Janyce Tanji and Charles Tonda know just how small a world this is.

While dating last year, they realized their mothers had known each other more than 50 years ago in Mo'ili'ili.

And more than that, they both had the same black-and-white photo of them dancing hula at the Moiliili Community Center.

"They knew each other before we were even born," said Tonda, 39, vice president at Hawaii Management Alliance Association.

But the family connections didn't end there.

Tonda's stepfather and Tanji's uncle are colleagues in accounting. Tanji's aunt grew up with Tonda's grandma in Volcano and used to travel with his stepmother for work. As a child, Tanji's cousin climbed a mango tree and fell into Tonda's family's house on Lime Street, breaking his arm. And Tanji's dad was close friends with Tonda's grandfather, reuniting at the couple's wedding reception after 50 years.

"We had so many people in common," Tonda said, "we had to check if we were related!"

Though their families knew each other decades ago, Tanji and Tonda first met in October 2005. Tanji's co-worker at the Star of the Sea Early Learning Center wanted to set her up on a date with one of her friends, Chris Quisote.

She agreed, and that Saturday night they both went to meet Quisote at Brew Moon Restaurant & Microbrewery in Ward Centre.

Quisote brought along some friends, too, including Tonda.

"(Quisote) was nice enough, but we didn't connect," said Tanji, a 37-year-old teacher. "But I thought Chuck was very handsome."

Tonda felt an attraction, too, but didn't want to overstep his boundaries.

After dinner the group decided to go to the Ocean Club at Restaurant Row. Quisote bowed out. Tanji and Tonda had a great time, dancing and talking, but they left it at that.

A month later Tanji met some friends at the Hanohano Room and ran into Tonda. Neither wanted to let the opportunity pass again, so they exchanged numbers and made plans to go out the next day.

"I knew there was something there," Tanji said, smiling.

The next day they met at Ala Moana Center and walked to a Vietnamese restaurant nearby. They spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the mall.

"It was like we were a couple already," Tonda said. "We were holding hands, hugging, cuddling, shopping."

The more Tanji got to know Tonda, the more she knew he was perfect for her.

After getting a divorce in 1999, she created a mental list of qualities she wanted in a mate.

Aside from his height — he's just about an inch taller than Tanji — Tonda had every quality.

"He was handsome, financially stable, grounded and he had a sense of humor," she said.

And, most importantly, he was OK about her having a son.

"That was the main thing," Tanji said.

After that date the couple talked on the phone for hours, meeting for dinner and movies during the week.

"It sounds corny but it's like we finally found our other half," she added. "We just knew we were meant for one another."

It wasn't until February 2006 that Tanji introduced Tonda to her son, Henneson. They went to play mini-golf at Jungle River in Pearlridge.

"I was a little nervous, but I knew how Chuck was," Tanji said. "And I knew Henneson wanted a father in his life."

Things were going so well that one day in July, while driving, Tonda asked Tanji to marry him.

"I was like, 'Are you joking?' " Tanji said, laughing. "Then I told him no. I wanted something romantic."

The official proposal never happened. But Tonda did make sure to ask her parents for their blessing.

"I still wanted to do it properly," he said.

That month they all met for dinner at Makino Chaya. While Tanji took her son to the restroom, Tonda told her parents about his intentions to marry their daughter.

Little did they know, though, that the couple had already booked flights and hotel rooms for her parents in Las Vegas, where they were scheduled to wed that November.

"We had already planned the wedding, but we didn't tell them," Tanji said, laughing.

They were married on Nov. 11, 2006 — the same day as her parents' wedding anniversary — at Caesars Palace. About 30 close friends and family attended.

They threw a casual reception at the rec center in Wai'alae Nui on Nov. 25. It featured a chocolate fountain, a slush machine and karaoke. (Tonda sang "After the Loving" by Engelbert Humperdinck to his bride.)

The family now lives in McCully with plans to visit the Grand Canyon in March.

Once considered the "most eligible bachelor" at his workplace, Tonda has really taken to his new role as stepfather.

He makes breakfast for Henneson every morning and takes him to school. He even coaches his stepson's baseball team.

"I was so used to being single, doing what I wanted when I wanted and now it's gone," Tonda said, smiling. "But in a good way. It's a new beginning."

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