Ronnie thinking about what to write to her beloved Diane on her lantern she will float in her memory at the lantern festival

Ronnie's message to her beloved Diane on her lantern she will float in her memory in the bay

Ronnie's message to her beloved Diane on her lantern she will float in her memory in the bay

Ronnie is putting together her memorial lantern to her beloved Diane

One of these lanterns in the bay was floated to Diane by Ronnie

      I am blessed to have known Diane.  I wish I could have known her longer.  Diane was fun to be with.  She had a great smile and her laughter was infectious.   She and Ronnie and Barb and I laughed hysterically at a beach hotel a few years ago over a silly display of my belly. (you had to be there)  It is one of many silly, care-free, happy times I will remember when thinking of Diane. 

      Of course I will remember her excellent skills as a pastry chef.   Her pastries were delicious and the time and care she took to prepare them truly made her a professional.  She was a marvelous hostess.  I bet she showed the same care and dedication in her pottery skills.

As her health began to fail she remained cheerful and willing to participate as much as possible in the things she loved.  I sat next to her on the couch one day and asked if I could hold her hand to which she replied yes.  I held her hand and tried to convey my feelings of love and support through my touch.  At some later date I told Diane I loved her.  It was so sad to lose her.  Diane's leaving has taught me a very important lesson and it shall always remain with me. 

I do not wait until friends are sick or in need to tell them how important they are to me.  I say "I love you" more easily and more often.  These words are not just for parents and children or partners.  I now tell my friends I love them.  They are as important to me as my family or more so.  This is the legacy Diane has left me.

I love you Diane.  I miss you lots.  Jill

I remember the Wednesday night that I met Diane for the first time in 1997 or was it 98? I remember it was a Wednesday because that is the night the Lesbian Support Group met in the teahouse of the YWCA hidden beyond a large apartment building on the corner of Wilder and Punahou Streets.

Diane had decided to take her first step towards coming out and joined us in a hesitant manner and was careful about keeping her involvement with us within a small trusted circle of women.  Some of the Lesbian Support Group core were Barbara Gray, Joan, Agnes, Pat, Kita, Renee, Rudi and Bonnie, none of us of Asian descent. I thought how very brave it was of Diane to keep meeting with us because such few non-caucasians were ever in attendence. She loved our circle hug. One could see a glow on her face at the end of our 2 hour meeting.

She told us about her family and how difficult she had had it and how she was fed up with her work at the Star Bulletin. Diane helped me very patiently a few times putting an ad in the paper for a roommate and selling a car, but there was no chatting because her supervisor was around. It sounded that free spirited Diane was kept in a cage in that place.

I missed Diane when she left to the East coast to help her sister by donating bone marrow. We emailed almost weekly, but I was glad when she came back.

I cannot ever forget Diane because she lives forever in my house through her pottery pieces that I use on a daily basis.

Diane, you were quite a girl, admired and appreciated and I am glad to have known you and seen you happy with your foreverloved Ronnie.

Oh, Diane, we honor your spirit and your memory.

 I remember the tea parties you planned, with lovely desserts and everything just so.  I knew you got all a-flutter beforehand, worrying that everything wouldn't be perfect.  It always was, with friends, food, conversation, yummy Hawiian delicacies, wonderful pastries, and beautiful china and crystal, and, in the center of everything, you, being you, taking care of everyone.  Your lemon tarts and your cream-puff swans are legendary.  Perfection, just like you.

I remember calling to ask," Do you want to..." and the answer, before I could say "do this' or "go there" was always "Yes!".  Always ready for an adventure, our Diane. 

Movie nights were a special time.  I remember being tucked into my chair wiith an afghan, goodies and beverage at hand, watching a movie with Diane and Ronnie and a roomful of friends.  Diane delighted in having people over, and having friends around.  

Diane, I will always miss your adventuresome spirit, your sunny outlook, and your lemon tarts.  Goodbye, dear friend. 

I once read a wonderful book called The Shell Seekers by Rosamund Pilcher.  The story is captured in chapters that are titled with a person's name.  This is how I try to capture my life now after suffering so many losses, deaths and living a career that holds such grief and pain.  There is one story about how the main character fell in love with a man who left to go to war.  In his last letter to her he wrote:  "Nothing is ever lost, it becomes a part of you, a part of one's character."   I hold that as one of the truest things in life.  Just knowing Diane briefly has made a permanent impact.

I had the pleasure to meet Diane and Ronnie a few years ago at another friends house.  We had a wonderful dinner together and shared great stories and thoughts about current events.  I remember being taken in with Diane and how cute she was.  Diane told us stories about growing up in Hawaii and some of her wonderful travels and bucket list.  She had such a zest for life and new things.  Her approach to doing or going somewhere was enthusiastic and she would describe things in wonderment.  To be able to see things from such a pure level is a gift.  I'm so tainted from my career I've lost that sight and to have her remind me of it's importance will never be forgotten.  I will think of Diane when I feel a gentle breeze or hear the fluttering of leaves.  Her spirit will be gracing me to remember my innocence and to keep that pure space open to capture why we are alive...

Diane often came over to our house in Palolo when the boys were very young.  They really looked forward to her visits because Diane was a lot of fun, she gave them a lot of attention, and she always brought them goodies!  One particular New Year’s Eve, Diane surprised the boys by bringing them a LOT of PAHPAHHOO (firecrackers)!  They were SO happy and excited, and quickly got busy getting it all ready.  Each had their own box (stash).  They couldn’t wait to play.  As soon as it got dark, they began to light their firecrackers. Somehow, Maika got a stray spark that ignited in his box and with that, it ALL went up in ONE blast!  Kip shared with his brother, but Diane really saved the day by bringing out MORE firecrackers she had set aside (secretly) for when they would run out.  That was a wonderful moment.

Diane came for a short visit when I lived in Pennsylvania.  I don’t recall the exact year; it might have been around 1990.  What was memorable is that she was the first friend that visited from Hawaii.  We had a great time.  When she came, she brought a huge suitcase filled with LOCAL FOOD, geared especially for Maika.  He was so happy and talked about it for a long time after.  She had packed laulaus, frozen cans of guava and passion fruit juices, kakemochi, mon-ju, Diamond Head cream crackers, etc.  I remember us just staring so happily in this suitcase that was full of surprises, and so carefully and thoughtfully wrapped with dry ice.