat lots of sushi and waygu beef while your relatives enjoyed you. It had rained that morning, so it was humid at the restaurant so you got a bit cranky. So we ended up taking you back to the hotel to feed you and cool you off. Later that day, we took you over to the beach and dipped you in the Pacific Ocean for the first time. 
I think the waves were a little overwhelming for you, so we went up to the hotel pool (mainly to wash the sand off of our feet!) and dipped you in there. It was a nice afternoon.
On Monday, Dad had a whole bunch of meetings with various people to try to settle Grandpa’s estate. So you and I went to Ala Moana and shopped and then went to the Honolulu Zoo. It was fun, and we got rained on.
On Tuesday, Dad and I spent a lot of time preparing for Grandpa’s services. Grandpa wanted a Taoist ceremony so we had to roll a lot of paper money to prepare so it could be burned for Grandpa in the afterlife. We also had lunch out in Ko’Olina at one of the resorts with Grandma and Luther. It was pretty near the ocean on the Winward side of the island.
On Wednesday, we had Grandpa’s funeral. We had to be there pretty early. Mama and you had to wear all white. Dad wore a black suit with a white shirt, as did Luther. Ni-ni wore all black. When we got there, most of the Aunties and Uncles and cousins were there. Everyone was sad, but very happy to see you. It was a noisy ceremony – lots of chanting and banging on the drums and blowing a very sharp noisy horn. You were not very impressed and spent most of your time outside the temple, being held by various relatives and me. There were many things that Dad and Luther and Ni-ni and I had to do for Grandpa, like burn the paper money (after laying it on Grandpa)and walk around the casket and bow many many many times. We had to give him rice and many other things. Dad and I don’t really know what all of the symbolism meant. It was a three hour service, and we got to nibble on pork buns and rice cake and pan noodles while we were there. After the service we drove out to the Valley of the Temples cemetery. There was more ceremony there, including throwing ly-see and rice. At the end, we had to jump over a fire, and wash our faces and wear evergreen. We then went to a restaurant for a meal. Afterward, we went back to Ni-ni’s condo for a little while, where we made the decision to stay one more day, so you could spend some more time with Ni-ni (and Dad could too.)
Thursday was our last full day in Honolulu. We got up and went to Leonards for malasadas. Immediately after that, we went to Rainbow’s. Mama had two eggs over rice with Portuguese sausage – so did Dad, but he also ate a Loco moco and mac salad too.
For lunch that day, we met Ni-ni and Uncle Luther at Tokkuri-Tei for what Mama calls Japanese tapas. Also very delicious. We then took you for your first shave ice! You loved it.
And then we went to the zoo.
After that, we went to Sansei for sushi and enjoying the sunset over Waikiki.
On Friday, Dad was very sad we had to leave. We went back to the zoo for a quick look at the tigers and hippos! Then we went to say good-bye to Ni-ni and Uncle Luther. We had some unexpected drama when Dad and I locked the keys in the trunk. Luckily we got them out and made it to the airport on time. Cousin Bruce met us there (he works for Delta). We got on the plane. You ate some supper and then fell asleep for the entire flight. 
When you woke up, you were in the car on the way home. We are very sad that Grandpa passed away, but very happy that you got to meet your ohana, Rose. You were definitely the joy that everyone needed, the reminder that life is sweet. Rose, you are our future. And by the look in your eyes, it is very bright.
All my love,
Rose
Dear Rose,
As you know, we made a trip to Hawai'i this month too, for Grandpa's funeral. It was your first airplane ride, your first time meeting Ni-Ni, your first time staying at a hotel, your first taste of shave ice, your first heat rash. . . you did remarkably well. Ni-Ni finally learned how to see the photos on her cell phone and she is delighted to get to see more of you now.
You have become a drooling machine. There always seems to be a steady drip coming from your mouth. We think you may be starting to get your first tooth! You also seem to be have taken up a full time job of sticking your hands in your mouth, too. You are also learning how to put your rattles, plastic spoons, anything really into your mouth too. Your coordination is a little off still, so it is fairly common (and utterly hysterical) to see you try to put your rattle into your eye, your cheek. You KNOW that your mouth is there, but your aim is a little off.
You have rolled over now too. Just once. But by yourself. Dad and I are on high alert for more rolling and we are being more strategic about where we put you.
You seem much more like a baby now, Rose. You know your Mama and seem to prefer me over others. You interact with people now, too, so much more than before - smiling, talking with them. You are so deliciously cute - everyone wants to touch those gorgeous smooshy cheeks of yours and eat you up!
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