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All through the month of March, Ali McMahon‘s Olive Boutique on Kihapai Street will be a collection point for classroom supplies for Haiti. “A friend of a friend is one of a handful of teachers in charge of education and caring for 50 orphans in Haiti,” Ali explains. Call ahead to 263-9919 and she’ll meet you at your car door ...

Castle High’s social studies and performing arts students will get a history lesson like no other on Monday when the Thelonius Monk Jazz Quartet leads an hourlong “class” in American jazz, followed by workshops later in the day at the school ... Kailua artist Warren Stenberg will appear with George Clooney in the upcoming film The Descendants.

Well, almost. Three of Warren’s oil paintings were picked to appear before the cameras in this Hawaii-based drama ... Jane Marcum of Kailua, chairwoman of Hawaii Post Polio Network, is coordinating the 1.5-mile Walk to End Polio at 7 a.m. Saturday at Ala Moana Beach Park.

Call her at 261-8752 and get on board for the cause ... Windward actresses Tricia Marciel and Megan Mount play Blue Girl and Red Girl respectively, in Diamond Head Theatre’s colorful production, SHOUT! the Mod Musical, playing Friday through April 4 (733-0274) ... Join the city’s “Splendors of Ikebana” at 10 a.m. Monday (March 22) with top ikebana artist Mitsuko Taura, a Kaneohe resident and master instructor at the exhibition. Mitsuko has studied the flower-arranging art for four decades and has taught it all over the world (768-6622) ...

Ahuimanu’s Kevin Chang and Kaiulani Murphy and former Ahuimanu resident Kamana Beamer are on a First Nations Fellowship Program to New Zealand this month, studying, visiting and learning from the Maori people of Aotearoa. A new father, Kamana will return early to sing with his band Kamau at a fundraiser for his wife Laua’e from 6:30 to 9 p.m. March 27 at Calvary By The Sea Church (596-8885). Laua’e learned she had breast cancer in January, one month before their daughter was born ...

It seems that Waimanalo youngster Kiana Ahovelo never stops singing. Last weekend she sang in Key Largo, and today she’s in the Marco Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade. It was all arranged by Fiona Molloy, a professional folk singer out of Northern Ireland who heard her and became a fan. (Fiona, who now lives in Florida and Wisconsin) has also performed in Hawaii) ... Kaneohe Neighborhood Board honored board member and active Kokokahi resident Larry Zdvoracek last month for his many years of service (15 years) and also wished him a happy 90th birthday ...

On a one-year stay with her parents in Enchanted Lake, Tracy Olival was called up for an appearance on the Lost set recently - as a “hand double” for Sahid‘s girlfriend. Mom Terry says she put in an eight-hour day (with makeup on one side of her body) for a 15-minute spot in a show that aired earlier this month. Her hand held a photo and did it very well

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Funeral services were held last week for Shigeru Hotoke, beloved director of the Kailua Madrigals, who died Feb. 20 at age 83. Although he retired in 1986, Shige managed to inspire and coach remarkable music from the mouths of an estimated 12,000 students in his four decades at the school. The chorus was known all over Europe, the Mainland, Japan and Hawaii ...

Melissa Current of Kaneohe has been promoted to manager of First Insurance Co.‘s Surety & Fidelity department ... U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono has nominated the following Windward high school seniors to the nation’s military academies: Kaneohe’s Karl Doehm, Brandon Nuss, Nicholas Goo and Bronson Kau; Kailua’s Joshua Mossman, Arin Nunes,

William Rodin, Geramiah Simoes, Brittany Traylor, Errol Vidad, Jershon Baldomero and Jerick Sablan; and Preston MiuraAkagi of Hauula ...

 

Joan O’Connell of Kailua did it again, winning $22,098 in total jackpots in downtown Las Vegas recently. Keeping her company were Kaneohe’s Paul Tam ($11,546), Kailua’s Yvonne McDermott ($10,139) and Kaneohe gamblers Myrna Shimei ($10,000), Tito Sene ($6,000), Norma Oshiro ($5,777) and Tracy Kitaoka ($5,000) ...

