How I met my husband

Woah, can't believe I'm saying that now!

This photo is from our first date!

In February 2023, after one too many mimosas in the nail salon, my friend, Michelle, and I decided to go on a girls trip to Hawai’i. We were in our senior year of college and thought it would be fun to take a long weekend trip to Honolulu. So, we booked the trip right there.

Little did we know that February was rainy season, and when we showed up, boy, was it raining. As we got ready in the hotel room, we decided to go to the University of Hawaii at Mānoa library to study. What else is there to do when you’re in college and it’s raining, right? Michelle opened up her laptop and started on a Computer Science project, and I started working on one of my personal projects–a booklet of essays containing life lessons from college.

Suddenly, a soaking wet stud strolled in. Seeing his handsome looks and laconic demeanor, Michelle turned and whispered to me “He’s your type, right?” I shushed her, and giggled. The handsome stranger walked over and casually sat right behind me.

We hadn’t gotten on the wifi yet, so I turned around, asking “hey, is the wifi password working for you?”

After a bit of confusion, he signed into his school account so they could use the wifi on the condition that we “don’t torrent anything.” I didn’t make any promises. We chatted some more, then he gathered up his nerve and gave me his phone number.

We spent the next day together–rock climbing, getting brunch, and enjoying the beach (bashfully skipping a Valentine’s Day party with Pō’s Friends and Family), and saying wistful, open-ended goodbyes. (All with Michelle of course!)

We didn’t expect to see each other again, but the Lord had other plans. Our paths crossed again in Berkeley, and Pō just happened to book a European exchange the same summer he knew I was going to be there. We met up in Seville, Annecy, Geneva, and Prague. And with each encounter, our bond grew stronger. In Prague, after 14 days of seeing each other in person, we started dating.

I made the decision to move to Hawai’i to continue the relationship with Pōhaku. I packed up my things and moved in with five girls she had met on Facebook.

While Pōhaku finished his senior year of college, I worked at the film festival and as a barista at a local café. Right after graduation, Pō and I embarked on our next adventure in NYC. We both moved to DUMBO in Brooklyn with my cousin, Ben, and his girlfriend, Sao. Through all the adventures and challenges we faced we kept choosing each other.