Tribute to my brother

It is with great sadness that I write this Memorial for my brother James. We called him Jimmy D. He and I shared the same birthday on July 3rd. My world will not be the same without him in my daily life, but I know my life and the lives of others have been enriched by having him in our life. My brother had a little gecko that would watch television with him. After Jim died I put a gecko on everything I did musically. The gecko is my aumakua symbolizing our bond. You will see them on my page in different places.

My brother embraced the Hawaiian culture and the Hawaiians embraced my brother as one of their own, thus the nickname “Bruddah”. He would call my sisters and I “Sistah”. He loved everything about Hawaii, the place, the atmosphere, the air. He was a wonderful young man and would give (and quite often gave) the shirt off of his back to anyone who needed it. His heart was as big as anyone I have ever known. He was a kind and gentle spirit. He could make anyone laugh and could do impressions of anyone you wanted to hear. He had a green thumb and loved gardening and growing herbs to make his surroundings green.

Although he had a great sense of humor, he was a troubled spirit. He would want me to spread this message to anyone who will read it…DRUGS KILL! He made the unfortunate mistake of trying an illegal drug on one occasion which altered the chemistry in his brain. This bad decision led him to a life of troubled times and great sadness. He spent numerous years trying to correct the chemical imbalance in his brain. He then sought to go out and teach others what drugs do to people. So, in memory of my brother, I share this message with you and urge you to share it with others so that you do not have to witness the pain that stems from “just one try”.

My brother is now in Heaven watching over us as one of the newer angels. My brother wanted to be my bodyguard. Now he is capable of being just that from the Heavenly aspect. He encouraged me to sing and believed in my abilities and always said I would make it. Well Bruddah, I am going to make it and I know you and the angels will be watching over me to get me there. Jim was laid to rest in the Iao Valley of Maui where he loved to go and be with our dad and his Hawaiian brother, Kaleo as well as his mainland friends and family.

“Awake at Dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving.” Kahlil Gibran [Aloha ka koa a hui ho (I love you; you are the special one)

Aloha nui loa. (All my love) Malamo pono (Take good care) Ke Akua Ho’omaika’I Oe (God Bless You) We love you Jim!