College update: Mentioned for making the fall honor roll last week at Washington State, Kaneohe student Kyle Mendes also collected his bachelor of science degree in kinesiology, magna cum laude, at the end of the semester. Keeping him company was Reed Lesuma of Laie, who earned his bachelor of arts in psychology at WSU ... Congratulations to Traci Paiva of Kailua, who is the new general manager of Martin & MacArthur ...

Kaneohe executive Daniel Cody is moving up in the real estate field. MW Group promoted him to vice president of acquisitions and development. Daniel’s also worked for developers in Seattle, San Diego and Jakarta ... The queen of karaoke and Brown Bags past, Janel Akana (Castle 1994) currently works as principal’s assistant at St. Francis School while completing her associate’s degree at Honolulu Community College ...

Aloha to Kaneohe Library manager Thomas Churma, who retired Jan. 31 - just before the new parking lot is finally almost pretty soon to be opened. And aloha to Melode Reinker, children’s librarian who retired Dec. 31, also from the Kaneohe branch ... Maunawili artist Virginia Carabelli will have her untitled diptych on view March 13-28 at Wide Open, a juried exhibition at BWAC galleries in New York. Originally from Torino, Italy, Virginia also won the Reuben Tam award at the Artists of Hawaii show last year ...

With much ceremony the Hawaii Canine Assistance Network will introduce the official placement of its first service dog during a fundraiser March 20 at Keehi Lagoon Veteran’s Memorial (781-2596). Mojo will live with Army veteran and former Honolulu businessman Tsumoru “Jiji” Ishimoto, who is the grandfather of Bryan Clay (Castle graduate and Olympic decathlon winner)

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In Chaminade’s Furlough Friday workshop March 5 at the State Capitol, high school students will tour the building, meet lawmakers, conduct a mock session on issues, see the real thing, and hear from keynote speaker Brian Kajiyama (via a computer-assisted device). A Kailua resident, Brian is a graduate student at UH, where he assisted June Jones with the football program and has broken barrier after barrier for people with cerebral palsy ...

Keline Yoshimura of Kaneohe made the fall dean’s list at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisc., where she’s studying for her BS in human biology ... Talk about multi-tasking: Eden-Lee Murray of Ahuimanu has got it nailed (as they said over and over again at the Olympics). She plays the title role (evil, boo, hiss!) in The Snow Queen Saturday and Sunday at Hawaii Theatre (528-0506). The award-winning actress also portrays the kindly grandmother and serves as director of the Hans Christian Andersen musical. Kaneohe’s Cameron Hughes and Jesse McMillin are in the production, and brother Aengus McMillin runs the lights. Did I mention that Eden-Lee is the theater’s education director, too? ...

Kaneohe resident Norma Gorst‘s poem Wooden Box earned honorable mention in the HPU-sponsored James Vaughn Poetry Contest. It’s about a music box, and judges said it was singled out for its evocation of the origins of the box as a “surrogate human voice.” Norma alludes to famous woodworkers such as Stradivari and imagines what those masters must have thought as they came to work with the wood ... Castle High’s French and Spanish classes raised $800 for Haiti via the Red Cross and Fam-America ...

Marcus Ofoia-Stevens (Castle 2008) has graduated from Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas ... Also from CHS, Kiana Ringuette‘s “Radar: Preventing Nuclear Catastrophe” is one of three projects picked from Windward History Day to compete at the state fair in April ... At Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., Kailua freshman Micah Mumper made the fall dean’s list ...

Kailua Historical Society’s Paul Brennan says they’re already planning to reprint the book Kailua. “Half of our first 3,000 were gone in one month’s time,” he declares. The large, homegrown volume also is in stock (as of last week) at Kalapawai Market and Under a Hula Moon ...

Bruce Bolos of Kailua plays with Koolau Breeze at 1 p.m Sunday on the Ward Warehouse Amphitheater stage (596-8885) ... Kaneohe Sen. Jill Tokuda does it all. She gave birth to her second child, Aden Kenjiro Michibata, Feb. 11 and was back at the State Capitol a week later. Fighting for a better future for two little boys, no doubt ...

