I want to tell you about my friend Big D.

[mahina]

He is a mountain of a man in more ways than physical size.

Before he left the Islands he hustled up a small army of volunteers and completely transformed one of our most run down schools into a thing of beauty.

They only had one sad volleyball pole in an asphalt lot before he and his friends got the idea to make a difference. I don't know how he did it, but this is what happened next:

He got bulldozers in, tore up the crumbling blacktop, put deep topsoil, installed a huge sprinkler system, and seeded it, all with volunteer labor and manuahi kine donated materials. He found the toughest kids in the school and put them in charge of making sure the sprinkler system was not messed with.

He got the Army Corps of Engineers in there and they cabled every classroom with broadband and put computers in every classroom. They ran conduits so the cables were not exposed.

He hustled up volunteers to repaint the bleak old library and painted a mural of the Princess and made a reading alcove. It is air conditioned. People donated books for days. Of course now when you go there, there are always kids reading in the library.

He even got a pa hula, a hula mound, and trees. This from one of the saddest physical environments in the city.

This is a school of mostly immigrant kids, Micronesians and Vietnamese, Filipinos and Samoans.

He was a lifelong Republican, but when Bush started the war on Iraq, he was done with them. When the GOP called him for money he told them to take them off his list and don't ever call him again. We didn't agree on politics before then but I loved him and his wife regardless, and all the more for that after.

My heart is breaking tonight because it sounds like we are losing him. I want to tell you that he and his beautiful wife are what it's all about on this earth. It's appropriate that he'd be heading out with the Pleades, because he was a real shooting star.

Sending love and aloha across the big water to Don Dawson, a good man, and his wife who loves him so. Aloha, he mea pau'ole. Love is a thing that is never done. Thank you for all your aloha Big D and Nollie. We will love you forever.

[aquart]

1. The Seven Sisters will take good care of him.

[Delphinus]

17. What a beautiful thing to say.

I like that - it feels right.

Safe journeys to Big D and loving thoughts to all who love him.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. K&R. Sounds like an amazing and admirable human being...

You have my sympathies... :hug: O8)

[mahina]

3. And how.

Mrs. D too.
Mahalo.

[Rhiannon12866]

4. Just imagine what would happen if a lot more people were like him...

The world would be a much different and better place. It boggles the mind... :wow: :fistbump:

[babylonsister]

5. What a lovely tribute to a remarkable man and friend. Thank

you, mahina, for sharing his life. So very inspiring. Recommend.

:hug::hug:

[mahina]

6. Thank you Sis.

Means a lot to me coming from you. Aloha.

[Ruby the Liberal]

7. What a great story! K&R and thank you, Big D for making a difference.

[mahina]

10. mahalo Ruby,

he sure did, in many untold ways too.

thank you for reading about him. aloha.

[ThomCat]

8. I am sorry that it's that sad time.

:(

I hope his passing will be peaceful, and he will be surrounded by love.

That was a beautiful tribute. I hope he knows how much you respect him.

[mahina]

11. I hope so too.

[mdmc]

9. ..

[RandomThoughts]

16. Often I think of "a needle pulling thread"

Being about that comment.

Although I know also that after that he said, nothing is impossible with God. The man first made a claim of righteousness, then 'asked' what he could 'do' to be saved.

So he was told what he could 'do'

And when he could not do those things, he was still told it is not impossible with God.


I don't think that verse is about the rich not being able to make it, but about it not being about what you do, but only doing what you can do within your limitations. In that, I don't think a limitation like being rich would stop someone from making it through the eye of a needle.

If you read that whole chapter it says something different, then just part of it.


I think it is about the concept of not being able to earn your way into heaven. I think Grace is given, and is not like buying or selling by actions. Although that may be just my view on it.

[babylonsister]

12. Kick to share Mr. D's unbelievable generosity. He knew how

to get things done.

[mahina]

13. Mahalo Sis... I can't think of a better legacy

than a huge green grassy playground with trees, and a beautiful and comfortable library full of great books for kids. I know his life made a difference to me, but he also made a big difference to hundreds and probably thousands of kids.

When he came home the last time, the time I took this photo of him looking out at the ocean in the evening, he took us to the school and showed us around. At that point it had already been a few years since he did that project.

We were greeted, hugged, clasped, treasured; because we were with him, we were rock stars. Needless to say, we are not anything like. It was a trip to see what he did, and how beautiful it is.

Thank you for taking the time to hear about him, and to be inspired by him. Aloha no.

[mahina]

14. Here are some photos

the pa hula and the reading gazebo...

[Iwillnevergiveup]

15. Big K&R

Thanks for sharing this amazing story of your friend. Talk about a life examined....his spirit will live on for generations.

[NJCher]

18. How lucky you are to have known him

eom

Cher

[City of Mills]

19. That is power!

The power to transform the lives of dozens or hundreds of people he may never meet...his legacy will stand strong and tall when his physical body leaves this place...that to me is power that money can't buy...the power of love and respect.

Happy trails, Big D.

[mahina]

20. :)

he would love that.