Pualani Love Obituary

For my Sister Pualani....I can't believe it's been a year since we lost you. I truly miss you so very much.

It's sad we had been apart for so many years...I wish I had known you were in our town for almost 2 years and we never got to see you.

You will always be missed by so many of us....I miss your smile and your laughter.

Know that you are in the hearts of many many people, and will never be forgotten.

I miss you and loved you so very much !

My Aloha and Love,
Leilani

You are truly missed

I first met Pualani [whom I called "Loni"] the summer of 1965. She came up to Mother Goose Village in Michigan City, Indiana with her friend Pam to visit for the summer. When Loni and Pam got out of Pam's mother's "Goosemobile", a grey Ford wagon, my friend Bruce and I noticed both girls had a brown mark near their ankles. So I asked them if the markings were for membership of some special club. In unison both of them answered "No, they are burn marks from the external exhaust pipes on Fazio's car". We all laughed and that was the beginning of one of the most wonderful summers I have ever had.
Loni was easy going, a lot of fun, and had one of the greatest smiles I have ever seen. She had a great since of humor but we did have to put up with the occasional "Hawaiian Lei" joke, which was kind of corny, but she could pull it off. She also had a very warm side and expressive eyes. When she got her eyes and smile going at the same time it was a double whammy.
When I was a kid I watched Arthur Godfrey bring talent over from the Islands and became fascinated with things Hawaiian. I especially like the girls with the flowers in their hair. I even played the Hawaiian guitar for a couple of years. One day I was down by the beach near dusk trying to decide if I wanted to go in the freezing cold summer water. I turned around and Loni was walking towards the beach and had on a sarong, a great big smile and the most beautiful white hibiscus in her jet black hair. She looked like she just stepped off Godfrey's show.
Three years later I arrived in Vietnam one day before the first TET of 1968. I was assigned as the XO and if something happened to the CO I took his place. We were in a lot of small battles during the year and a few big ones. The first battle I was in lasted three days. The fighting got pretty intense and at one point I started to wonder if we were going to get through it. At that moment that vision of Loni on the beach came to me. Don't know why and never had anything like that happen to me before. All of a sudden a calm feeling came to me that everything was going to be all right - sure enough everything turned out OK. Around TET 2 in another big battle the same thing happened. It may have happened more times but those are the only two I remember. The strange thing to me was Loni was Bruce's girlfriend and Pam was my girlfriend. I can only think it was the aura of kindness about her that was coming through. I don't really know but it was very comforting at the time and I shall never forgot it. I did try to find her after I came back to tell her but could not locate her. So I am mentioning it now.
Loni you will always be remembered. If our minds start to fade with the advancing years, not to worry sweet princess, you will always, always be in our hearts.

RUSSELL POLLARD
LTC ARMY RTD

Though I hadn't seen or heard from Lani in many years ,I have fond memories of her when she visited and lived in NC. My prayers are with her family. Lynn

I did not know Pualani, but share family by marriage. Chuck and I send our sympathies to all of Pualani's family and friends. The passing of a loved one leaves such a void in our lives. Memories will keep the love alive and ease the pain.

To an Aunt that brought life to everybody that she met and touched, throughout your time on this planet. Your positive emotions, your pleasurable organization of life. Thank you for your friendship, I will always remember the good times that brought to me and my family. I know in my heart that you are truly at peace with yourself, your choices and the ones you loved. I will miss you until we meet again. As Taylor told you at the end, please tell her mother from all of us "hello and we miss you" Love, Randy

Oh sweet friend. So many fun times will not ever be forgotten. I wish I could of seen you also these last years. Sleep well special lady and rest in peace.

Your spirit lives in the hearts of those you touched. To me you are still a young woman with an interesting zest for life.