Waimanalo Intermediate’s Kiana Ahovelo releases her CD Angel of the Islands at a Friday night party at Ramsey Museum in Chinatown. The young Tongan-Irish singer has recorded a blend of Celtic and sacred tracks with help from Pierre Grill (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address))

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Picked to moderate a national panel on constitutional rights (airing live from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday via audio webcast from the American Bar Association) is Enchanted Lake attorney Mark Murakami. A Kailua High graduate, he’s one of four expert speakers who will tackle gun control.

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a case on the issue in March. Mark works for Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert and was recently promoted to commander in the U.S.

Coast Guard Reserve ... I wonder if Mark saw the Russian planes flying over Kaneohe Bay last month. It’s said the huge planes were contracted to deliver helicopters to the Marine base ...

 

Speaking of the Marines, Paul Fortunato, now a full colonel and head of USMC safety nationwide, flew from D.C. to Oahu recently for meetings. The former Ahuimanu man was seen (by me and my husband at the same table) at Haleiwa Joe’s enjoying a nice fish dinner. What’s wrong with this picture? Paul’s wife Sarah and their four children were snowed in that night during the East Coast storms. She pointed out by phone that shoveling snow in Virginia was a far cry from Paul’s “safe” duty in the tropics ...

Kathy Summers, baker to hundreds of relatives and friends, has published her third bread book, The Best and Easiest Handmade Breads (“from start to finish in 1 and 1/2 hours”). Why a third one? “Times are hard now,” says the Enchanted Lake grandma. “Homemade bread is inexpensive and comfortingly filling.” In fact, she swears her nine children are mostly made of it. Kathy also trains service dogs, but tries to keep the dough out of reach. Two family favorites: whole wheat bread and pretzels. It’s at BookEnds in Kailua, Barnes & Noble in Kahala or online from amazon.com, etc. ...

Maunawili second-grader Lily McDermott set up a stand selling lemonade and baked goods (anything from Kathy Summers’ clan?), and she raised $160 for Haiti relief ... Kaneohe’s Rock Works music school presents its winter concert at 6 p.m. Saturday at Hawaii Convention Center, directed by Brian Albus and featuring a dozen bands and 30-plus songs. New classes start March 6 (782-9695) ...

Speaking of performing arts, Hair fans can spot Kailua’s Caroline Lawo and Brianna Pratt, and Kaneohe’s Pomai Lopez, Garrett Taketa and Brandi Firman in the Manoa Valley Theatre production March 4-21 (988-6131) ... Congratulations to Castle High’s SixPak, which placed first in the dance competition for Brown Bags to Stardom last month

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Kalaheo graduate Ryan Churchill has risen to the top at Maui Land & Pineapple Co., where the board of directors has just appointed him president and COO. He has “proven leadership skills,” says interim CEO Warren Haruki, “and a deep sense of commitment to our community.” Ryan also has degrees from U. of Arizona and UC-Irvine, and is on the board of Hawaii Nature Center, among others. Good luck, Ryan ...

Count the HSTA among the organizations getting in line to honor Auntie Alice Hewett. The stalwart supporter of Kaneohe sports leagues has been picked for HSTA’s Friend of Youth award, and they’ll honor her at their convention in May ... Speaking of sports, Kaneohe’s Sani Fuimaono has signed on for a full-ride scholarship to the University of Arizona, thanks to his academic skills and talent on the football field and wrestling mat for Punahou. The former King Intermediate student and player for the Kaneohe Knights Midgets also will have a Samoan D-line coach on the UA Wildcats team - Mike Tuiasosopo, nephew of Bob Apisa.

 

“I told Sani, the key is education, and education is going to set you free,” notes Sani’s proud mom, Ijeva Matavale. (This happy photo is by Barry Markowitz) ... Speaking of colleges, University of Oregon alumni plan a party and silent auction Feb. 26 at Waialae Country Club (800-245-ALUM). It’s a benefit for their scholarship fund. Megan Lum of Kaneohe was a recipient last year ... Another Duck is Kevin Chang (Castle 1990), who won a $10,000 fellowship from the Audubon Society and Toyota, which he’s putting toward plans to enhance Pahua heiau in the middle of Hawaii Kai. He works as Oahu conservation land manager for OHA, which owns the centuries-old heiau ...

