Peter and Jennifer Villatora, John Rego Jr. and Laverne Koerte and Tomas and Rosemarie Ramos have known of or known each other for years. But yesterday, they got to know each other in a way that goes beyond being friends
Peter and Jennifer Villatora, John Rego Jr. and Laverne Koerte and Tomas and Rosemarie Ramos have known of or known each other for years.
But yesterday, they got to know each other in a way that goes beyond being friends — as proud parents of twins.
The Villatoras held the gathering at Hanama’ulu Beach Park to establish support groups for island parents with twins or triplets. They discussed how to better raise their children, guide their children’s development and prepare them for the future.
More parents didn’t show up because the event was not publicized early enough. The Villatoras said they want more families involved and will do a better job of planning next year’s gathering. The parents who did show up said raising twins brings on many challenges, but that they are worth tackling.
“It has been nine years since they were born, but when we look at them, we still can’t believe we have twins. They are such a blessing,” said Rego, a resident of Hanama’ulu, of his twins, Chanson and Chadson.
The gathering also was held to create a registrar of island parents and twins and triplets.
The children of the Kaua’i families are among elite company. Some of most well-known twins in the world are Elvis Presley, whose twin died at birth, Jim Thorpe, an Olympic athlete, Liberace, whose twin died at birth, Ed Sullivan and Billy Dee Williams.
Worldwide, there are 124 million twins. In the United States, one in every 541 births has involved three or more babies.
When Jennifer Villatora found out she was going to have twins in her seventh month, she said her husband almost fainted.
“I had set up the nursery for one child. I had to buy another crib and double the supplies,” said Peter. “But it was worth it when they came.”
The Villatoras of Puhi, said they want their identical twins, Caitlyn and Kaylyn, to establish separate identities as adults but would like them to stay close.
Jennifer Villatora said she hopes her children have “strong family values, know they can count on their family and be responsible and self-supporting.”
She said she has no specific careers goals for her children, and wants them “to go into what makes them happy.” The both agree that having the twins has made their lives fuller and richer.
Rego and Koerte, who also have two teen-age daughters, Chandelle and Cherelle, said their twins have had the same impact on their family.
Rego said his sons have been mirror images of one another up until this year when they no longer wanted to wear the same clothes.
But both are competitive in sports and are eagerly waiting to watch today’s Superbowl game, Rego said.
Both parents said they want their sons to grow up to be “honest” and to be “respectful of their parents.”
Beaming with pride, Rosemarie Ramos of Lihu’e said she brought pictures of her twins, Dean and Jim, both 26, to the party because “I wanted to share them and tell them about my twins.” She also has two grown daughters, Leilani and Astrid, who live in Colorado.
Dean works as a computer specialist in Las Vegas, and Jim works as a postal worker in Bellevue, Wa.
She found out she was having twins during her seventh month of pregnancy. “I was excited when I find out,” she said. “When I look at the picture, I remember that. My twins are adults now, but they are still my twin boys.”
