We wanted to share about Dad's last year of life.  Dad was in reasonably good health.  He had no major complaints and he still enjoyed traveling between Ann Arbor, Honolulu and Berkeley. 

Dad walked everyday.  All the doctors and physical therapists who saw Dad  remarked how strong his legs and feet were.   Even Dad acknowledged that he was looking good for being 93!  He enjoyed his independence, his freedom to travel  and driving his new car in Oahu.

Last year we remodeled our home in Berkeley so Dad could settle down permanetly at last.  He enjoyed Berkeley and staying with us.  He loved living with the family and his grand-daughter, An Emily and our dogs, Bodhi and Daisy.

He walked everyday to the Gourmet Ghetto and enjoyed the fresh bakeries and the great coffee.  We went to so many good restaurants together.  He remarked that the Peking duck at the Great China restaurant in Berkeley was even better then the duck in Beijing!  He ate sushi and sashmi daily and loved Yuki's homemade miso soup.

In November, Dad felt the traveling call once again and announced he was going back to Hawaii Kai.  He continued to drive and walk daily in the warmer climate of Hawaii.  We traveled from Berkeley to Oahu to see him for the holidays.

Dad came back to Berkeley in February of this year.  He talked about how he was now ready to settle down.  He shared that he didn't need to go back and forth to Hawaii anymore.   He was happy and relaxed to be back at home with us.  We all went to the famed Alice Waters' restaurant Chez Panisse for his 93rd birthday in April.

In May, Dad started to slow down. He still walked everyday, but not as far and he rested more.  He got weaker until he couldn't walk steady.  He went to the hospital for the first time in over 50 years for a very short stay.  He came home to us on June 3rd, our mother's anniversary of her passing 6 years ago.   He passed away peacefully in our home on June 8th, on our mother's birthday.   It all went by so quickly; Dad went from walking on his own to leaving this life and his body two weeks later.

Dad had already started his last journey before we all knew it.  He was ready to finally settle down.  We miss him dearly.  We had hoped he would live with us for a much longer time.  He still wanted his independence and to travel beyond this body.   In August, we will gather together in Oahu and place his ashes with our mother in their beautiful resting place.   We know they will rest in peace together forever.