Hattie Tilton

About the age of eleven, my dad....Kini Tilton...yelled at mom to send me to him, in the receiving line at a Luau held at Auntie Anna and Uncle Willie's home in Waikane. He then introduced me to Auntie Hattie, and vice versa: "Nani, this is my own true sister...Hattie. Sister, this is my eldest daughter and the record keeper for my wife, Muriel, and me."

"Before you and I ma-keh, we need to tell Nani and your keiki....how we are related. We are family even if our parents hanai'd you to the XXXXX household/ohana. Sister, make sure your keiki know that after you and I make (mah-keh)...if they need to find Uncle Kini's Ohana, they are to look for Puanani Tilton, this one."

In my training, once a week up to age 14, mom reminded me....the other siblings could move elsewhere....I "...could not. I was to keep my two feet firmly on Oahu soil, except for occasional trips, to represent the needs (as such came to me) of our kupuna gravesites...," not to worship deceased loved ones, but to meet practical needs with government and other lines, as I could. Lptm

This hana'i (d) out auntie and daddy seemed teary-eyed the eve dad introduced me to her. There were many regrets dad held in his heart that he could never tell me. "Go ask your mother." Lptm

Dad trusted mom with his secrets; mom taught me what they felt I needed to know to better complete their business after they died. This is the auntie I have yet to serve as daddy hoped. Lptm