Missed Jack, but Wined and Dined

Saturday, 22 April 2006

Went to 8 am yoga all stuffed up. When I'm sick, I always feel the worse in the morning, when I first wake up. So, I brought my kleenex and blew my nose throughout the whole 90 minute practice. "How sanitary!" people must have been thinking, especially as we were packed like sardines today. I tried to wrap my tissues up in between my towels so it wasn't so gross-looking. I did feel like I could breathe a little easier after practice.

Caught up with Seattleites, Steph and Marissa, on the phone afterwards. Jay helped cook lunch for me (saimin) as I was busy chatting. He prepared for his barbeque. Tonight is the Kokua Festival featuring Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, Willie Nelson, Henry Kapono, ALO, and the surprise guest: Damian Marley. I went to Miya's to drop of my dress and Jay's suit for the black tie event tonight. Then I walked to Kapi'olani Park, ran into friends Melissa and Joel who had tickets to go inside to the Jack Johnson concert, and then hung out and got sunburned with Jay's friends who were playing dominoes, horseshoe, and drinking. I've known them for so long, as they're all his old sports and high school friends from Punahou, but it was funny to be hanging out with them. I didn't eat really because they didn't start the barbecue. We listened to a view Ben Harper tunes, but missed Jack Johnson. At least I had built up an appetite for tonight's black-tie MDA sponsored event.

Got ready at Miya's at 4:30 pm and then Kai got dropped off at 5 pm. We looked like two gals going to senior prom, without dates. Dropped off Jay's suit at Kapi'olani Park so he could change in the public bathroom, then we headed off to the Wine Soiree at Royal Hawaiian Hotel (the beautiful pink hotel). It was so beautiful, an outdoor terrace along the Waikiki Beach, with a striking view of Diamond Head. Looked like a perfect place for a wedding. There were a variety of popular restaurants serving food, a wine tasting, fancy desserts, delicious li hing mui margaritas, a silent auction, and some very dressed up local people. After we were escorted in by the firemen and Miss Hawai'i pageant ladies, we chatted a lot with some Punahou alums, Shawn who I go to yoga with and who helped put on this event (his brother owns the wine shop), and John who was the event photographer. Kai was kind enough to replenish our food as we finished each plate (since college days, she knows that I'm a slow eater), and we got a sampling of each booth, and our share of alcohol, visited with friends and other MDA families from support groups and telethons, browsed the silent auction, and took pictures as the sun went down. Got home at midnight.