Wedding Day!!

So I am dedicating this whole post just to the wedding/celebration of the wedding. You must realize this was only a wedding reception as YuBee and Kalani technically got married by the Justice of Peace in December. This was just a reception for all the friends and family that live far away...and some that live close. Haha. The family member count for our side of the family was a whopping 18 people, which for our family, is really good. Haha. I guess it helped that it was in Hawaii. 

The day started early for me as she asked a few of us to come at 9am to get our hair and/or makeup done. She had an amazing view from her suite on the 40th floor of Waikiki! 

The first hairdo that Sue did on me was pretty crazy: inverted french-braid with a super high teased bun on top. Haha. I decided to have her tame it down a bit and so she ended up putting the bun a bit lower - still with the inverted french-braid - and then giving me an amazing poof on the top. Haha. She was super nice and funny and was so fascinated by me for some reason...I'm really not that interesting. But oh well.

Sue doing Auntie Beth's hair.

The back of yo head is ridiculous!!

Practicing on the 40th floor!!

 Ran a few errands for Bee during the morning...that hotel is super HUGE...I got lost every single time. Also Jen is a go-getter!! Whoop whoop!! Haha. She's amazing. It was good to see Jesslyn again too!!

All the family and the rest of the girls got there in the afternoon and we started having the photographer take pictures, etc. The guys were super late so everything started late. The girls made the guys do a bunch of stuff in order for Kalani to be able to see YuBee and it was hilarious!! What made it more hilarious is that three out of the four were in uniform, therefore a bunch of the pictures that we took will not be anywhere online. Lol. 

All her girls!

The boys looking all professional and snappy.

One of their punishments was getting a patch of their leg hairs waxed. Giving each other moral support. Haha.

After that we took more pictures and then they started the Chinese tea ceremony. Mind you, our family has never really done this since this is the first real "wedding"...which wasn't a real wedding...but whatever. Haha. So her friend's family had to help us with the whole ceremony - following all the correct traditions - and it was super confusing and not very ceremonial. Hahaha. It was hilarious though and I got angpao out of it!! Teehee. 

Receiving angpao from the married ppl.

Giving angpao to all the non-married ppl. Haha.

Then we all went down to the banquet hall after waiting around some more b/c they had to change her venue since it was too windy outside. Boooo. No outdoor wedding reception. So sad.

My beautiful fam bam.

Six out of the nine siblings came...that's a first!

The dinner was buffet style but Jeremy could hardly eat b/c he was too nervous. He had to not only sing and play a special song with me but he also had to do the toast on behalf of YuBee's parents since their English isn't up to par. We teased him sooo much beforehand, but he did a stellar job!

Ok, I can't say much for our special song b/c it was much better when we practiced Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat's Lucky so much better than we performed it. Sigh. I totes sang the words wrong on the first verse and I even had the lyrics in front of me!! Ugh. I'm a horrible performer! 

I guess I really got into the last part. Haha. Kian had to hold the mic for Jeremy since there wasn't another mic stand. Haha.

Anyway, then they had a bunch of games and other wedding-ish things. And more pictures. Of course.

Bee's cousins on our side.

All Bee's cousins on both sides...although we're missing a lot!!

L-R: Melissa, Vivian (my cousin), me. I love these girls!! We had so much fun on the island together!! Esp making Melissa dive. Hahaha.

The wedding party was grooving to the music. Haha.

Cutting of the cake

Dance-off!!! Jess got moves!!

All of Bee's family that were able to make it!!

So since Jeremy couldn't eat a lot that night he was starving after it was all over. So the four of us went out to eat at a Japanese restaurant late at night. The mushroom nabe was soooo good!! 

I apologize in advance for the unedited pictures on all these posts and the stupid positioning of the pictures...I dislike blogger's crappy photo layouts.

I must blog before I forget everything!! Also, I'm going to break this up into multiple segments/blog posts.

Ready, set, GO!

Ok. So we left off on Saturday.

The fam and I went to the Central Church and ran into the Pastors! Minus the boys...b/c they're butts and were on the Big Island already.
Drove around the east coast again and visited Halona Blowhole. It was super windy!! We also stopped by Sandy Beach where all the locals go to apparently. We would've fit in...except Daddy looked SUPER touristy. T-shirt, khaki shorts, huge camera, long socks and sneakers. SMH. Jeremy and I walked very far away from him...except he kept on following us. SIGH. That night we decided to go to Ramen Nakamura. Super good ramen. It's the kind of place where there's only 20 seats and the line is out the door and down the street at times. Jeremy was still hungry though so we went to a nearby sushi place...and then ended the night with some ice cream...except I def got a mango ginger drink since I can't eat ice cream.

Blowhole! Whooohoo!!

Ok, so maybe we looked a little touristy

Waiting for our ramen!

The line waiting for ramen.

Waiting for our sushi.

Daddy missed the memo on the picture taking.

Go go go go go!!

I will update as soon as I get pictures on my comp and a chance to breathe!!!

Haha. We're constantly on the go!! =)

Ocean. Beach. Sun. Wind.

I'm going to try and recap the last three days rapid fire.

Note to self: Don't underestimate the time it takes to get from point A to point B on this island. One mile might take more than 10-15 mins. 

