My maternal grandparents were Filipino.  My Grandmother was from Bacarra,  Ilocos Norte,  and my grandfather was from La Union.  They came to Hawaii in the eary Thirties.  My grandfather worked at the sugar plantations of Kohala,  Hawaii,  then later,  Kahuku and Waimanalo  on the island of Oahu,  Hawaii. 

Before World War Two,  they bought a fishpond from an old Japanese man.  During the War they prospered greatly,  because the beaches were off limits,  and food was scarce. That was the time of food rationing,  and my grandparents traded a lot of fish for money and ration tickets of every kind.  They also sold illegal whiskey to the American soldiers.  The Black Market was thriving then. 

Grandfather later started a farm.    He was famous for his sweet watermelons and fresh vegetables.    They also raised cattle,  chickens,  pigs,  and goats.  My grandmother was shrewd with money,  and they helped many people over the years.  They were well known in the Filipino community. 

My grandparents had 10 children.  When I was young,  all the family would stay at grandma"s house some weekends.  We would go to Church on Sunday,  eat lunch,  then watch Lawrence Welk and Filipino Fiesta on tv in the afternoon. 

They lived near the beach,  and we would go fishing a lot with them.  I stayed at Kahuku every summer until i reached 14.  Those lazy days of summer I will always cherish.  Being the oldest of 7,  I later learned to cook.  Even now,  my siblings call me to ask for  recipes of favorite Filipino dishes. 

My heroes will always be my parents and grandparents.  I hope some day my children will think of me in that way also.  That is how life should be.