Laie Hawaii Temple

In July of 1966, one year after their Honolulu wedding, Dan and Mayone brought home their first baby, a daughter and named Lepeka Shannon. In February of 1967 when Shannon was 8 months old Dan and Mayone took her to the Laie Temple to be sealed as a family for time and eternity.
In June, 4 months later, their second daughter, Ofa Donita was born. 

The Corvair

During the summer of 1967, Dan and Mayone bought a car: a used green Chevy Corvair. After their July wedding and finishing summer jobs in Waikiki they loaded the Corvair with everything they owned and headed out to the North Shore to a new job for Mayone teaching elementary school at Ka'a'awa School and back to university studies for Dan at CCH.

Their first car was a 1962 Green Chevy Corvair

A few months later a cousin borrowed the Corvair and wrecked it on the Pali Highway going to Honolulu. Dan and Mayone then, coincidentally, took over payments on a red Corvair of a student who was returning to the mainland. This red Corvair was the family car when both Shannon and 'Ofa were born. The car later fell into disrepair (and a victim to island rust!) over the next few years and, of course, the family graduated to a bigger, more practical car!

Caught on Candid Camera! Mayone and Dan exchange a kiss while loading the Corvair with baby Shan and stuff. 

The first family car.

Waikiki Construction

In the Summer of 1965 Dan was walking on the street in Waikiki and passed a hotel construction site. He wondered if they needed a hard worker and so he asked them if they were hiring. The boss hired him and for the next 3 years Dan worked as a foreman on construction sites for hotels such as the Hilton Hawaiian Lagoon. This was the beginning of his career as a builder. Dan worked for many more years in construction than he did as an educator.

Honeymoon at The Waikikian

As if the marriage ceremony and wedding reception and luau were not enough, Cousin Danny arranged for a special honeymoon getaway for Dan and Mayone at the famous Waikikian Hotel just down the beach from Queen's Surf. The following pictures show why this historic hotel was so popular and unique.

Although closed in 1996 and demolished in 2005 the Waikikian is representative of
Classic Mid-century Pacific "Tiki" Architecture

The Waikikian was one of the 1950's, pre-highrise hotels that featured a new "tropical" architecture.  

The inside of a guest room at the Waikikian

The grounds of the Waikikian provided a paradise playground for guests

 Cousin Danny arranged for breakfast to be sent by room service and Dan and Mayone recall that this was the first time either of them had Eggs Benedict!

The Barefoot Bar and Surf Lanai

The "Barefoot Bar" was the signature bar at the Queen's Surf Restaurant. In the upstairs area of the restaurant, the bar and the Surf Lanai provided drinks with a view of the ocean, beautiful and comfortable furniture, and continuous entertainment and dancing, even into the wee hours of the morning.

Although Dan and Mayone were not drinkers and never went to the Barefoot Bar, we think that the 'Barefoot' theme of the bar has application to Dan and Mayone's love story.

On the way upstairs to the Barefoot Bar (as seen below) square tiles featured the footprints of famous people and local celebrities who visited the bar. This footprint exhibit remained and grew over the years adding stories and tradition to the life of the Queen's Surf and its bar.

And so it has been with the people in our parent's lives. They have come and gone, some quickly and some more slowly, but they have left footprints in Dan and Mayone's hearts that we, their children, have heard about many times. These people have become family legends because of the small and big ways they lifted, shared, and cared. The following quote expresses this sentiment:

"Some people come into our lives and quickly go 

and some stay awhile... 

but for those who leave footprints on our hearts 

we are never, ever the same." 

The comfortable lounge of the Barefoot Bar was called the Surf Lanai. Cane and wicker furniture with covered cushions of tropical fabrics made this lounge inviting and popular among locals and tourists alike.

Sterling Mossman was a regular performer and comedian at the Barefoot Bar.
 See the footprints on the wall behind him.

Shown here is the wall which lined the stairs up to the Barefoot Bar. Covered with the footprints of visitors from places near and far, the wall became a famous and treasured part of Queen's Surf.

The Wedding Reception and Dinner

After the 5:00 p.m. marriage ceremony at the Honolulu Tabernacle the newly weds and guests relocated to what was known to be "The Most Beautiful Restaurant on the Beach at Waikiki" ... The Queen's Surf.

Daniel and Mayone receive their well-wishers, mostly the Tongan community, now as man and wife.

Arranged by cousin Danny, the wedding dinner was served on the Garden Lanai as the sun sank into the western waters at Waikiki Beach. In this photo you can see the backs of Dan and Mayone who have just finished cutting their wedding cake and serving it up to guests. Guests are finishing their meal and visiting with each other as the torches are lit around the perimeter of the Garden.

Dan and Mayone's Wedding Reception and Dinner, Luau Style.

A 1960's advertisement 

Menu Cover from the Queen's Surf

A Menu Brochure inviting guests to try the Luau Dinner

Once a stately mansion, the grounds of Queen's Surf was a beautiful showplace and a perfect setting for a wedding reception.

Queen's Surf provided tourists and visitors with an authentic 'native feast' as well as other catered options such as "Surfwagon" dinners served at the water's edge and fried chicken and prime rib specialties. Night time drinking, entertainment, and dancing was a regular option until the wee hours of the morning. In the picture below, low-set tables are being prepared for luau guests who will sit on pillows and mats while they eat. Note the after-dinner coffee cups and saucers set to meet the tastes of the American tourist-diner.

According to Ian Lind, a reporter-blogger:

Queen’s Surf was built during the years 1914 and 1915, by Mr. & Mrs. W.K. Seering of the International Harvester Co., Illinois. In the year 1936 it was purchased from Mr. & Mrs. Seering by Mr. C.R. Holmes for his Honolulu residence. Mr. Holmes also owned the beautiful Coconut Island, which is located in the Kaneohe are on the windward side of the island of Oahu, in the Hawaiian Island Group. In 1945 the residence was purchased by a group known as the Capitol Properties, Limited. It was remodeled and made into an outstanding commercial location as pictured in the attached photographs. It is regarded as the most luxuriest commercial location in the islands. During the war period the residence was used as a rest home for young flyers. C.R. Holmes donated the premises for this use during the war period. Many of the flyers enjoyed the luxuries that were extended there. In the year 1944, during the war conference held in Hawaii by Admiral Nimitz, General Douglas McArthur and staffs; all of their time was spent in the residence now known as the Queen’s Surf.

http://www.ilind.net/2011/01/12/remembering-the-old-queens-surf/

Honolulu Tabernacle

The Honolulu Tabernacle is now a historic LDS stake building located on Beretania Street.  Completed and dedicated in 1941 President David O. McKay prayed that the building would sustain no damage during the war and it didn't. Over the years the Tabernacle has been an important place for helping many Latter-day Saints progress in the gospel. The building's many purposes and activities include church services and conferences, baptisms, instructional classes, and marriages. Danny and Esita arranged with their bishop to marry Dan and Mayone in a civil ceremony that would be held in the tabernacle's garden courtyard on July 31, 1967 at 5:00 p.m. in the afternoon.

Located on Beretania Street in Honolulu, this historic building is now over 70 years old.

Those who are familiar with the Honolulu Tabernacle will readily recognize the red louvered doors in the breezeway.
This wedding photograph taken in front of the red doors give the bride and groom a background to remember. 

Five o'clock shadows appear in the courtyard as the Bishop performs the wedding ceremony.

The bridal party and guests gather for a photograph on the front steps of the Tabernacle after the ceremony.

The Bride and Groom with their attendants.