Ed and I want to let people know we are leaving on the 20th—back to Silver Spring, Maryland to our Eastern Village Cohousing Community, located on the Washington DC district line. Our membership in the UU Community was so important to us the 10 years we lived here, as it is now for the months each year we come here now.
We are leaving Paradise to go back to our Maryland home—a very difficult thing to do—but all of our family, including our soon-to-be third great grandchild, are all there. Because of the Pandemic we know we will not be back in 2021, and who knows what comes next.
We lived here for 10 years in the 1990s where I served on two Neighborhood Boards, and got my MSW degree from UH. Ed was the court appointed Independent Representative  for native Hawaiians in connection with their claims against the state for violations of the Hawaiian Homelands Trust. He also was a Federal Magistrate Judge for a few years.
All three of our daughters went to school here and it was also our home away from home for the 15 years we lived in Micronesia, where Ed was the first Chief Justice of the Federated State of Micronesia.
Hawaii was our bridge from Micronesia to the mainland, and in the 1990s we assumed we would spend the rest of our lives here, but then 9-11 happened and it was scary to think we might not be able to get back and forth to our growing family on the mainland. Hawaii will always be with us.
And now we are ready to leave after 6 months here in Paradise. Thanks to you and the congregation for your wonderful support. We shall miss you all and hope to Zoom with you before too long.
Aloha,
Ed & Joan
Ed and. Joan, It is wonderful to read about your history, all that you have accomplished and the variety of places you have lived. We love having you with us and are really sad to see you go, especially knowing that you won’t be returning in 2021. Luckily, you can still join us via zoom, so we will all be together quite often. (Of course it is not the same as in-person!) Please take good care and enjoy your family, including your new great grandchild!
Dear Joan and Ed, thank you for always reconnecting with your old friendship circle and with our UU community. The winter months were always something to look forward to, because Ed and Joan were coming “home” to Hawaii. As you say, who knows what the future will bring, but the present with you has always been wonderful.
You have been and continue to be the only couple Rob and I have remained friends with. It always seems like you have never gone when we reconnect. Mahalo for being part of our Ohana and community. I don’t know what has happened to your work with the Hawaiian Homelands Trust. It was good work. I am sure the neighborhood board was not stodgy when Joan was on it. Next step – working on a new and improved Federal Government. I know you two will continue to be active(ists). Until—-
Aloha! I wish I had seen this earlier! I came from DC area 4 years ago and at that time did have friends who live in that community I am thinking near where the House of Musical Traditions (store) was. (At that time.). Best wishes. Happy trails to you! I was music director at both the Washington Ethical Society and the Northern Virginia Ethical Society.