When he stepped out of his car
I stood still in Mānoa Shopping Center
I thought he was Tom Selleck
But on second glance
I could see it was his stunt double
John Nordlum laughed the laugh of a good man
Said my mistake was a frequent one
That he’d doubled for Jack Lord as well
But laughing that warm laugh again
He said no one ever mistook him
For Steve McGarett
He’d taught all over the world
Before landing on O‘ahu at various schools
Including the Catholic all-boys Saint Louis High
At one point had studied to be a priest
But settled on teaching English literature
And working as a research diver
After a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s
He died here in Hawai‘i at his Nānākuli home
With the love of his life by his side
She took 20 years to say ‘Yes’
Was wary of Hollywood types
But after being together all that time
I guess he must have passed every test
So she finally agreed wholeheartedly
Because John had swept her off her feet
The moment she met him
Lanning Lee 