Letters to Papa

Hulali's Papa, Ralph Carreiro, died suddenly a week ago. Hulali and Kala'i had the good fortune of spending a lot of time at Tutu and Papa's house this past year as Kala'i went back to school and Hulali went to the Montessori in Puna. Papa in Pahoa was much like Papa in Pa'auilo in that Hulali could always count on him to sit and watch a video. For the 10th time. No matter the video. No matter the time.
At his memorial service yesterday at their house in Pahoa, the grandchildren all wrote letters to Papa and tied it to a helium filled balloon. Then they all gathered poolside and let their letters go up in the sky. Hulali was the first to let hers go, probably in her exuberance. Then it was Hokupa'a's floating up to the air. Then all the mo'opuna let their balloons go and they ascended to the heavens. Ku and Hunter continued to watch for quite sometime, at least until there were only two in view. Hunter said it would take about two days for the letter to get to Papa. It seemed a wonderful way to let the children express their love to this man they call Papa.
It was a wonderful tribute to a special individual. It, of course, reminded me of my own father, who has been gone for over a year now. And it made me realize how fortunate Hulali and all her cousins are to have spent some time with their papa. My own children only knew one set of grandparents and I always feel like they lost out. Grandparents are special for so many different reasons.
My deepest condolences to the Carreiro 'ohana.