HAWAII STORIES
“Vacation Mode”
Being in “Vacation Mode” … typically refers to—
- “A state of relaxation, leisure, and time off from work or regular responsibilities.”
- “It implies that someone is taking a break from their usual routine and activities to travel or engage in enjoyably and leisurely pursuit.”
- “It might mean you say everything in a super-relaxed voice, and spend all of your time daydreaming.”
- “A time when someone does not go to work or school but is free to do what they want, such as travel or relax.”
- Sarah Kim-Seu (62, hospital pharmacist)
“You know, I actually think I have been in a kind of ‘vacation mode’ ever since turning 62 last June. But the truth be known… ‘I AM IN A VACATION MODE’… right this moment!!! The reason for this is simply that my three (3) older sisters and I are planning to get together and go on a ‘ROYAL CARIBEAN VACATION CRUISE’ out of Miami this Summer, just the ‘Four of us Sisters’, and simply ‘Party On’ together (no other family member to be present)!!”
“I can almost recite that Royal Caribbean advertisement verbatim—‘Feel the heat of adventure in The Magic City and cool off with a cruise to the Bahamas or Caribbean from the Miami cruise port …’. YES… we will enjoy those tropical cocktails served up on the ship’s top deck; and, of course, we intend to try our luck the at the multiple gambling tables and slot machines on the lower decks.”
PARTY ON… INDEED!!!
“However, what really motivated us to plan this ‘togetherness trip’ was the recent Korean Broadcast Station (KBS) airing of a K-TROT music special featuring a newly-formed group of four senior divas (each had individual star-power careers in their younger days)— and they are now being promoted as a new female diva group called — “THE GOLDEN GIRLS”!! Now get this, the four female vocalists are ages 57, 58, 58, and 66. They made their debut in Seoul, Korea in September 2023. Suddenly, they are one of the leading musical groups in the Asian Pacific.
“So why relate my present ‘Vacation Mode’ phase and this Korean ‘Golden Girls’ phenomenon?? Well, my sisters and I emigrated with our parents from Seoul to Honolulu, Hawaii in the early ‘70s. And over the years, my three sisters and their families relocated to the mainland U.S. (L.A.; Atlanta; and Newark) and I remained here with my family… Long story short— now that my sisters and I are already enjoying our Golden Years (ages 62, 65, 67, and 68) – why not PARTY ON together one more time as—”
THE HAWAII GOLDEN GIRLS!!
- Jonah Peahi Nakashima (35, realtor)
“Wow, Sarah, what a neat happening for you. Just FANTASTIC… By the way, I bet you do know that when you all turned 60-years, that was your ‘KANREKI’ beginning (second childhood). So, to you all— ‘PARTY ON’!!!”
“My ‘Vacation Mode’ situation at this time is not as exciting as yours; however, in June my wife (Allison) and I celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary!!! Yep, it has been that long already—not GOLDEN, but definitely still very ‘LOVE-STRICKEN’… You know, for our First Anniversary celebration, we took an around the Hawaiian Islands five-day cruise. Very, very enjoyable!! Allison and I are in that ‘Vacation Mode’ now as we plan our 10th Anniversary on a 10-Day Japan vacation; our primary stays will be—Toyama/Kanazawa; Osaka/Kobe (and YUMMY KOBE BEEF!!); Kyoto; Tokyo (and SUMO!!).”
“We both are Hawaii-born and of Japanese heritage, but we have never before toured or visited Japan. Too busy with our education and business ventures, I guess… Anyway, now time and opportunity are with us; so, we just can’t wait to ‘Fly Away’ and…”
ENJOY OUR 10th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!!
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STORY SUBMITTED BY:
E. Tiwanak
IMAGES PROVIDED BY:
Puanani/Internet
Heroes 5-0 