The Honolulu Advertiser from Honolulu, Hawaii • 57

DONDI HO COSTA would tell me, "Dondi, your life is like a book. There are chapters you start. As you live your life, it would end. And another chapter would start." He was telling me these things as he lived his busy life, passing on his mana'o. I'd realize that normal is different for everyone.

Q. Who were some of the notables you remember? A. It was normal to have people at our dinner table. Everybody. George Helm (the late Hawaiian singer) would be at our dinner table.

And the composer of "Nanakuli Blues" (Liko Martin). Q. And national celebrities? A. I was part of an Elvis (Presley) TV special. I danced.

And I have a Jackie Kennedy memory; Jackie and her children. They came at a time, before the assassination (of John F. Kennedy), and they spent time in Hawaii. I don't remember precisely, but soon after, there was the assassination. I took it personally.

Q. Do your sisters and brothers sing? A. We all sing, but not professionally. My sisters were in the show, but not my brothers. I sang (and danced) with my dad.

Personally, it was fun, growing up that way. I realized Dad made it fun. You had all this fun with him. We learned the art of professionalism. But one day, I realized as I was singing and dancing, wait a minute, I think I'm shy.

So I sing in church now. But I loved the training. Q. Did dad sing around the house? A. Not really.

I remember waking up my alarm was my dad. Dad had bought a synthesizer at Honey's. I would hear the sound of the synthesizer, which he was learning to play, when he'd come home from Honey's. "Poop, poop, poop." I thought that was nor- Ho family photo Six kids, set up as a triangle: Top: Donnie Ho; middle two: Dori and Dondi Ho; bottom three: Dayna, Dwight and Donalei Ho. REBECCA BREYER The Honolulu Advertiser Dwight Ho and Dondi Ho Costa at Don Ho's Island Grill, where a TV monitor airs a Don Ho video.

mal. Q. What word best describes him? A. I think the word is generous. He was so real, he was so generous with people.

He made connections and we connected hearts. Q. How aware were you of his health problems? A. He had warnings (about his heart), but he was so protective, for our concerns. But I admired his strength, the fullness of his day, all that he did.

He did it with joy. He was amazing. Q. What are some of the lessons gleaned from watching him? A. I guess his philosophy and heart to treat everyone with love, respect and aloha, no matter what.

No matter your position, no matter the boundaries. People loved that about him. Q. What do you remember best about the way he was Don Ho? A. I would go to the show often, and we grew up as part of the show, so I was always amazed.

I knew all these jokes; I knew where they would go. I would be in the audience (in later years) and I would end up laughing. "Dad, how do you do I'd ask him. And he said, "I have so much fun." He loved what he was doing sharing. For him, it was telling the joke like it was the first time.

Q. What lasting image do you have of Dad? A. Well, he loved to tinker around the house. He would even dress like a handyman, in his carpenter mode, with a tool belt, the whole garb. I would follow him down to the show, where he'd get into his show garb, and he would command his audience in minutes.

How do you do that? You had the image of both of him. Q. Your dad has supported your designing career. What's next for you? A. We talked about things we could do together, so I prepared a collection a Don Ho collection and he was so excited.

We had plans for it. We were going to work on it in his retirement. He just resorted to retirement in heaven. But we're going to launch it. For him.

Reach Wayne Harada at or 525-8067. The Honolulu Advertiser Saturday, May 5, 2007 7.