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Ringbearer - Louis Keolamakamae Ornellas
Six-year old Louis is an energetic first grader at Kalihi Uka Elementary. Louis, or "Louie", as most call him, also goes by the nickname "Itty Bitty" or "Biddy", which his Grandma Sharon gave him.
Louie's favorites include Max Steel, Jackie Chan and Spider Man, and he LOVES to spend his free time with Grandma and cousin Sandy at Fun Factory where his favorite is the Jet Ski game. On weekends before going to Fun Factory, Louie and Sandy love to go to Kenny's Restaurant for lunch. Louie always orders chicken and fries and tells the waitress NO VEGETABLES. Louie loves playing video games at home, going on the computer to play mini golf and also loves to go to the movies. If the movie is boring, he and Sandy have to use the bathroom a few times; if it's good, they're glued to their seats.
Louie's all time favorite food is pork & beans with hot dogs. He also loves spam musubi and he'll only eat the ones from KC Market......he could live on spam musubi and pork & beans!
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Flowergirl - Sandy Keawaiki Ornellas
Sandy is also an enthusiastic first grader at Kalihi Uka Elementary. Sandy is Joe and Noe's first Godchild and is the niece of 'Bestman' Thomas. Sandy is also the first cousin of 'Ringbearer' Louis and just celebrated her 7th birthday at Ice Palace this past March.
Sandy's current interests include Hello Kitty, Barbie, Morning Glory, buying sandals (which she has a lot of), playing with Joe & Noe's dogs, and of course, spending time with her Grandma. Sandy, also known as, "Goofy Girl" and "Dolly" LOVES hawaiian food, saimin at Kenny's Restaurant and playing games on the computer. One game, Trivial Pursuit, involves guessing the answers since all the events happened before her time, but she's a pretty good guesser and it's an educational learning experience for her.
Sandy likes to play cards, especially Old Maid with her cousin "Biddy" and Grandma. They both hate to be the old maid, so Grandma is usually stuck with it......cheaters!
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Flowergirl - Trisha Alice Vereze-Eligio
Trisha is another spunky 6 year old attending the 1st grade at Kalihi Uka Elementary. Trisha is the daughter of 'Groomsman' Stephen Eligio and 'Bridesmaid' Renee Vereze Eligio. Trisha has an older brother, Jeffrey, attending Farrington High School and a twin brother and sister Kyle and Julia that turned 4 years old in May. Trisha is also Joe and Noe's God-daughter.
Trisha's favorite cartoon is Sponge Bob Squarepants and she likes anything to do with Blue Bear, Hello Kitty and Morning Glory. Her favorite animals include white bunny rabbits, baby kittens, and little puppies and Trisha's favorite insects are butterflies. Trisha likes the color pink and purple, but not any kind of purple. Trisha likes to help mom decorate their home on holidays and is a natural-born actress. She likes to sing in front of her dad's friends when they're over her house and her favorite song to sing is Kelly Clarkson's "A Moment Like This".
Trisha's favorite food is spaghetti with meat balls and she likes going to Chuck E. Cheese whenever she can because of their games and prizes and, most of all, she loves their pepperoni pizza with extra cheese. Her favorite places to eat out are KFC and McDonalds because she LOVES the kids meal with the toys inside.
Trisha loves to read, write, draw, and make up her own stories. She would also like to create her own book one day. At school, when they have an assembly, Trisha always volunteers to talk on stage, but later gets scared. When the day comes, however, she's usually prepared. Trisha is one that's not afraid to go to the dentist, in fact, when she grows up, she would like to be a doctor or a teacher. Trisha actually wants to do alot of things, as most kids do at her age, and she has alot of time to figure that out as she grows up. |
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Maid of Honor - Davelyn Marie Higashi
Davelyn, "Davey Girl" or "Dave" as Noe likes to call her, is a 1988 graduate of Castle High School and the mother of three fast-growing children; Eric Jr., Noah and Erica. Davelyn is currently a busy housewife or "Domestic Engineer", as should would like to be called, caring for her 4 year old daughter until she attends her first year in elementary school. Davelyn has been married for over 10 years and currently lives in a new home she and husband Eric recently purchased in Ewa.
Davelyn and Noe met about 20 years ago while attending King Intermediate School in Kaneohe. Not only do they have their first names in common, but their birthdates are only 6 days apart, they were both born in the same hospital (Kapiolani), and their mothers share the same birthday....wow talk about spooky!
