December 2008

This is our last year living on BYU Hawaii campus. We will be moving to one of the townhouses near the temple - 11B. We will miss getting to know well the many students that have stayed with us; students from Korea, Japan, Vietnam, China, Brazil, Colombia, and many other interesting places. This month has been busy packing up and trying to get rid of plenty extras - we realize what pack rats we are!! Time to downsize.

We have had many changes this year - both of us changed jobs this year, and with the current economic climate, we are just grateful to still have jobs. 'Isi is now full-time religion instructor and I work at the Department of Education. I work mainly for the International Teacher Education Program (ITEP).

Liana and Siope still live in West Valley with adorable Rachel Ileina and Sprinkles, their dog. Liana is still working as a nurse, and Siope as a youth counselor. We enjoy our short visits with them either in Utah or Hawaii.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Liana-Kinikini/823103773

Robert and Abi stay about an hour away from us in Royal Kunia. Israel, Princesa, Ke'Ali'i and Robbie are all growing up before our eyes. Rob is stationed at Hickam Air Force Base. http://www.kongapinoy.blogspot.com/

Joel, Meilani, Anna, Eryn and Joseph just moved to Utah. We miss them so much. We had a sweet new addition to our family, Lily Ruth born on November 15^th. She has spina bifida so she has undergone surgery since her birth. You can read more about her at http://kongaikafamilyblog.blogspot.com/ Joel and family moved to be closer to Primary Children's Hospital.

Jacob, Mandy, Jacob Jr., Zion and Izabella stay in our home in West Jordan, Utah. http://jakeandmandy.blogspot.com/

Check out the latest with Jake's music at: http://www.sellaband.com/cubworldmusic

May the Savior's love keep us all warm this Christmas season.
'Ofa atu!

Christmas 2008

This has been a year of change for us - Joel and Meilani moved to Utah, so I lost my baby, Jojo, for a while. We both changed jobs - quite an adjustment for us and now we are moving to the townhouses after being on campus for 12 years. The economy has been as bad as I remember, but we are grateful that we still have jobs to keep us going. We wish all of you a Merry Christmas and hopes for a better new year in 2009.

Changes

What a strange month. I am now working at the School of Education at BYU Hawaii. So far, I am enjoying it, the people are very friendly and accommodating. I get to walk to the front of campus so I actually am getting more exercise. Since my last cholesterol count was high, I need the exercise and I am watching what I eat more, so hopefully I won't suffer a heart attack.

I am excited to visit Ileina, Jakey, Zion and Izabella in a couple of weeks. I will be in Utah for Ileina's birthday and Zion's birthday. I sure miss all of them.

We celebrated Rob's birthday with Joel and Rob's family at Anna Millers. I had a piece of pumpkin pie that was so yummy. Just getting a start on the holidays.

We had a sleep over with all the grandchildren for Conference weekend. Grandpa 'Isi put up a tent and some of the kids slept with their daddies outside. Conference was wonderful and we were reminded of all the things we need to do. The talks were mostly about "hope", "faith", and "love". The economy has been really bad lately so the talks were very inspirational. They say this is the worst the economy has been since the "Great Depression". All the politics going on don't help - they use it to get votes. I'll be glad when the elections are over.

I entered seven pieces of my artwork in the Windward Artist Gild's Art Show. They chose two of them to display. They are shown above. The one is called "Golden Sunset" and the other "Blossom". We had an opening on Sunday afternoon. I'm also working on a portrait for one of the guys who rent with us. He is getting married in December so I am trying to finish it before I leave.

Cubworld on Sellaband Big Time!

Of course, when you're a Mom, any little achievement of your children is hard not to brag about. But today, September 10th, CUBWORLD Jake-CUB (aka Jacob Kongaika to laie locals) is back on Sellaband.com.

When he was a child, he always loved an audience. He was always trying to make us laugh. He now has a beautiful wife, and three of the cutest kids ever. Today he has raised over $4,000 towards another CD recording. I hope he gets his wish. I do think he is talented, even if he is my son.

The whole sellaband concept is: aspiring artists upload a few songs and fans buy the artists way to a record deal. The first time Jacob uploaded his stuff on sellaband, he became the first American artist ever to reach the 50k mark. And it only took 4 months.

Jacob has a concert here at BYU Hawaii last spring. The audience LOVED it and he plans to return to do another one next year. He has performed in Europe and around the USA.

Since I can't afford to give him all he needs to make another album, see if you would like to help him out. I particularly like his new song, Good Morning Love. I know Mandy is his biggest inspiration and his children too. You can buy one part for $10 or if you feel generous, any more would be welcome.

http://www.sellaband.com/cubworldmusic/

Have 'em when you're young!!

Congratulations Captain Kong! Robert just finished 14 weeks in military training at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas. It was a tough course, but he made it and returned home last night. Rob is the one with the lei (as if you didn't know...)



We are all so proud of him. Of course, Abi and the kids were a big part of it too since they stayed in Hawaii all that time without him. I got to have the children and their cousin, Naomi, stay with us for four nights while Abi went to the graduation and brought him home. I realize that I'm not as young as I used to be when I take care of four children ten years of age and under because I felt like sleeping all day today.

I forgot to mention also that Liana, Siope, Ileina, Jacob and my dad were able to be at the graduation too as well as Alvin and Angie (Abi's brother and sister).


My Dad has been very active lately and just a couple of weeks ago he went sky diving just for the heck of it.

Check out his video here

Oh, and if you would like to see my artwork - and order some for a gift or decor for your home, go here

For recent pictures from my digital camera go here

Trials and Blessings

This summer has been an interesting one to say the least. We didn't go any where since we had already been to Utah and California in the Spring. Isi's job changed and so he went from being an administrator to being a full-time religion teacher. It was quite an adjustment for him. We were told we could stay in our on-campus housing until December so we were happy about that.

With 11 grandchildren keeping us pretty much hopping all the time - they think I am their playmate when they come around rather than their grandma - but I enjoy them (I am just about dead every time they leave, lol) - anyway, we went with Joel and Meilani to see what sex their new baby will be. I took care of the three rascals while their mother had her sonogram. It was interesting to see the baby on the screen while we all watched. Joseph wasn't cooperating much so I took the kids to get a treat to calm him down. When we came back up to the doctor's office, Joel said not to come in because they had found something wrong with the baby. It seemed like forever until they came out and saw us again in the waiting room. The baby was found to have spina bifida with encephalitis and club feet. We were all kind of in shock and Meilani was in tears. It was heart breaking to see them trying to internalize the news about the new baby. Their counselor had said "if you keep the baby" this is what you can expect - two surgeries right after the birth. Anyway, Meilani expressed her feelings that she had prayed and fasted about having the new baby and felt like she was supposed to have it. Joel felt he had been prepared having done quite a bit of studying about children with disabilities. The children were just excited to have another baby girl. Of course we all had some soul searching to do but after a few days realized we were up to the challenge - whatever the Lord has in store for us.

Meilani has since had a amniocentesis where they stuck a long needle in her tummy to draw some fluid out to test for further confirmation and information. We should know in a couple of weeks. This will be our twelfth grandchild and we are excited to meet her. They came up with the name Lillian Ruth. It will be a growing experience for all of us. We pray for a miracle but will be prepared for whatever comes. We love you all.