My family is Catholic, so I've been to many a Catholic funeral wake (both open and closed caskets), mass, and burials. As a child we'd often take trips to the memorial park to place flowers on the graves of our loved ones.

I told myself that I didn't want a somber service like that when I pass.

Like lifesaver, I want to be cremated -- and have a celebration of life on the sand of Waikiki Beach fronting the Royal Hawaiian Hotel at sunset.

I don't want anything extravagant. Just my family and friends in their beach attire. As far as songs and hymns go, there's a Hawaiian spiritual that I've particularly loved since I was a little girl. It's called Iesu Me Ke Kanaka Waiwai (Jesus and the Rich Man).

The hymn is based on Mark 10:17-22 and the song goes:

Ma ke ala hele o Iesu
I halawai aku ai
Me ke kanaka `opio hanohano
Kaulana me ka waiwai

Pane mai e ka `opio
E ku`u haku maika`i
He aha ho`i kau e ana aku ai
I loa`a e ke ola mau

E haaw`i, e ha`awi lilo
I kou mau waiwai
Huli a hahai mai ia`u
I loa`a e ke ola mau ia `oe

Let me walk through paradise with you, Lord
Take my hand and lead me there
All my earthly treasures I'd gladly give
Teach me how to love and how to share

Greed and lust and vanity were mine, Lord
Then I found your love divine
Now on my knees I pray I can find a way
Let me walk through paradise with you

After this, they'll take my urn out to sea. Some will paddle out on their boards, some will board the outrigger canoe and paddle out that way. When they reach the spot about 3/4 of a mile out, they'll scatter my ashes there and hopefully feel the warmth and security I'd feel as a kid. That's where my dad taught me how to surf all those years ago.

In keeping with Hawaiian custom, everyone then throws out leis and flowers into the water before going back to shore.

That's how I want to be remembered.