In March of 2007, Kim was diagnosed with biliary or gall bladder cancer.  All the information we could find on that type of cancer indicated that survival rates were close to non-existent and that we would be fortunate if he survived even one year.  As we came to accept the inevitable result of his diagnosis, Kim began talking about the future for our family after his passing.  

One day he made a very specific request.  He had always wanted to provide opportunities for our children to travel.  Specifically, he wanted to take them to Hawaii where he had spent several months after graduating from high school.  He told me that he would really like to have me use the money that would come to us from the Granite Employees Welfare Association to take the family to Hawaii.  Of course he didn't know if the final amount would be sufficient to cover the costs of that trip but, if at all possible, that was how he would like that money to be used.

Kim passed away on July 15, 2007.  Several months later, I began considering how and when to take the promised trip to Hawaii.  After the difficult task of finding a week when all the children could go, we made plans to spend April 22 thru April 28 in Hawaii.  

We spent the entire time on the island of Oahu, staying in a rented beach house on the North Shore. Several of the pictures from our vacation are below.  I hope that it will be obvious by looking at them that we had a WONDERFUL time!!!  

To Kim, who we are sure accompanied us in spirit, Mahalo.  We felt like we were truly in paradise, not only because of our surroundings but because we were able to enjoy the time together so completely.