When she finds some spare time, Davelyn enjoys dancing, singing karaoke, barbecuing with friends, shopping for shoes with her daughter and serving Jehovah. Davelyn's favorite foods include pepperoni and cheese pizza, chicken, ice-chilled Hayden mangos, cucumber kim chee, ume and going out to eat at Big Island Steakhouse. Her favorite drink is a blended pina colada and her favorite actress is Ashley Judd. |
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Bridesmaid - Karen Kalei Spears
Karen or "Kalei" is another 1988 Castle High School graduate (Knights rule!) and another one of Joe and Noe's friends that moved to Las Vegas. Karen moved to "Lost Wages" back in March of 1990 and has only returned to Hawaii three times since. Joe and Noe's wedding will be her fourth.....she obviously loves it there.
Karen currently works for a general contractor, called Affordable Concepts, where she's been for the past two years working as their secretary and helping her bosses get bids in for possible jobs.
Because school and work take up most of her time, Karen doesn't really have too much spare time for play, but says that you can find her at the lake jetskiing or waterskiing whenever possible.
Kalei's favorite food is anything from Hawaii along with Italian, Chinese and steaks rounding off her top four. As for her favorite music, Kalei admits that she's still stuck on Bob Marley and also has a crush on Uncle Kracker. Kalei doesn't really have a favorite movie, but did enjoy Happy Gilmore and Lord of the Rings. Kalei's favorite colors include blues, purples and definitely green.
Karen has known Noe for about 20 years, going back to their days at King Intermediate. They've shared many great memories together, including catching TheBus to various beaches around the island, our favorite beach being Waimea Bay, where we would jump off the rock and make friends with the locals and any brave tourists that would have the guts to make it up there. Cutting school, drinking at high school football games, taking mom's van to go joy riding, and jumping the fence at Kaneohe District Park to swim in the pool in the middle of the night were just a few of their fun, yet innocent times. |
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Bridesmaid - Renee Vereze Eligio
Renee Vereze Eligio is Joe and Noe's next door neighbor and wife of Joe's 'Groomsman' Stephen. Renee is a 1989 graduate of Farrington High School and is currently a busy mom and housewife. In addition to being the mother of 6 year old 'Flowergirl' Trisha, Renee is also super mom to a 14 year old son Jeffrey and a pair of 4 year old twins Kyle and Julia.
Although Renee is a few years younger than Joe, Joe has grown up with Renee and her family and is especially close with her husband, grandpa and kids. Renee and Noe met over 10 years ago on a double date to the movies (don't ask what movie it was because we don't remember) and have remained friends ever since! Although they haven't done so in a while, Renee and Noe go walking (for exercise) to/from Kamehameha Shopping together and have been volleyball partners at Perry Park on numerous occasions back when the 'gang' used to play volleyball together.
Renee loves to do crafty things with her children, especially during the holidays, and her ultimate love is singing karaoke.....look for her on Hawaii Stars in the near future! |
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Bridesmaid - Wendi Keonaona Faria
Wendi is the younger sister of 'Bride' Noe. Wendi is a 1990 graduate of Castle High School and currently lives in San Diego, California where she has been for the past eleven years. Wendi has been employed as a flight attendant with United Airlines for the past five years, until she voluntarily furloughed to pursue an educational degree in Architectural Design.
Wendi enjoys traveling, attending cultural events, going to the movies and museums, and bargain shopping on her days off from school. One of Wendi's most valued purchases has been a one year old Terrier named Hapa, which is currently being housed at Noe and Joe's home in Kalihi Valley.
Wendi loves island food, family, her dog Hapa, and returns regularly to the islands to visit by using her flight privileges. |
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Best Man - Thomas Merrick Ornellas
Thomas and Joe have been childhood buddies for over 27 years. The two first met while playing offensive line for the Kalakaua Monarch Termite Football team. They also played Kalakaua Monarch Basketball and Baseball together.
Thomas is a 1988 graduate of Farrington High School, but went to school with Joe at Moanalua Intermediate and High School during the 7th, 8th and part of the 9th grades. Thomas, or "Tommy" is currently employed at R. Baird & Company where he's been pulling merchandise for the past three years.
Thomas is a die-hard fan of the Oakland Raiders, Atlanta Braves, and the Philadelphia 76'ers. His hobbies include golfing, playing 3rd base on his softball team "The Kalihi Valley Raiders", collecting antique bottles, as well as collecting baseball and football cards. Thomas has won two gold medals in the Aloha State Games for Softball and is a second-generation cockfighter with over 60+ birds.
Tommy's favorite food is pork link sausage with mushroom gravy. His favorite movie is "Saving Private Ryan", but also likes Mel Gibson movies. His favorite actress is Cathy Bates in the movie "Misery" and his favorite band is old school Bob Marley and the Wailers.
