etc.

 

 I consider myself a Washington native with dual citizenship in Hawaii, where I was born and raised until the age of 13. My mother, sister, uncles, aunts and many cousins -- my ohana -- still live on Oahu, and I visit the island as often as possible to get my regular fix of family, plate lunch, poi and malasadas.

My favorite story about my heritage: My great-grandfather Lum came from Canton, China, to Hawaii at the age of 40 and ran a poi factory. He  married my great-grandmother, who was only 14 at the time, in exchange for a guarantee that her family would receive a lifetime supply of poi.

I am married with two sons and a lab-mix named Baxter.

The question I hear too often: "Where did your name come from?"

My parents heard it in a German love song. They don't speak German, so they sounded it out as best they could. Turns out that "gestin" does not exist in the German language, but what they were hearing was the word gestern, which means "yesterday."

I recently discovered that "gestin" means "wine, grape and raisin," or " wine god" in Sumerian. I kind of like that (except for the raisin part).

I enjoy running and writing for non-profits. It is rewarding work that feeds both my soul and my caramel macchiato habit.
   

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