We met up with the rest of our relatives the next day...too many people in one spot!! Haha. I love them all though. =)
Went to eat at a pretty legit Chinese place and walked around Waikiki and Diamond Head. So touristy!! I dislike all the people. Sat around talking to each other in the room and then Daddy and I took a walk on the other side of the "beach". Then we went to pick up Jeremy at the airport. In true "Jeremy fashion" his phone died in a crucial time and we couldn't get a hold of him. Figures. So I had to run in and find him. =.=
Went to a Japanese restaurant and had nabe! Or what we Chinese ppl call hot pot or steamboat. I love salmon!

All the cousins that were able to make it for Bee's wedding plus her daddy!

"Hey dad, you should get the TOPS of the trees too!"

The bride herself!! We've had some amazing times together. =)

Note to self: Leading a group of 14-19 family members is like herding cats. I kid you not.

Woke up early to catch the bus to go to the Polynesian Cultural Center. The bus tour guide made me sit in the front with him since our group of 19 was so big he needed one spokesperson. Or so he claimed. I didn't do squat until after we got off the bus. Although I will admit that he was pretty funny and informative. Gotta love those Samoans. Hahaha. Anyway. We took a guided tour through the center...it's so big and overwhelming!! But all the shows and demonstrations were hilarious and awesome! Esp the traditional dances. I wish I could at least pretend to dance...le sigh. We went to the luau and then the night show which was even more awesome!! The dancers weren't professionals, just students from the nearby university that they're partners with, and they did an amazing job. Jeremy goes, "It's like one big Asian Night all day!!" Haha. Yeah, we were there from morning until nighttime. Love love love that place!!

Note to self: Marry an islander. They're tall, dark, and handsome.

All the old folk learned the hula while I stood by laughing my head off and taking pictures.

I did manage to learn some New Zealand stick thing....

Midday dance showcase on the boats

I (re)learned how to make a fish!!

The wind about to blow me away at the Pali

Today we got a late start b/c no one knew what anyone was doing. SMH. I love my dysfunctional family. Most of the time. Haha. After meeting Kalani, YuBee's husband, and seeing Jesslyn again (yay!), we finally all headed out to Pali Hwy. Stopped at the Pali lookout and took a bunch of pictures looking windswept. No, seriously, if you've never been there, it's SUPER windy all the time.

Then we drove through Kailua...not much there except for traffic...and then stopped at the Waimanola beach. Beautiful beaches there!! Blue ocean and nice soft sand.

Hang loose yo!

Part of the fam bam

After taking a few pictures we went on to Makapu'u Point and took a bunch of pictures on the rocks. It was even more beautiful there!!

Jeremy taking photobombing to a whole other level. Hahaha.

The fam on top of Makapu'u Point

Then everyone was hungry so we stopped in Hawaii Kai/Koko Marina and had lunch at this local restaurant called Loco Moco..which is actually an indigenous dish here...or so I'm told. (Chad? Help?) I had Farukaki Mahi. YUM. And then we stoppet at Bubbie's to get ice cream...well actually lemongrass sorbet, which was amazing!! So good!!


Then we headed off to Hanauma Bay, which was our original destination of the day. Haha. I def remember this place from the first time I was there 14 years ago!! Although you now have to pay a ton of money to get in. Ok, it wasn't a ton, but it's a lot more than free. Lol. And since they're trying to preserve the area, which I don't blame them for, they made us all watch a video about how you can't touch the coral and fish,etc etc. Except that we went snorkeling there and the coral is basically dead and there aren't a ton of fish there...ok, there was, but not an abundance of them like I'm used to seeing in Malaysia. Haha. I'm so spoiled. It was super cold b/c of the wind factor so we didn't stay in too long. Also, snorkeling today just confirmed the fact that I've never really liked snorkeling and that I'm a scuba diving snob. Yes. I just admitted that.

Perched at the top of Hanauma Bay

Cousins!!

 And a whole section devoted to my favorite flower: Plumeria.

In the Fatherland

May 22

Keri-fail of the day: Spilling Baby's full cup of Sprite all over my pants on the plane two hours into our 6 hour plane ride. I was soaked. Thankfully I had clothes in my duffle bag...so I put on the first thing I could find...booty shorts!!! Lol. It looked great with my shoes...and sweater. Then I remembered I had board shorts in my bag so I changed into them. I looked weird! Ok, we weirder than I already am. Hah.

Anyway, the trip over here was super long and tiring and they changed the gate on us at the last min on the second leg of the trip. Booo. And it took way long to get our rental car. But we made it!!!!
We were all super duper tired but super duper hungry too. That moment when you can't decide whether you're more tired or hungry. We ended up walking a block or two away and eating at a Japanese restaurant. =) I'm going to get so fat this trip. Haha.

Once I get my pictures on my comp I'll tell you more about our adventures. =)

Kian graduates high school!

I must write a little about Kian's big weekend before I move on. =)

Friday afternoon we all drove up to BMA for grad weekend. Baby had just discovered One Direction's song
"One Thing" and put it on repeat for the whole trip up. Yeah, it's a 2 hr long car ride. I was about to shoot someone. Haha.

It was weird being back at my old high school as an alumni. So many memories and good times. I was pleasantly surprised to see my first roommate there, Katie, as well as some other classmates and teachers.

The whole weekend  brought back lots of memories. Mostly good. =)
Anyways, that's all besides the fact. I'm SUPER proud of Kian!!! He's learned a lot and come a long ways.

     The fam bam.

 

This sexy beast is finally coming to Southern!

Kian marching. Yeah BOI!!!

Justin and Matty! I miss playing music with them.

Kian getting his diploma.

The whole family.

I <3 him.

The alumni of BMA!! Four diff years represented.