Some are asking how could Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o be fooled by an online hoax?  But, online communication experts say it's quite common.

"Yes, I haven't seen her, but I'm talking to her.  She must be real," said Alan.  "I'm chatting with her, I'm emailing back and forth.  She's gotta be real."

Alan's story is similar to many others who think they found love online.

"There's no reason someone would lie to me.  I'm sending my real pictures.  She's sending me pictures," said Alan.

His misplaced love story began seven years ago in a chat room.  While he says a relationship blossomed through emails, photos and phone calls, work and other excuses kept them from meeting in person.

It last for eight months until he finally met her on Kauai.

"And then finally a knock on the door and I'm saying I'm finally getting to meet this young lady," said Alan.  "Open the door.  Totally different person."

Alan continued, "At that moment, I didn't want to throw it in her face.  And I was, 'Oh, you lied to me,' but I was embarrassed."

"It's not uncommon for people to basically  buy into a relationship with somebody online," said University of Hawaii Communications professor Thomas Kelleher.

Kelleher says, these days, online communication is part of a relationship.