Meeting a hunky celebrity. Becoming a grandparent. Celebrating yet another month of remission from cancer.

As 2009 draws to a close, readers shared with us their favorite events this year.
From a "fire and ice" honeymoon to a "hanabata days" school reunion — these are memories that are sure to last.

FINALLY, FACE-TO-FACE MEETING OF GUARD

"My exhilarating highlight of 2009 was greeting, on separate occasions, units of the Hawaii Army National Guard's 29th Brigade at Kalaeloa. I had written 125 letters to five different areas as they were deployed in Kuwait. It was gratifying seeing and meeting some I had written to as they returned home to Hawai'i."

— Michael P. Augusta, 75, Honolulu

FLIER'S UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER WITH A STAR

"Both my daughters graduated from high school and college. Tanya, my oldest, got a paid internship at Disneyland, so my other daughter, Andrea, and I traveled to California and at the airport I saw Daniel Dae Kim from 'Lost'! That hunk was the 2009 highlight!"

— Donna M. Cadiente, 55, Waipahu

VIETNAM VET'S VICTORIES AGAINST CANCER

"On Dec. 7, 2006, my diagnosis was terminal lung cancer (from Agent Orange, two tours in Vietnam). On March 15, 2007, I completed chemo and radiation with a 24-month window. St. Patrick's Day to present I'm in remission. Thanks to God and my oncology angels at Tripler Army Medical Center."

— John Mike Culkin, 77, Mililani

OLD COLLEGE FRIENDS CREATE NEW MEMORIES

"Marilyn, my college friend of 41 years, visited for three weeks in July. We had fun playing tourist on Maui, but also watched our deck being built, went to yoga, sewed a quilt, cooked, read books, crocheted, knitted and talked a lot. We felt like we were 22 years old again."

— Marilyn Morikawa, Pukalani

COURT VICTORY FOR ZOO FENCE ARTISTS

"As one of the artists with Art on the Zoo Fence, the highlight of 2009 was the court ruling that we are allowed to stay in Kapi'olani Park and display our art work on weekends. This took many years and a lot of time involved, but we are elated that this has finally happened."

— Margaret M. Giles, 82, Honolulu

EXTREME ELEMENTS OF BIG ISLE HONEYMOON

"My wife, Heather Kyungja Kang Kam, and I were married Jan. 12 last year, and we didn't take a honeymoon trip until May 14 and 15 this year, when we went to the Big Island. I consider this memorable honeymoon as 'fire and ice,' as we did drive by Mauna Kea, where it snows, and spent time at Madame Pele's volcano place."

— Franklin Kam, 69, Honolulu

SATISFACTION OF A HOLIDAY IN SOLITUDE

"Spent Thanksgiving Day at home alone. So peaceful. Did NOT stuff turkey for myself. Exercised by getting out the ladder, trimming the tree tops. No one to nag me."

— Fred Mazik, 94, Mililani

MOVING TO HAWAI'I!

"My best memory was being called to my gate for my flight to Hawai'i after spending my whole life in the Midwest. The perfect song came on my headphones ('Pictures of Success' by Rilo Kiley) and I knew it would be a fantastic journey. So far, it has been precisely that."

— Jeffrey Morrell, 22, formerly of Chicago, now living in Mänoa

FAMILY CLOSES GAP IN GEOGRAPHY, LANGUAGE

"In October, 35 descendents of Sachi Araki and Miki Murakami visited our roots in Nankan, Japan. The long distance and language barrier were overcome as we renewed family ties. The deep feelings of joy and belonging experienced by all praying before the family altar and getting acquainted was overwhelming."

— Sandy Nakamura, 63, Honolulu

OCTOGENARIAN HITS MARATHON MILESTONE

"Participating in running the Honolulu Marathon on Dec. 13 was very special to me because I placed second in my age group, 85-89. I have never placed in my previous 30 marathons."

— David Rarangol, 85, Waipahu

FAMILY OF 5 MARKS MOMENTOUS DATES

"50! 18! 21! 13! Happy Birthday! 2009 was a year of milestones for the Shimizu household. Celebrating these special, significant days for my husband and three children sure kept me busy. Throw in a graduation while we're at it. Me? 30th high school reunion and my Year of the Ox. Wonder if 2010 can top this?!"

— Joy Shimizu, 48, Honolulu

HÄLAWA CLASSMATES RELIVE SMALL-KID TIME

"2009 was my reunion with my 'hanabata days' classmates of Hälawa. This made us all reminisce about before and how it is now. This is a special memory because where Aloha Stadium stands was once Hälawa-Kai Elementary, where we attended (kindergarten to sixth grade, 1956 to 1963). The good old days!"

— Judy Ebos Torado, 58, Honolulu

RETIREE EMBARKS ON NEW CAREER: POPO

"I became a 'popo' for the first time after waiting four years and after my son Sheldon and daughter-in-law Kahau made my dream come true. Timing was perfect: I worked for the state for 33 years and was just waiting for the age to retire. I thought it was a joke when my son called me at work on April 1 saying that Kahau went into labor, and it took a few minutes of convincing that this was real, not an April Fool's joke. I retired on June 30 to my new job as babysitter!"

— Lorna Young, 55, Käne'ohe

CONNECTING WITH KENYA COUNTERPARTS

"My favorite event this year was having the opportunity to travel to Nairobi, Kenya, where along with four other Massachusetts Institute of Technology students, I got the chance to witness a different part of the world and meet individuals who have dreams and goals of changing people's lives with the power of technology."

— Julian Yuen, 19, Honolulu