2009 has been a challenging year and, with that in mind, our family is grateful to be in good health and spirits this holiday season. Much has happened and this will be a quick summary of the Changs’ year.
Melvin continues to perfect his skills on the slack key guitar, providing enjoyment to family, friends and community through his solo performances as well as gigs with his doctors’ group, Na Leo Kauka, and a group of musicians made up of friends and relatives who share his love for music. He continues to perform as a dancer for his halau, Ka Hale I o Kahala, and was proud to win first place as the Kupuna Kane soloist this year at the Hula Oni E competition. He and Lauren sang together in the chorus for the opera Carmen in February. His work at the State Hospital is both challenging and rewarding, but still leaves him with enough free time to enjoy life and do the things he loves.
Elliot began his second year at Santa Clara University this year and is working hard and doing well. He discovered a new passion after mom and dad bought him a new set of wheels (sorry, a bicycle and not a car) to get around in Santa Clara. He enjoys bicycling on campus and around the town and is currently rebuilding his bicycle after an unfortunate vandalism incident (all too common on college campuses). He continues to pursue photography and has shot three weddings so far with his girlfriend, Lindsey, including Paige and Jarred’s this summer. Elliot and Dad ran the Honolulu Marathon again in December, and Elliot’s next goal is to do a triathlon.
Lauren has had the busiest year of all of us, and I will just mention some of the things that have happened in her life. One of the biggest events this year was her ‘uniki as a kumu hula this August under the guidance of her mentor, Aunty Leimomi Maldonado. Lauren also began her career as a high school teacher in September. She is the high school choral director at Sacred Heart’s Academy (mom’s Alma Mater) and also teaches Hawaiian history and after-school hula there. She is very happy to have discovered her calling as she enjoys teaching very much. Other big events in her life this year have been serving as the 2009 Lei Queen for the City & County of Honolulu, traveling to New York for Hawaiian Air to dance at the NASDAQ stock exchange, and beginning her graduate studies in the Master’s program in music at UH Manoa. In a new venture, Lauren and Melvin are training to become crew members of the Hokule`a under the guidance of Lauren’s boyfriend, Luke, who is a watch captain for the canoe.
Sandy continues to be occupied with research, teaching and administration at the UH School of Medicine. She traveled to Washington DC to present her research at a national conference in November. She will be traveling to DC often in the next three years as a regular member of a National Institutes of Health review committee. She has been enjoying visiting Elliot in Santa Clara and also having the opportunity to get together with old friends who live in the area including high school friends Mary (and her husband Frank), Melvia (and Ronald), and Ann Lynn. Sandy has also spent most of her evenings with Aunty Molly who now resides at a nursing home after suffering a stroke in March of this year. Aunty Molly is doing much better and comes home for special holidays to spend time with family and friends.
G’ma Nita is doing well and takes good care of us, having assumed Aunty Molly’s laundry duties and also keeping our house and yard looking good. She still has fun with her bowling buddies and is an avid sports fan, especially of our Rainbow Wahine volleyball and Warrior football teams.
We were sad to bid Aloha to our dear dog, Lady, this year. Most of you have met Lady when you visited our home and we still miss her presence as part of our family. Melvin, Elliot and Lindsey were with Lady when she passed away peacefully.
We are hopeful that the New Year, 2010 – The Year of the Tiger, will bring all of our family and friends courage, good fortune and happiness.
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