The most creative cards in Kaneohe Bay Shopping Center’s Valentine Card Contest came from, ahem, Pualii Zidek of Kaneohe Elementary, Sammi Larson of Maunawili Elementary and Hannah Campbell of Kalaheo High ... Kaneohe’s Paul Weissich, a legendary landscaper, writer and former director of Honolulu Botanical Gardens (he even has a plumeria blossom named after him), was honored last weekend as a Living Treasure by Honpa Hongwanji Mission. Among many other things, Paul worked to establish Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden and is very fond and protective of Hawaii’s oldest trees ... Leonard Leong Wong also made plants thrive at his farm in Kahaluu. Leonard, who died last month at age 98, was perhaps best known for the luau leaves he and his family grow for everyone’s luaus and special parties ...

In last week’s column, I said Ernie Soares is 83, and that he filmed a commercial for Honda Windward. Oops. Ernie actually called to advise me that he’s three years older than that. Also, the commercial was for King Nissan. But the Kaneohe man is still building little doll houses for hospitals, meanwhile. “I have three at my house right now,” he says ... Castle High art students Loseli Vakameilalo and Joshua Lui Kwan won Gold Key awards in the latest Scholastic Art Contest. You can see for yourself what they’ve created now through April 2 at Hawaii State Art Museum ...

Retired UH professor Miles Jackson of Kahaluu was honored last month as an individual who promotes civil rights, diversity and justice at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights Awards. Miles has written and edited several books and articles about the little-known history of African Americans in the Islands ... Congratulations to Washington State’s fall semester President’s Honor Roll students, including Kaneohe residents Sarah Low, Kyle Mendes and Ryan Renio

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Fifth-graders may not be a quick study for romance and etiquette, but don’t tell that to St. Mark Lutheran teacher Victoria Flores. In observance of Valentine’s Day and Friendship Day Feb. 19, her students will dress up in their “nice” clothes and have high tea together, munching on little sandwiches and cakes made by their parents. “The tables will be decorated with centerpieces, tablecloths and candles,” Victoria explains. “Appropriate manners will be learned and practiced as well as intellectual conversation” ...

Army Staff Sgt. Taylor Morel of Kailua has returned from Iraq to his 39th Military Police Company based in Minden, La., where he’s a squad leader with 14 years of service ... Kaneohe residents Lauren Sandborn and Ryan Zukeran recently toured the Pearl Harbor shipyard to expand their knowledge of career options there. Ryan already apprenticed in Shop 98 doing rigging and lifting. He has a degree in finance from Hawaii Pacific University. Lauren won a four-year robotics scholarship from the shipyard last summer to study engineering ...

 

Mayor Mufi Hannemann recognized both Amber Aduja and her brother William (both of Kaneohe) for their recent pageant successes and community service. Amber (mentioned in an earlier column) is National American Miss Jr. Pre-Teen Queen for ages 7-9, and William won the national title for America’s Fabulous Faces, Boy Overall Supreme. Amber and her friends also raised $1,200 for the Lokahi Giving Project during its Jan. 30 fishnet donation drive for Haiti and for Hawaii’s needy families (by Windward City) ... Kaneohe’s Jordan Kamae is on the fall dean’s list at the University of Montana Western in Dillon ...

Kaneohe musician and luthier Bill Griffin of the Saloon Pilots is stepping off the island this month for a brief tour with the Cache Valley Drifters in California ... He’s 83 years old, but Ernie Soares hasn’t slowed down much. You may have seen the lifelong Kaneohe resident in the new Honda Windward commercials, or on previous TV shows with Diane Ako. Ernie initially found local fame in his retirement hobby: He builds 4-foot-tall doll houses to give to charity ...

Neighborhood board members can grow very committed to community causes. After scheduling a meeting of the Kailua board’s parks and rec committee, for example, chairman Shawn Christensen said they’ll look into the matter of a missing buoy, among other things. “Still awaiting word from DOBOR about it,” Shawn reports. “I have offered to dive and install the buoy for them, but have not had a reply to this request.” (The meeting’s at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 at Kailua District Park) ...

