Like most people I was saddened to hear of the passing of Don Ho I remember the song Tiny Bubbles

in fact I was young when I learned toe song and sang it all the time

also I was sorry to hear of his daughter Dayna's death I have tried to find out the date of her birth

but had no luck does anyone out there know her birth date I would like to have it for my rememberance

book that I have of all the entertainers and actors that have passed on

My father use to date Dana Ho-Henry for many years.  I am completely shocked by her death, as she was to young to go.  I feel so sorry for Mahina and her other daughter.  I have not seen her in many years, but ever since my father told me about this I cannot get it out of my mind.  She brought out the best in my father, although he may not want to admit this, in some weird way she was able to teach my father how to be a better dad, and for that I will always be grateful to her.

Dear Randy and others who were fortunate enough to know Dayna well,

I only knew Dayna for a semester or two when I first came to Hawaii and taught at Hawaii Loa College.  She was in an evening history class and was an outstanding intellect as well as a splendidly positive and loving person. 

She taught me a lot about the true spirit of aloha, and right away I felt privileged to have a chance to get to know her a little.

She always looked lovely, and I had no real awareness of her famous father.  One evening, I complimented her on the beautiful sarong she was wearing.  Imagine my astonishment when she brought the sarong to me the next day and wanted me to have it.  It was very difficult to persuade her that the sarong was beautiful because it complemented her beauty, and that I appreciated her gesture very much, even though I did not feel it would be right to accept such a gift from a student.

She seemed to understand.  I do hope she did not take this as a rejection.

At the end of the semester, I asked students for evaluations and included a question about what had impressed them most about my teaching.  Dayna wrote that she was impressed by the fact that my shoes and handbag always matched!  Such a ha'ole I was!  But I never forgot her and have told these anecdotes about her wherever I've traveled or lived or taught.

If there were any way to be in touch with her family and friends to offer my deep condolences for their loss, I would be grateful for information.  When I retired to Hilo last year, I hoped to someday look up Dayna and see how her life had evolved.  It was a terrible blow to learn of her passing just before we returned.

I still hope to locate a picture of her or a film of her dancing.  I never was able to see her perform.  When I taught at Hawaii Loa, I had a small salary and small child.  Even had I known that she danced in her father's show, I might have been unable to go to one.  She never mentioned her other life--kept a low profile as a regular student.  Is there a video of Don Ho's memorial service or other movie that I might see sometime?

With much aloha,

Nan Sumner-Mack

808-315-7031