I never expected to face single parenthood before thirty, but by early 1993 my marriage had ended and I was suddenly rebuilding life for my two young children, Tiare and Robbie. Those early months were a fragile mix of visitations, part‑time homes, full‑time work, and determination. This chapter shares what helped me create stability, rebuild, and find support

Aloha, readers. I’m taking you back to my childhood on the slopes of Hualālai, where island culture, multiethnic families, and pidgin shaped my sense of identity. From boarding‑school athletics to an unexpected internship in juvenile detention, each experience nudged me toward sociology. This post shares how those early moments sparked the academic epiphany that changed my life.