Barefoot lei-bearer greeted Obamas for Memorial Day

By Ben Wood

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jul 06, 2012

~~BAREFOOTED Billie Gabriel presented President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama with maile lei after laying a wreath at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., during a Memorial Day ceremony. Billie, a Kamehameha graduate, said: "The reason I chose to go barefoot was because I believe that ‘The Wall' is a sacred place of healing and our Hawaiian culture teaches us to be ‘one' with the aina (land) whenever you participate in a ceremony such as this. It was pono (proper) for me to be barefoot for the ceremonies, to be one with this sacred place" and the more than 58,000 soldiers who died for our country. When Billie introduced herself to the Hawaii-born president, gave him the lei and kissed him, "he was smiling ear-to-ear and said, ‘The moment I saw you walking barefoot, I told myself, now THAT'S a true local girl!'" she said. "He smelled the maile and said, ‘This smells like the islands I love.'" She then gave Mrs. Obama a lei and they hugged. Billie was invited to the ceremony as her brother, James Kimo Gabriel, was the first Native Hawaiian killed in Vietnam. He was also the first Green Beret to be killed there. Billie is working on a Vietnam veterans project. Jan Scruggs, founder of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, escorted Billie to the wall to lay the wreath. Tom Selleck emceed the ceremony. Later, Leighton Tseu of the Royal Order of Kamehameha offered an oli (chant) on behalf of the Hawaii servicemen who lost their lives in the Vietnam War. He then joined Hawaii's Allen Hoe at the Vietnam Women's Memorial ceremony. …
KAMAAINA CAPERS: Jeff Apaka, Regina Kawananakoa, Hiro Soma and Estelle Green had lunch at Neiman's Mariposa last week and discussed the surprise birthday party Kawananakoa threw for Jeff at the Outrigger Canoe Club on June 22. Some 50 guests attended the party, emceed by Frank Shaner. Singing for Jeff were Melveen Leed at the keyboard; Raiatea Helm with ukulele; Aaron Mahi, who played bass; Neva Rego; and Mihana Souza, whose birthday was the same day. Neva's birthday was a day earlier on June 21. Kanoe Cazimero danced hula and presented lei to guests. Jeff did not reveal his age but did say he will now be collecting his first Social Security check. Do the math. …
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BAREFOOTED Billie Gabriel presented President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama with maile lei after laying a wreath at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., during a Memorial Day ceremony. Billie, a Kamehameha graduate, said: "The reason I chose to go barefoot was because I believe that ‘The Wall' is a sacred place of healing and our Hawaiian culture teaches us to be ‘one' with the aina (land) whenever you participate in a ceremony such as this. It was pono (proper) for me to be barefoot for the ceremonies, to be one with this sacred place" and the more than 58,000 soldiers who died for our country. When Billie introduced herself to the Hawaii-born president, gave him the lei and kissed him, "he was smiling ear-to-ear and said, ‘The moment I saw you walking barefoot, I told myself, now THAT'S a true local girl!'" she said. "He smelled the maile and said, ‘This smells like the islands I love.'" She then gave Mrs. Obama a lei and they hugged. Billie was invited to the ceremony as her brother, James Kimo Gabriel, was the first Native Hawaiian killed in Vietnam. He was also the first Green Beret to be killed there. Billie is working on a Vietnam veterans project. Jan Scruggs, founder of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, escorted Billie to the wall to lay the wreath. Tom Selleck emceed the ceremony. Later, Leighton Tseu of the Royal Order of Kamehameha offered an oli (chant) on behalf of the Hawaii servicemen who lost their lives in the Vietnam War. He then joined Hawaii's Allen Hoe at the Vietnam Women's Memorial ceremony. …

KAMAAINA CAPERS: Jeff Apaka, Regina Kawananakoa, Hiro Soma and Estelle Green had lunch at Neiman's Mariposa last week and discussed the surprise birthday party Kawananakoa threw for Jeff at the Outrigger Canoe Club on June 22. Some 50 guests attended the party, emceed by Frank Shaner. Singing for Jeff were Melveen Leed at the keyboard; Raiatea Helm with ukulele; Aaron Mahi, who played bass; Neva Rego; and Mihana Souza, whose birthday was the same day. Neva's birthday was a day earlier on June 21. Kanoe Cazimero danced hula and presented lei to guests. Jeff did not reveal his age but did say he will now be collecting his first Social Security check. Do the math. … Login for more...