'Do you mind taking our picture?': Long-lost brothers reunited by photo-op in Hawaii

By Daily Mail Reporter
Updated: 22:52 EST, 30 April 2011

Two long-lost brothers have been reunited after a chance meeting 6,000 miles from home.

Rick Hill, his wife Maureen and their children were visiting Waikiki from Massachusetts when they asked a man they thought to be a stranger to take their photograph.

But when Joe Parker then struck up conversation about where he lived, a trail of conversation began that revealed the most unlikely of coincidences.

Scroll down for video footage

Reunited: Long lost brothers Rick Hill, left, and Joe Parker met by chance in Hawaii

Reunited: Long lost brothers Rick Hill, left, and Joe Parker met by chance in Hawaii

Mr Hill's wife, Maureen, described how Mr Parker's unusual version of 'say cheese!' led to the emotional moment the brothers were reunited.

'He said: "Say Leominster" [when he took the photograph], that's where he's from. So we smiled and said: "Wow, what made you say that?" And he said: "That's where I'm from" and we said: "Wow, we're from the next town over, Lunenburg".'

That moment sparked a long name game between the two men, which led to one of them mentioning 'Dickie', the father the half brothers share.

'Dickie' was Dick Halligan, Joe's father who passed away years ago. Dick was also Rick's father.

'I looked up and they started talking about Dickie, and I just started crying,' added Maureen.

Mr Parker, who now lives in Hawaii, said: 'Who would think that you would take a camera from a perfect stranger and it would end up being your sister-in-law and brother you've never met before in your life, 6,000 miles away from where we're from?

Reliving the moment: Mr Parker re-enacts the moment he took a photo of the Hills - now his instant family - on the beach in Hawaii

Reliving the moment: Mr Parker re-enacts the moment he took a photo of the Hills - now his instant family - on the beach in Hawaii


'It's mind blowing to say the least.'

Mr Hill added: 'I kind of knew I had a brother but I never was able to meet him and didn't know where he was from and didn't know how to contact him.'

The picture of the brothers together was taken by Maureen. It was taken 38 years after they were last together.

The brothers knew about each other for a few years, but didn't know each others names and were living in different states.

Since they met a few days ago, the brothers have seen each other every day and say they definitely plan on keeping in touch.

'I was like surprised because I thought we were just coming to Hawaii just to visit and then we meet my uncle,' Rick's son Adam Hill added.

Long lost half-brothers from Massachusetts meet in Hawaii thanks to photo-op: MyFoxBOSTON.com

Comments (5)

Share what you think

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now