Reflections Then and Now: About Us

The Smith Family

Ariana and Nakeu

Nakeu served in the California Los Angeles Mission as a Spanish speaking missionary from June 2003 - June 2005.

Ari served in the Micronesia Guam Mission from May 2004 - December 2005.

Both left from and returned to the Makakilo Hawaii Stake and lived a mere 15 minutes away from each other. Both had a mutual acquaintance with one Grace Lum. And so the story goes ...

Once upon a time Ariana Manoa worked with Grace Lum. On a breezy October day Grace and Ari were talking during nap time (for the kiddies, not the adults). Grace thought it would be comical if Ari went on a date with Nake’u Smith, whom Ari had briefly met once. Grace told Ari, each Sunday Nake’u would ask Grace to set him up on a date. Grace mentioned that Nake’u was under the impression that Ari had a no-nonsense, lack luster type of personality. Being that Ari’s personality was contrary to Nake’u’s perception of her, the date would therefore be comical, to Grace. (Aside, one should reconsider being set up on a date as a joke.) After that conversation Ari completely brushed aside the idea of being set up with Nake’u.

A week later, on a Monday, Grace asked Ari what Ari was doing on Saturday. To this question Ari said she rarely plans beyond the next day. Again on Wednesday Grace asked Ari what Ari was doing on Saturday. Grace received the same response. That same night Grace called Nake’u. Grace told Nake’u she had finally set up a date for him. Grace gave Nake’u, Ari’s number and told him, he had better call.

Thursday night Ari was up at the stake center waiting for volleyball night with friends. Her phone rang. It was a number she did not recognize. Contradictory to her nature, Ari answered the phone. It was Nake’u who was hoping to leave a message and be done with the call. At the end of an exciting and only slightly uncomfortable conversation their date was set for Saturday.

Two months after the initial phone call Ari and Nake’u were engaged. They were married three months later on March 17, 2007.