As kids, Thomas and Joe would swim at Ice Pond and Tin Roof (swimming ponds in Kalihi Valley) on many hot summer days. One day, while drying off in the sun at Tin Roof, there were three girls who jumped in without realizing how deep it was and panicked. Joe and Thomas jumped in and brought them to land and almost drowned themselves in the process. What heroes! |
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Groomsman - Benjamin Delanor Tumbaga
Ben, also known as "Jamin" and sometimes "Tata" for his Filipino, old-man-like qualities, is actually a young, 1987 graduate of St. Louis School. Ben is currently employed at Pepsi-Cola Hawaii, where he's been employed for the past 7 years as a service technician. This is a job he loves, as he met the love of his life, Angela, while delivering soda to her work place one day, over 3-1/2 years ago.
Ben met Joe through 'Bestman' Thomas and his brother Danny Boy while Ben, Thomas and Danny Boy attended Kapiolani Community College's Food Service classes. Although they all lived in Kalihi Valley their entire lives up to then, it wasn't until one weekend in 1988 when Ben visited Thomas and Danny Boy at their home to 'roll dice', that their friendship began and blossomed into what it is today.
Ben is an avid sports fanatic. His team favorites include the one and only Oakland Raiders, Los Angeles Lakers, Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees. When not at work, Ben's pastimes include playing softball with his "Kalihi Valley Raiders" teammates, teeing off at the golf course, and of course, cockfighting.
Ben shares a home with Angela and her son Aaron. The three live only a few blocks (just minutes) from Joe and Noe. Ben and Angela have spent many weekends with Joe and Noe at UH football games (the first time Noe met Angela), backyard barbecues, camping trips and even vacationed together in San Francisco, Reno and Los Angeles.
Ben's favorite food is Pork Adobo and challenges anyone to meet or beat his adobo recipe. His favorite actress is Mira Sorvino in the movies "Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion" and "Replacement Killers", to name a few.
When asked why he was holding up his wallet in the photo, Ben replied "I don't know.......but I think this is the wallet you guys gave me for Christmas". What a tata! |
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Groomsman - Stephen Tabieros Eligio
Stephen has been a great friend, co-worker and chicken fight partner to Joe for over 18 years. Joe first met Stephen at 'Bestman' Thomas' house back when Joe was around the 9th grade and they've been inseparable ever since!
Stephen is a carpenter by trade and works on side jobs with Joe when they're not working with Bobby Ragasa General Contractors. Stephen and Joe have traveled numerous times together; they've lived in Kauai for 7-8 months while working in Princeville, flew to Kodiak, Alaska with their bosses for a 10-day fishing trip (that's where he caught the fish in the photo) and even flew to Texas for the World Championship of Cockfighting in Oklahoma. Speaking of cockfighting, their group "Green Valley" has won a total of 4 derbys with more to come in the future!
Stephen is the husband of 'Bridesmaid' Renee and is the father of 'Flowergirl' Trisha. Stephen's hobbies include going to chicken fights, fishing, chicken fighting, going camping with friends and family and did I mention cockfighting? |
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Groomsman - Jordan Turro Espinosa
Jordan, aka "Danny Glover", "Billy Ocean", "Denzel Washington", "The Jordanian Nightmare" and "Popolo Rican", is another 1988 graduate of Farrington High School. Jordan currently lives in Las Vegas, Nevada where he's been for the past year and 2 months. He's been employed with Enterprise Rent-a-Car for 1 year and, so far, enjoys working there.
Before moving to Vegas, Jordan decided, out of the blue one day, that it was time for a change. He packed up and moved to Black River Falls, Wisconsin (of all places) where he lived for 9 months with 'Bestman' Thomas' Aunt and Uncle. While there, Jordan worked as a security guard at a casino owned and built on American Indian land. Luckily, Jordan wasn't a gambler and didn't lose too much money while working there!
Jordan met Joe in the 4th or 5th grade also through 'Bestman' Thomas. The three boys, along with Danny Boy, Curtis, Momosea and Albert would play sling-shot fights 'down the gulch' where their clubhouse was. Although Jordan and Joe didn't attend the same schools, they've been lifelong friends ever since.
In his spare time, Jordan enjoys fishing, playing softball, swinging golf balls at the nearest course, slamming volleyballs on the court and just 'hanging with the boys'. Jordan's favorite teams include the Oakland Raiders, Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Bulls. He loves pastele meat, dancing, singing karaoke and listening to his favorite singers, Michael Jackson and J Lo. Jordan is currently single, but his 'true' love is his son Jared. Jared is 5 years old and currently living in Hawai`i, but will soon be joining daddy in June following Joe and Noe's wedding. We all wish them the best of luck! |
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