Help Myron Honor Mama Lani's Legacy

To my loyal followers, fans, family and friends. If I may please have a serious moment of your time.

You may know me as 8RO8, but my family calls me Myron. Many of you don’t know this, but I recently lost one of the most important and influential people in my life. My grandmother/mama Lani was my biggest fan and supporter. She was there in the beginning when I was just messing around with music in my room and didn’t take making music seriously. She was always there for me and my siblings, and she also celebrated every one of our milestones together with us. Words cannot express the grief and sorrow we are going through as most of you know that have lost someone so dear to them.

My Mama was a fighter who had beaten breast cancer and bounced back from a quadriple heart bypass within the last twenty years. At 80 years young, she was full of love and life. She taught us how to put God first, be respectful towards others, have pride in our culture, have the courage to face any challenges, and to be kind to everyone regardless if they don’t reciprocate the gestures. She always reminded us that “love conquers all” and to remain humble, never forget where you came from and who we represent.

My grandma unexpectedly passed away in April after returning home from an extended vacation overseas. She was ill and almost unrecognizable when she arrived back in Hawaii, but we were confident that the doctors would do everything they could to heal her. Unfortunately, we were only able to spend a week with her as the doctors could not diagnose her illness (Leukemia) until the day before she gained her angel wings. She was brave till the very end and didn’t want us to see her suffering. The doctors asked her everyday if she felt pain anywhere and she said “no.” It wasn’t easy watching the strongest person you know deal with numerous life threatening diseases at once, and not being able to do anything to help ease the pain. Cancer is a vicious disease and we witnessed first hand the strength of Leukemia. My grandma knew she had fallen ill, but she had no idea what the illness was and how long she had it.

In the midst of all that I was still recording and filming videos for my latest release. A week after my grandma passed I performed at the UH amphitheater where there was the most beautiful rainbow that came out during my performance. When I saw it, I just knew she was there smiling down on me as she always has saying “that’s my boy, I’m so proud of you” and it made the event that more special.

My mom and I spent everyday at the hospital talking story, listening to music, and singing to Mama. Needless to say, my musical genes come from my mom, grandma, and all my Samoan/Polynesian ancestors. My grandma and all her sisters were self taught and played the guitar and ukulele. Like every other Polynesian family we sang at home, at church, and everywhere else Polynesians gathered. Music is an intricate part of our Polynesian heritage since this is how we passed down knowledge and stories of our culture’s past and present.

So much has happened in the last month where I am grateful for the love and support everyone has shown me. We would like to honor my grandma and send her off the best way we can.

The funds raised will go towards funeral expenses. A portion of the proceeds will also go towards The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to help fight this deadly disease.

Mahalo in advance to everyone who will donate as every donation small or big will help transform tragedy into triumph, and despair into hope!

I would like to thank you in person for your donation, so please check your email after donating for a thank you note from my family and I.  It will include a special invitation to join us for my grandma’s Special Celebration of Life gathering with family & close friends (food, music, karaoke, kanikapila, etc) which will be on Friday, June 14th, 8:00pm following her memorial services at a different location (disclosed in email).  The venue holds a limited amount of people so if you are free that night please join me and my family as we celebrate my grandma’s life and legacy.

Mahalo nui loa, Fa’afetai tele lava, and God bless.