I sit here in Peru amongst the many faces, nationalities, religions, peoples and wonder of all people in this world why was it your time.

Like many here today we are not only gathered to mourn our loss but also to celebrate, celebrate what little time we have left with you, and also to celebrate the many memories that we will cherish forever and ever.

To those who did not know you, found you some what intimidating because of your huge Pacific Island posture, and of course that laugh. That laugh that would echo from miles away and we would all know it was you without having to look. Your presence was definitely felt where ever you were and you made sure of that. But behind all of this was a big heart, a heart of gold, a heart of love, that you shared with all of us. We were the lucky ones.

I remember vividly the last time that I saw that face, that I heard that laugh, that I felt the warmth of such an amazing friend. It was just over a month ago now. You, me, Jade, Keni and McKill were all just chilling in the five star Heritage Hotel, days before I departed for the journey that I am on now. Being the mischief guy that you are, you and McKill began messing around with the camera that the company had given me to take on my journey. At one point I thought you were actually going to break it. As you left, the door closed, unaware that it would be the last time that you and I would see each other on our time here on earth. Once again I was one of the lucky ones.

I think one thing that would always remind me of you is cell phones. Weird but true. For all who knew Kali you would know that this guy always lost his phones. Sometimes he would txt you from his sisters number to let you know that he had lost his phone again. The most recent time was one night we had a few drinks over home and he returned the next day to pick up his phone that he had left on our table. He was soo positive that he had left it there, but the funny thing was and still is, we didn’t have a table. “It was here” he said, “Where? We don’t have a table!” So he left not long after trying to figure out where he had left it. I don’t think he ever found that phone, nor did he find that table that mysteriously dissapeared and took his phone.

This is one of the many memories that I will cherish forever and I am glad that I was able to share this and others with many of the your friends that are gathered here today.

You will leave a big gap in all our lives my friend. May you look down on each and everyone of us and protect us from above as you did here on earth.

Moe mai i te aio – Sleep peacefully
A tona wa tatou tutaki ai ano – in time we will all meet again
Haere, haere, haere atu ra – Go forth our son, our brother, our friend, our Kali

From Lew…waiting for you here in Peru!
Ps…Ritana Toa – Class of 03 “It’s time to go!”

Kia Ora to all...just to let you know that this page is going to be inactive over the next 6months...

If you want to leave me a message click here www.bebo.com/LewisWhaitiriNZ and this is where i will reply...

if you do happen to leave me a message i will reply back from my Gap Year page...

Arohanui to all and will hear from you soon!!!

So this is where it all begins...

Time to sort my life out...time to figure out what to do...time to see what the near future holds...It has been nearly 5 months since this journey started and things just seem to be getting better and better everytime...and because of the opportunity that i have been given i know that this journey is going to stay that way...

As the days count down to my departure i look back and thank all of those who have shared this journey with me...Nga Uri o te Rawhiti, Turanganui-a-Kiwa, Manutuke, Whangara Mai Tawhiti, the one place i call home and where i was nurtured into the person i am today, tae atu ki nga uri o te aotea roa e reerere nei ki nga hau e wha o te motu, and to the decendants of the long white cloud that stretches across the four winds of this land i thank you, the many whanau, friends, randoms and who ever else that has added a strand to the rope that binds this journey...one word sum this all up MEAN!!!

So where to from now??? Who knows...keep in touch and follow the journey of this young Maori boy from the small settlement of the East Coast and you and i both can see where this all leads to...

MEAN WHANAU MEEEEAAANNN!!!