MEMORIAL DAY 2020: BLACK LIVES MATTER

Two African-American kids living in Hawaii, a boy and a girl in their tweens, has built a sand igloo that becomes a portal to another time and place. Through the sand igloo they make two new animal friends and together they observer Memorial Day eve, as everyone in O'ahu is getting ready to put lanterns with candles at sea. 

An inspiring story for the whole family, in honor and gratitude of those who have gone before us – and to those who paved the way for our freedom.

Dedicated to George Floyd.

Evening was approaching and everyone was getting ready for the Lantern Floating 2021 in Ala Moana Beach Park on the south shore of O’ahu, Hawai’i – to honor loved ones lost and hope toward the future.

Jamie and Kukui with their two new friends – Mikos, a gray mouse the size of a chinchilla, and the first snowfox Kix Mudhopper – had just finished making another SAND IGLOO, this time on Magic Island, which would be their portal back home later after the Lantern Floating. Back home to where you’re probably wondering . . . but Mikos and Kix were animals from a far away place and time, who had come through a sand igloo that Jamie and Kukui had built the day before on Waikiki Beach.

“There, now that’s one nice sand igloo, and not to close to the ocean like the one you came through.” said Jamie and quickly put together four square lanterns that Kukui placed by the sand igloo.

“We can light the lanterns later, but we should write names on the lanterns now.” said Kukui and smiled.

“Sounds like a plan Kukui! And I know just who I'm putting on my lantern, George Floyd. I didn't know him personally, but I heard him speak in a post about how us young people gotta take a stand. We gotta show respect, love one another and never forget – BLACK LIVES MATTER." said Jamie.

"Thanks for pointing that out, I'm putting George Floyd on my lantern too." replied Kukui.

"Do you guys have a remembrance of someone special that you wanna write on your lantern, before setting it afloat?” Jamie asked to Mikos and Kix.

“I’ll never forget my dear loving mother Little Misty Snowball and my brave dad Wolfy,” answered Kix, "but I'm also putting George Floyd on my lantern."

“Great Kix! What about you Mikos?” asked Kukui.

“What?! I can’t hear too well, I still got sand in my ears.” Mikos answered and tilted his head to get the sand out, “okay, now I can hear.”

They all laughed.

Kukui knelt down. “The candle inside the lantern resembles the light in our heart that is never extinguished, who do you remember?”

Mikos started mentioning names, while Jamie and Kukui wrote on the lanterns, and being a mouse there was quite a few in his family tree. “And let's remember George Floyd, so we can move forward to a better future.”

“You're one deep mouse.” said Jamie. 

“All done!” exclaimed Kukui. “Now let’s celebrate a better future and eat.”

“Great, ‘cause I could eat a whole pizza right now.” replied Mikos, as he jumped up and down.

Kix smiled. “And I could eat a cold pizza right now, Hawaiian style with pineapple . . . but we don’t have anything to trade with.”

“Oh no, I lost my sunrise seashell bracelet.” said Jamie all disappointed.

“Not to worry guys, here’s lots of SAND DOLLARS,” said Mikos and picked up a handful of sand dollars on the beach, “we're rich!!”

“Um . . . you can't actually buy anything with sand dollars,” replied Kukui, “but we’re in luck! Right over there’s a Luau for our neighborhood and lots of FREE food for everyone.” Mikos threw the sand dollars back in the sand. “Hey Jamie! There’s your bracelet.”

“Mahalo Mikos,” said Jamie and picked up his bracelet, “I got it from my grandmother.”

Jamie, Kukui, Mikos and Kix then hurried over to join the Luau. “Look at all that freeeeee food!” exclaimed Mikos. “No offense, but you two go sit over there while Kukui and I get us some onolicious snacks.” said Jamie, “a mouse on a table with food, not a good combination.”

Mikos crossed his arms in protest. “Frightened by me? I'm a harmless little mouse.”

“You do scare me sometimes.” said Kix. “I refuse to believe that.” replied Mikos.

Jamie and Kukui were gone but a few minutes and came right back, each with two big paper plates. On Jamie’s plates were pineapple rice with grilled chicken, coconut bread and a tossed salad topped with raisins. And, on Kukui’s plates were all kinds of cheesecakes and fruits.

“I see you guys found a great spot to sit,” said Jamie and sat down next to Mikos and Kix under some palm trees, “go ahead and eat!”

Mikos was shocked. “What?! No pizza?” “Surprise! I got pizza on my other plate.” said Kukui and sat down.

“CHEE-HOO!!!” exclaimed Mikos and started eating a slice of pizza.

“Try the salad too Mikos, it’s pretty good.” said Kix.

Mikos took a raisin from the salad. “This better not be a bug.”

Jamie laughed and took a grape from the plate with fruits. “That’s a raisin, same as this grape, but dried in the sun.” Mikos ate the raisin. “Yummy, tastes like chicken.”

Jamie suddenly realized they didn’t have anything to drink and zipped away. “I’ll be right back with drinks guys!!” “Look at that slice of cheesecake.” said Mikos and dove into it.

Kix shook his head. “And that’s why mice and people don’t mix.”

Kukui couldn’t help but laugh. “Try the kiwi guys.”

“What's ‘kiwi’?” asked Mikos.

“That green fuzzy fruit there.” answered Kukui and pointed to the kiwi fruits.

“Those are kiwi?! I thought they were little old coconuts.” said Mikos and chuckled.

Jamie was back and sat down with root beer floats and non-alcoholic piña coladas in coconut shells. “TA-DA!” “Hey look,” said Mikos and pointed to the little umbrellas in the drinks, “some mouses must’ve forgotten their umbrellas.”

Jamie, Kukui and Kix started drinking the piña colada while Mikos were sipping the root beer float. “DELICIOUS!!” exclaimed Mikos.

Kukui wiped the root beer foam off Mikos’ mouth with a napkin. “There you go.”

“Mahalo mom.” replied Mikos.

Jamie, Kukui and Kix laughed.

The Pū, a Hawaiian conch shell that marks the commencement of the lantern ceremony, then sounded. “Well, it looks like it’s about time to put our lanterns at sea.” said Jamie.

Mikos put on a little grass skirt, a Hula ‘auana, from one of the plastic cups. “Whattaya think guys?”

“Cute.” said Kukui and rubbed Mikos’ head.

“Yeah, but you need a necklace.” added Jamie and put his bracelet with the sunrise seashell around Mikos' neck.

“Okay, let’s go guys.” said Kukui and led the way back to the sand igloo where they picked up their lanterns.

It was getting dark and thousands of lit lanterns were already in the ocean, floating away, as Jamie and Kukui put their four lanterns in the water.

Jamie knelt and bowed his head. "May there never be a Memorial Day like 2020 again."

“Thanks for sharing Magic Island with us and reminding us of George Floyd, we won't forget.” said Kix.

“Same goes for me!” added Mikos and took a knee too.

“We’re all OHANA.” replied Jamie and Kukui unanimously.