Emma Akamu Aluli

....We placed the pikake lei on mom when Luana and the sisters thought it was getting serious. Luana called me to tell me it was time.

"send me a picture" I said. A few hours later it arrived on my phone.

Emma had come home to Aikahi, site of the largest concentration of Hawaiian remains in all the islands, to die. I returned earlier that weekend, Sunday to get her home from the Hospital and into hospice at Maile's house. She had hung in there, and we actually had a good talk or two, and when I left on Wednesday, I knew it was the end of the road, but I was happy she was at Maile's and the family was there.

But this was Friday afternoon, and when I opened the photo, I couldn't help but think that in a lifetime if leis, pikake almost every weekend, ginger during the week, that this would be her last one. She would be gone before the fragrance faded.

Yuklin came up with the idea to lend us her computer so I could Skype into the house and hear what was going in. I didn't realize that she had a video camera in her laptop, but once she turned it on, It was amazing. I could sit and see everything, hear everything on Skype.

I got my speakers from work which only added to the effect. The wind, the rain, the sound of the doves in the background, Kailua. Turned up on the speakers and you couldn't tell the difference from being there.

I stayed up that entire Friday night, downstairs on the couch, listening to the sounds and watching the feed. Jan came down and we both had a restless night, but oddly, a comforting one. Everyone was there, talking, laughing crying singing. It was endless.

First thing Saturday, I went a got a camera, and then everyone could see us too. I didn't want to leave the camera, so I thought of things to do while I listened to everyone talking. Close conversations, and the sound of ping pong in the back room. The Rain, the weed whackers, the garbage truck. Just like I was there. From the next room with the volume turned up, you couldn't tell the difference.

We had a couple of close calls, but by Sunday night, it looked like things were wrapping up. I stayed online until about 11:00 their time but finall went to bed. Any moment now.

Monday dawned and I went to work, only to get a phone call from Manu about 10:00 the this was it. I set up at the office and Skyped in. After awhile I realized tha tLaurie was there, and I thought it was to hold mom's hand but later I realized that she was taking mom's pulse. Things progressed quickly from there.

Mom passed away at about 11:30 our time, with everyone around her, and the sounds of Kailua slipping through the jalouse windows. THey prepared her for the hearse to arrive, and the mood leavened for a moment. everyone came by to give her a last kiss.

After a brief consultation, she was taken to the hearse by the family. the last thing I heard was Manu sobbing and crying "auwe, auwe"

And then my field of vision no longer had my mother in it. She's gone.

I will miss my mother. I'm certain I'll toast her with a glass of J & B or Cutty Sark here before too long......