Kristina Hagberg and Matthew Gilbertson had no intentions of getting married again.

Well, until they met.

Hagberg, a former Hawai'i resident who thought she'd never live here again, was on O'ahu for a friend's wedding in July 2003.

Recently single, she decided to stay in the Islands for a few months before heading back to St. Louis.

Gilbertson had lived in Hawai'i for nearly two decades.

They met on the beach in front of the Outrigger Canoe Club in Waikiki on Dec. 21, 2003.

They talked for hours and, in the process, discovered they grew up just four blocks from each other in Minneapolis.

They connected instantly.

"I took one look at her and fell in love immediately," said Gilbertson, 44, an architect. "She's a strong woman, and I liked that."

A few days later, they went on their first date to the movies.

From that point on, the two were inseparable.

"He made me laugh, he brought out the kid in me," said Hagberg, 51. "We could talk about anything and everything. It was so refreshing."

Both had been married before and approached this new relationship with a different attitude.

"There were no artificial expectations," said Gilbertson, who had been single for about 20 years. "We see the person as who they really are, with warts and great things. And it's OK. ... We were over the infatuation and well into the relationship."

After a few whirlwind months of dating, Hagberg moved into Gilbertson's apartment downtown.

Despite enjoying the independence that comes with being single, the couple realized they actually preferred being together rather than apart.

"I never spent this much time with someone, ever," Gilbertson said. "I just can't get enough of her."

On Sundays they would picnic at polo matches in Mokule'ia with their friends. That quickly became their tradition during the polo season.

Near the end of the season, Gilbertson decided to propose.

On Aug. 30, 2004, in front of dozens of their friends at the polo field, Gilbertson rode out on a horse — something he hadn't done in more than 30 years — wearing a cowboy hat and a rose between his teeth.

Without waiting for the question, Hagberg ran out to him and said, "Yes, I'll marry you!"

Still, Gilbertson insisted on doing it right. He dismounted, dropped to one knee and brought out an engagement ring.

"I still get chills thinking about it," Hagberg said, beaming.

They were married on May 7, 2005, at the Outrigger Canoe Club, where they first met. Hagberg's two grown sons gave her away.

"It was really nice," she said.

The newlyweds went to Paris and Las Vegas for their honeymoon.

Lately, they've been working on two major projects: building a house in Nu'uanu and waiting for the birth of twins, due this month.

"I've always wanted to have more children, but at my age, to start over again is just crazy," Hagberg said. "That's how I knew I was really in love with (Gilbertson). I wanted to have kids with him."

They know life will change once the babies arrive.

And they can't wait.

"We've traveled a lot, and we've both done a lot in our lives," Gilbertson said. "Now we want to settle down in Hawai'i and make a family. For us, we see this as the best life we've got."

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.