Teacher Sandy Armstrong won the prized ukulele at last month’s Hot Honu Nights concert and dinner at Kailua Elementary School. I bet she’ll soon put it to work in her preschool classroom there ... Dean Okimoto of Nalo Farms and pal Alan Wong will address the Hawaii Society of Business Professionals luncheon Feb. 18 at Hawaii Prince Hotel (537-2356). They’ll talk about farm-to-table cuisine while members graze through a menu of locally grown vittles ... Waimanalo’s Celinda Stanton made the fall dean’s list at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.

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A one-hour documentary on Waimanalo’s wiggly working worms has won an Award of Excellence in The Accolade Competition and was selected for the Green Lifestyle Film Festival in L.A. this spring. Honolulu filmmakers Al and Jayne Cloutier, who made local farmer Glenn Martinez into a star, will enjoy the “green carpet” treatment March 19-21 for their collaborative effort, Olomana Gardens Permaculture and Aquaponics ...

You can call Art Ushijima a Grassroots Champion now, and it’s not because of how many weeds he pulled from his Kailua yard. The American Hospital Association honored the Queen’s Health Systems CEO “for his role in developing health care policy for Hawaii” and much more ... Bonnie-Gae Valmoja-Kaleikini is a new member of Windward Community College’s chapter of the national honor society Phi Theta Kappa. Bonnie-Gae is a Kaneohe resident studying liberal arts ...

Navy Seaman Michael Nelson of Kaaawa is deployed aboard the USS De Wert, which is supporting counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Red Sea. Alas, not peaceful Pacific for this island boy for awhile. His dad Mike lives in Punaluu ... Phillip Tanton probably know where all those places are - without Google Earth. He’s Aikahi Elementary School’s newly declared 2010 Geography Bee champion ...

Uncle Mel Murata and his Keiki Palaka Band share the stage Friday night with Maunalua, Ho’okahiko, Keanu, Melelani and the Nickie Hines Band for the annual Hot Honu Nights in the Kailua Elementary School courtyard. Call first, ‘cause they’re probably sold out (266-7884) ... Speaking of music, Elina Wells (Erin Chang, Castle 1996)

sings at gigs in the L.A. area, and this Sunday she’ll be the opening act for Hawaii’s slack key genius Makana - in Hermosa Beach, Calif. She and her singer/songwriter husband Tyrone Wells also performed duets they’ve written together on the Rock Boat Cruise out of Florida this month. They were a big hit - so she told her mother! ...

Army Staff Sgt. Taylor Morel of Kailua has returned from Iraq to his 39th Military Police Co. based in Minden, La., where he’s a squad leader with 14 years of service ... Rachael Leah Freeman of Kailua made the fall dean’s list at University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she’s majoring in human ecology ...

Not too far away, Keline Yoshimura of Kaneohe made the fall dean’s list at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis. ... Brandon Long of Kailua and Rhianna Taniguchi of Kaneohe have graduated for Army National Guard basic training - Brandon at Fort Sill, Okla., and Rhianna at Fort Jackson, S.C. ...

Castle High grad Joel Montrone has earned his bachelor’s degree in communications and business at the University of Kansas in Lawrence

 

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Adventurous Kailua fitness trainer, masseuse and raw food chef Deena Bright, 30, has quit her job and put her belongings in storage so she can dive into the cold powdery snow in the Rocky Mountains. She made one of three winning videos for a “Snow at First Sight” contest, earning a three-month romp in the cold stuff, courtesy of the Colorado Tourism Office. The fun started last week, and you can check Deena out at http://www.youtube.com/visitcolorado ...

Kailua photographer Stephanie Thibaudeau (who also paints) will have her amazing photos on view and for sale at Waialua Library’s two-month-long exhibit starting Feb. 4 (637-8286). You’re all invited. A strong supporter of Malama Na Honu, Stephanie also has displays her vibrant creations at Fresh Ink in Windward Mall ... Kailua resident Jane Marcum, leader of the Hawaii Post Polio Network, has plenty to share after attending the network’s 20th anniversary luncheon (as a speaker) in Perth, Australia. Wanna know more? Call her at 261-8752 ...

Another Jane in the news. Congratulations to Jane Sawyer of Kaneohe, who has officially replaced her Kailua boss Andrew Poepoe as director of the Hawaii district office of the U.S. Small Business Administration. (Andrew retired last year.) Jane will oversee all activities of the local SBA and be small businesses’ best advocate here as well as on Guam, American Samoa and other Pacific islands ...

