Where Their Love Story Started, Their Child’s Journey Continues

A photo of Kanoe and John Serrano at their wedding with their son Ocean at Damon Hall on July 7, 2012.

Feb 8 2025

Little did Kanoe and John Serrano know when they had their wedding ceremony and reception at what is now the Assets High School campus on July 7, 2012, that someday their son Ocean would be attending school at Assets.

“We liked the view and the location, and it was available,” Kanoe said about how they chose Damon Hall.

Kanoe’s cousin taught at the Academy of the Pacific, which is what the Assets High School campus was when they married in 2012. Several of Kanoe’s aunts ran the snack shop.

The daytime ceremony was a family effort. John’s sister provided pastele. Kanoe's mother sewed her wedding dress, cooked Hawaiian food, baked the cake, and even crafted the centerpieces for the celebration. A family pastor officiated, and relatives played Hawaiian music as 100 guests gathered to witness their love. The charming setting, with its fantastic view of Punchbowl, made it the perfect place to begin their journey as husband and wife.

Skyline View at Assets High School — *Above: The stunning skyline view from the Assets High School campus.*

Though a drizzle fell just before the ceremony, Kanoe remained unfazed. “They ran to me asking if we should move our ceremony from outside the beautiful grounds fronting Damon Hall, but I said, ‘No, it’ll be fine. If it rains, it rains—it’s just a blessing.’” As she stepped outside, the sky cleared, and the wedding went as planned.

“I think I always mentioned it to him (Ocean) if we drove by,” John said. “And then when he started school, we told him, ‘That’s where we got married, and you were there.’”

Their love story itself was years in the making. Kanoe met John through his sister, whom she worked with for nearly a decade before they started dating.

“She (John’s sister) always used to say, ‘I have a brother for you!’” Kanoe recalled.

Even John’s mother had hoped for their union long before it happened.

“She didn’t say anything to me at the time, but later, she told me, ‘I prayed for you to be my daughter.’”

Assets School expanded its campus by acquiring the former Academy of the Pacific (AOP) campus, transforming it into a dedicated space for its High School students. This transition came as AOP closed. By the summer of 2015, Assets High School students were already learning on the new campus.

For Kanoe and John, this connection became deeply personal when they enrolled their child, Ocean, at Assets School’s K-8 campus in 2018 when he was in the third grade. To their surprise, the very place where they exchanged vows in 2012—AOP’s campus—had become a part of their child’s educational journey.

When there was a Meet, Greet, and Eat event at the High School on Saturday, October 5, 2024, the couple got to see Damon Hall up close and personal for the first time since their wedding in 2012. As they walked across the lawn, they held hands and stopped briefly at the stairs, facing Damon Hall.

Kanoe asked John, “Will you marry me again?”

He replied, “No way!” with a smile, as it was an ongoing joke.

Now, as they watch their son thrive at Assets, their bond with the campus has only grown stronger. “It’s a beautiful campus with a wonderful view,” Kanoe said. “We love the environment there, and God willing, we hope he can continue through High School.”

Kanoe and John Serrano at Damon Hall in 2024, which is the same place they got married in 2012. — *Above: Kanoe and John Serrano at Damon Hall in October 2024 for the Meet, Greet, and Eat for Assets School's seventh and eighth-grade families.*

This Valentine’s Day, their story reminds us that love isn’t just about where a journey begins—it’s about the places and moments that continue to bring us together. For this family, Damon Hall represents more than a wedding venue; it’s a symbol of love, legacy, and the unexpected ways life connects the past and present.

Damon Hall at the High School is available for rent. For details, call the business office at 808-423-1356.

The Serrano family in 2012 at Damon Hall and in 2024 at the Assets School K-8 campus — *Above: (left) Kanoe, Ocean, and John Serrano at Damon Hall on July 7, 2012, their wedding day. (Right) Kanoe, Ocean, and John Serrano at the Assets School K-8 campus in 2024.*

Assets School's Damon Hall — *Above: Damon Hall on the campus of Assets School, the former Academy of the Pacific, has a beautiful view of Honolulu.*

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Where Their Love Story Started, Their Child’s Journey Continues

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