Who ever came up with the idea that you had to count to 100 after you pau eating and before you go swim? I remember small kid time all our cousins being at grandma's house and as soon as we swallowed the last bite we would start counting. Couldn't count to fast bumbye grandma make us start all over. From about 1 to 50 we just cleaning up and cruising but when we getting closer, we start taking off the t-shirts and walking down to the pool. At around 80 we're all counting together and getting louder and louder. At 90 we're all getting in our "spot" to jump, dive, or bomb in. Then FINALLY we all jump and yell 100 in the air before landing in the pool.

The best was jumping off the roof into the pool. The only catch was you gotta make sure grandpa wasn't home so you could do it.. He would get so mad at us when we were bombing in the pool! "You guys wasting water!" he would yell at us. Worse yet was when he came home after we did it and there were all the  splash marks on the wall. BUSTED! I remember the sweet smell of the pakalana, ginger and plumeria that grew around the pool. Then when we were hungry again someone would go pick mountain apple, mango or lychee and throw them into the pool so everyone could snack. Hmm I wonder why it was okay to eat snack while we were swimming but we had to wait after a meal? When I think of my "hanabuddah days" it always has something to do with grandma's house and the pool.

Deanne Learn (maiden name Lavatai) was born and raised in Makiki. She graduated from Roosevelt in 1987. She and husband Cory have two kids and one due in January 2000. She now lives in Montana and loves the mountains there. But never as much as the beach! She has the best career in the world. She is wife and mother to a wonderful husband and really good kids. She is still looking for that kid Kalani, you remember those commercials...come be my neighbor...call now for sure! He's probably out fishing or hunting. She still gets homesick sometimes but always has home in her heart.