Itʻs Saturday morning, the day after Hot Hawaiian Nights at The Hale Koaʻs Barefoot Lounge.  What a knee-knocking experience it was. 

We arrived for our sound check well before 5:30.  I was thrilled to see Mo there from Custom Audio.  I knew we were in good hands…or ears.  Things went well and we were soon off and tucked away, awaiting show time.

At about ten til seven, we plugged in, said our hellos to Shannon Scott, sneaked in a hug or two then began our final sound check.  Our producer Aaron gave us the five minute warning and Iolani passed me the pre-determined song list to review.  He began to play his guitar and I knew instantly that something was wrong.  His usually thick bodied Ovation sounded thin and weak.  He began to turn knobs, push buttons but nothing seemed to help.  The sound man came behind us through the bushes and asked what happened and had Io changed anything.  Aaron gave us the two minute warning.  Io insisted he hadnʻt.  He had just recently changed the battery in his hook-up so he began to fiddle with the chords, thinking the problem was there.  The one minute warning was given.  The sound man said heʻd do everything he could to boost the sound so we put our trust in him.  Thirty seconds to show time and Io yells for a battery.  Heʻs given one moments before we go live and slips it into his chest pocket.  I look at him with terror but his look is calming.

We struggled through the first three songs.  Our entire sound was changing, affected by the deep sound we lost from Ioʻs guitar.  And then it was commercial break.  Io quickly changed his battery.  That next strum spoke volumes.  A sense of relief came over me.  The sound of his guitar, THAT sound calmed my heart and eased my mind.  But it would not last.  All of our sound changed again and worst, as every song passed, I could hear Ioʻs sound weakening. 

Heʻs out this morning, looking for a part to fix his hook up (it seems to be draining the battery) and Iʻm left here in our bed to relive the nightʻs experience and count my blessings.  I have said many times that I depend on him, on his unique strum that tells me Iʻm home.  It is my backbone…HE is my backbone.  I could not do what I do without him and I never take his part for granted.  No one could ever know the strength he gives me, the words heʻll whisper, his eyes filled with love, and the unseen gentle nudges he sneaks in.  I need him. I tell him all the time how grateful I am for him but somehow on nights like last night, I am shown just how extremely blessed I am to have him standing by my side not just on stage, but in life.  And not just for now, but for forever……