Congratulations also to Selena Yue Qiu of Kailua, who was named first princess on the Narcissus Festival court Jan. 9. The honor comes with a goodwill tour of China. Selena is a marine science student at HPU. Former Kahuku resident and BYU student Bonnie Siu Lin Von is fourth princess on the court ... It’s not too late to watch Windward actors Holly Holowach, Suzanne Green, Bree Bumatai, Karen Meyer and Stefanie Anderson in Manoa Valley Theatre’s The Dixie Swim Club, playing now through Jan. 31 (988-6131) ... Kailua’s versatile Makana Risser Chai (comedian, masseuse, CEO, attorney) keeps up with the times.

Now a certified change consultant, she’ll address the Jan. 28 luncheon of the Hawaii Society of Business Professionals at Hawaii Prince Hotel (537-2356) ... David Wu of Kaneohe is now assistant superintendent for the DOE Office of Information Technology Services and the department’s chief information officer. The BOE appointed him Jan. 7. David was previously in systems development for Hawaiian Airlines and at several high tech firms in the Bay Area ...

Oregon State has plenty of Windward scholars on its fall honor roll: Pasza Maiava-Pouvave of Hauula, Kiersten Kuwaya and Christopher Lee of Kailua; Allison Hirata, Kapua Hussey, Marcus Joy, Nicholas Keliipuleole and Rachel Pavlis of Kaneohe; and straight-A students Brittney Louis-Soares and Hannah Smith of Kailua; Hi’ilei Haru and Marrissa Kaili-Frank of Kaneohe

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Eleven Windward intermediate school students read their winning environmental pieces last month during a gathering of the Hawaii Conservation Alliance and the Pacific Writers Connection, sponsors of the annual My Hawaii Story project. Out of 380 entries, 25 poems and stories were selected for publication. From “our side” were Kailua Intermediate’s Moana Keaunui, Joanna Leung and Kiana Ringuette, and Le Jardin Academy’s Devon Franke, Robert Graper, Georgia Havens, Cheryl Kapahu, Logan Spencer, Kira Szabo, Erin Voss and Jasmine Ying ...

Boundless energy and a talent for rallying support have earned Castle High’s trophy-case project enough cash to build the final three display cases it needs to house all its proud hardware. Alumni parents Craig and Kathy Sakamoto have declared “mission accomplished” with $6,600 in the kitty, and plenty of mahalos to go around ... “We sold the heck out of it,” declared Tom Caprio of the success of Blue Water Shrimp’s Obama Combo (see page 1 photo). Now he’s mulling over ideas for plate-lunch specials named after Neil Abercrombie and Nancy Pelosi ...

 

Speaking of food, kamaaina (that’s us) can enjoy a dinner buffet and show for $25 through Jan. 30 for Polynesian Cultural Center’s Ha: Breath of Life. Get your tickets there by showing your local ID or call 293-3333 ... Farewell to former neighbors Ken and Joyce Libby of Kaneohe. They’re moving from Oahu island to Whidbey Island in Washington state this month, but will return regularly to work on video projects. Friends say Ken, an award-winning director of photography, was the first professional here to use an HD camera ... Also leaving: retired Hina Mauka CEO Andy Anderson and wife Patsi, heading for Hot Springs Villages, Arkansas ... Retirement ceremonies were held Sunday for Army Maj.

Brian Kane of Kailua, whose combat, security and intelligence career spanned 23 years and dozens of countries. Wife Heidi prefers the underwater life, however. She manages Dive Oahu on the Marine base ...

Hawaii Psychology Association honored A. Aukahi Austin last month with its Provision of Psychological Services to Rural Communities Award for exceptional work with patients at Waimanalo Health Center ... D and J Tonokawa found a bag in Pohakupu Park a week before Christmas. “It has one valuable item in it, and I’d like to get it and its contents back to its owner,” they say. Bag-less folks can e-mail me, and I’ll pass it along ...

Slack-key and ukulele artist Walt Keale makes his debut at Hawaii Public Radio’s Atherton studio at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (955-8821), joined by other musicians with Windward ties Bill Griffin, Chris Lau and Donald Kaulia. A nephew of the late Moe Keale, Walt commutes daily from Kailua to his job as a ranger at Kaena Point State Park and Natural Reserve ...

