Tattoosday Goes To Hawai'i - All in the Family, Part 4 (Lehua's Eternal Tribute to Poppa John)

<div class="post-header"></div>Closest of my Hawai'i nieces and nephews is Lehua who, in essence, is a third sister in my Hawai'i <i>ohana</i>. My wife and I had the tremendous honor of  Lehua dancing hula at our wedding reception in 1995, which many guests still recall as the highlight of the post-ceremony festivities.<br /><br />In honor of Poppa John, who passed away suddenly on the fifteenth anniversary of our wedding and that memorable hula, Lehua had this touching memorial inked on her foot:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Oc_MNwRYSHbnNS1UTXs4BpY7po2PsOAzB9nj6U4v47kvE_nrx_vdIC_4xsC-ZynHjmR4DKmm8b4ncuViwljE6ajo4JB86OPpaLbmC_xkuwFzgzzcoR2XnSmSpIakFma9DtrepBuR/s1600/Lehua+Foot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Oc_MNwRYSHbnNS1UTXs4BpY7po2PsOAzB9nj6U4v47kvE_nrx_vdIC_4xsC-ZynHjmR4DKmm8b4ncuViwljE6ajo4JB86OPpaLbmC_xkuwFzgzzcoR2XnSmSpIakFma9DtrepBuR/s400/Lehua+Foot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />Lehua explains that this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinity">infinity</a> symbol represents eternity in the context that Poppa John will be remembered forever.<br /><br />What I love about this relatively simple design is that each circle contains an astrological sign, giving more significance to the tattoo.<br /><br />Looking at the photo, the sign on the left is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_%28astrology%29">Gemini</a>, and the sign on the right is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagittarius_%28astrology%29">Sagittarius</a>. The Gemini sign represents Lehua's son Raycn (Poppa John's great-grandson) and, of course, Sagittarius was the sign of Poppa John. The tattoo thus bridges four generations and is a reminder of the eternal ties that will carry on the memory of John Ferreira.<br /><br />Coincidentally, Raycn shares the same sign as my mother (his great-grandma), Diane, whose birthday happens to be today, May 23. So, even though I know the meaning for Lehua is the link between John and Raycn, through Lehua, I interpret a second unintended meaning: the love of John and Diane, woven together, 25 years in this world, and the rest of time beyond.<br /><br />The tattoo was inked by <a href="http://twitter.com/Tattoo_Nick">Nick Nakashima</a> at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Waipahu-HI/Heart-Soul-Ink/222619494522">Heart & Soul Ink</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waipahu,_Hawaii">Waipahu</a>, Hawai'i.<br /><br />Thanks to Lehua for sharing her tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br />Previously in the <i>Tattoosday Goes to Hawai'i - All in the Family</i> series:<br /><br /><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/05/tattoosday-goes-to-hawaii-all-in-family.html">Part 1, A Preface</a> <br /><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/05/tattoosday-goes-to-hawaii-all-in-family_19.html">Part 2, Keali'i's Sleeves</a><br /><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/05/tattoosday-goes-to-hawaii-all-in-family_21.html">Part 3, Ikaika, In Progress</a>

Tattoosday Goes To Hawai'i - All in the Family, Part 4 (Lehua's Eternal Tribute to Poppa John)

Closest of my Hawai'i nieces and nephews is Lehua who, in essence, is a third sister in my Hawai'i ohana . My wife and I had the tre...

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