Nina and Chris knew each other since they were teenagers. They had the same friends growing up in Kailua. Nina had a secret crush on Chris growing up. One day they were in Kailua with a group of friends and Nina said out loud, "I think Chris is cute" then looked at Chris.

God had other plans for them. They went their separate paths and lost touch. The last time they spoke was in 2001. Then crossed paths again 13 years later. They were reunited by a phone call.

And then the phone call came. Chris called Nina in July of 2014 and they started out talking once a week then it turned into everyday. They were just friends. Nina enjoyed talking to Chris. By September, Nina fell in love with Chris over the phone. Nina told Chris I love you first.

Then they decided to meet up at Best Buy on Nina's lunch break. After work Chris wanted to meet up with Nina again. So, they went to Kakaako beach park and talked for hours at the beach. They were inseparable since then and saw each other everyday.

Nina's kids loved Chris. Every Sunday Chris would come over and bring the kids banana lumpia. It was still warm by the time he got to her house. The kids looked forward to eating this Special treat every Sunday, including Nina.

By December 2014, Nina's son, Makaiah made his mom a Christmas card at school. In that Christmas card Makaiah wrote, "Mom, you and Chris have known each other for years. You should be with Chris." At that moment, Nina knew what to do. Chris was a keeper. Nina still has that card till today. And the rest is History. Nina and Chris have been living their Happily Ever After.

Every year Chris's dad would visit Hawaii from California. And every year he would ask Chris and Nina, "So, when are you guys getting married?" And every time Chris would tell his dad, ask her?

Then the following year Chris's dad came back to visit Hawaii. They all went out to dinner at Pinky's Pupu Bar & Grill in Kailua, Rick, Chris's dad turned to Nina and asked her, "So, when are you marrying my son?" And Nina said, ask him? Rick replied, no, no, no, he said to ask you.

After that Nina and Chris went home and Nina turned to Chris and said, "You can ask me to marry you now. But, not until next year after my birthday in April." Nina laughed. Chris looked at Nina and just smiled.

Later that year in December, Nina and Chris were planning a trip to New York so Chris could meet her dad and all her family members. They stayed with Nina's sister, Vivi in her Madison Ave apartment in Manhattan.

They all planned to visit, "The Edge" which has a 360 degree view of the whole New York City. Vivi told Nina and Chris that she wanted to do a photoshoot of them. This is not an uncommon thing for Vivi to do because she is a photographer. Nina is used to her sister taking tons of photos. Nina was excited to take pictures with Chris in The Big Apple. It was Chris's first time visiting New York.

So, Nina Curled her hair and put on her lashes. Nina despises getting ready but wanted to look nice for the photos. They get to, "The Edge" and all three of them are on the rooftop. Vivi turns and says, "I'm going to get us hot cocoa. Nina and Chris are waiting for Vivi to come back and she sees her sister with her lighting and camera taking selfies. Nina tuned to Chris and said, "I thought she said she was getting us hot cocoa?"

Finally, Vivi gathers Nina and Chris and starts to take pictures. She has them standing side by side looking at the camera. Vivi tells Nina to turn around and look to her right and pose. Nina thought to herself, "how awkward" but listened to her big sister. Nina always listened to her big sister and just trusted her vision.

Then she tells Nina to turn back around and face Chris. When Nina turned around Chris pulled a bouquet of 12 dozen roses from behind his back and handed it to her. Before Nina could have a chance to think where these roses came from Chris was already down on one knee with a ring in his hand. Till this day, Nina doesn't remember what Chris said. She was so stunned. All she heard was, "Nina will you marry me?" and she bursts out in tears and said, yes!

Little did Nina know Chris and Vivi had been planning this engagement for weeks. Chris called Vivi up and asked for her help. Vivi knew how much Nina loved, The Edge. Vivi had taken her and Nina's son, Makaiah there before. They met up with their cousin Roland and his wife the previous year. Nina always loved the breathtaking city lights of New York City. So, together they decided that would be the perfect place for the proposal.

Throughout her happy tears of joy all she could think about was her dad. She asked Chris, does my dad know?" Chris said yes.

The previous night they all had a family dinner at her cousin, Robyn's house. All Nina's and Vivi's cousin's were there including her dad, Edwin. Chris said that when he went with Edwin to park the car he asked her father for her hand in marriage. Edwin gave Christopher his blessing.

This made Nina so happy and more happy tears came. Then she turned around and her family members were there watching her proposal. They all went and had an engagement dinner right after. They set the date for August 2024 so all of their, out of state family members had ample time to plan to come to Hawaii. <3