Finding Great-Grandma's Mu'u
A few weeks ago I was thrift store shopping at the new Salvation Army in Lihue and I came across this beautiful mini mu'u. I was shocked when I noticed the Liberty House label and saw the name Kamei written on it. My Great Grandmother's last name was Kamei and she loved mu'u that were pink or purple or red. I was surprised to find this because she passed away 5 yrs ago! Could it be hers? There aren't many Kamei on Kauai. It looked so familiar but I needed proof. (See my archive instastory to see how I felt the day I found this mini mu'u!) My mom and I went through all our old photo albums hunting for proof. Alas nothing! Then I get a text photo from mom the other night--it was hers! The last photo in the last photo album! I immediately knew where this photo was taken. Her church in Hanapepe--where she is actually resting to this day (her ashes are in a cubby back there.) I've come full circle and feel like she is smiling down on me or at least giggling. Florence Shizuko Kamei was born in Kekaha in 1904, one of her legacies is that when she passed she was the oldest person in Hawaii at age 108! When she died they announced it on the radio and news! Her secret? Green tea and hobbies. She loved her church choir, playing ukulele, Japanese dancing, joking around, and eating. My daughter shares her middle name Shizuko which means Quiet Child (neither of them have quiet personalities!) And I'm definitely passing this dress down to her.