Getting lucky on the Sam Boyd casino slot machines in downtown Las Vegas recently were George Mimura of Kaneohe ($14,000), Glenn Kalima of Waimanalo ($10,000), Myrna Shimei of Kaneohe ($10,000), Joan O’Connell of Kailua ($5,833), Pat Sumimoto of Kaneohe ($5,000), Josol Ganina of Kaneohe ($4,320) and Franklin Kaahu of Kaneohe ($4,237)

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When half time comes around on Saturday at the U.S. Army American Bowl in San Antonio, Christopher Bright will bring a new generation of Windward’s musical Bright dynasty into the spotlight. From a pool of 1,000 nominees, the Kamehameha senior was picked to play drums at the halftime show. In the stands at the 65,000-seat Alamodome, shivering with pride, will be his parents Clarke and Lynell Bright, and grandparents Ron and Mo Bright. Chris also added percussion to his granddad’s Paliku Theatre shows, such as Miss Saigon and West Side Story ...

A memorial service is planned Friday at St. Andrew’s Cathedral for Chris Pablo, a Kaneohe resident who advocated for organ donations long after he survived leukemia with help from a bone marrow transplant in 1996. He succumbed to new cancer growth last month at age 59. A college fund has been established for sons Nathan and Zachary at Bank of Hawaii and is available for donations now ... Creations by Kailua artists Thomas Deir and Frank Oliva are on view now through Feb. 26 at the Corinne Gallardo & Friends Art Show at Cafe Che Pasta on Bishop Street (271-1344) ...

 

Representing Castle High in February at the state Brown Bags All Talent Competition will be Tehina Letson (music division), Six Pak (Chris Diprete, Chazz Dumlao, Ian Aquino, Kayla Kamisato, Jennifer Kuleci and Cheyenne Lawes (dance). The Knights clearly have the talent. Another Castle band, Kolohe Kai, has a radio-request hit in Ehu Girl. Members are Roman DePeralta, Jordan Agustin, Noah Cronin, Ryan Eastham and Jasmine Moikeha. Their CD is in music stores now ...

Joshua Harr (Kalaheo 2006) has graduated from Army basic training at Fort Benning, Ga. ... Alan Yee Jr. of Waimanalo is a new agent with New York Life Insurance Co. in Honolulu.

Alan has a science degree from UH, and he and wife Jolene are parents of Alan Yee III. NYL managing partner here Michael Ceci says “His eagerness to help families as they work to protect their financial futures will be beneficial to our community… Waimanalo farmer and musician Byl Leonard has written and recorded a farewell song to Maui Land & Pine (which closed last month). Byl’s roots go deep into plantation days, he says, and Aloha Maui Pine “honors several generations of decent, hardworking kamaaina families who dedicated their lives to companies like MLP.” You can check it out at http://www.myspace.com/bylleonard ...

Blues singer Boogie gets down with a solo show at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 9 at HPR’s Atherton studio (955-8821). Boogie was born in Germany, but has settled in Kailua where he’s a musician by night and elementary schoolteacher by day. Hurry up - he sells out fast

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Look for Castle High graduate Glenn Matsuki, 59, in the Pasadena Rose Parade Jan. 1. He’ll be riding the Donate Life float. Ever since his heart transplant 14 years ago, Glenn’s been a strong advocate for donors. Plus, he now works for One Legacy, a donor transplant network in Southern California. “Transplantation is my passion and my mission,” he explains. “I am here only because another family blessed me by donating the heart of someone they loved” ...

The Board of Water Supply’s 2010 calendars are in (a good investment for the new year), and they’re full of youthful talent from Windward Oahu. Out of 3,500 poster entries and 200 poems, the water folks picked only a dozen of each to grace the calendar pages on the theme “Ola I Ka Wai - Water Gives Life” (738-5369). Get yours and look for artwork by Lanikai Elementary’s Lily Hawkins (grade 2, second place), Nathaniel Esposito (kindergarten, honorable mention), Andrew Lee (grade 4, second place);

and Ke Kula O Samuel Kamakau’s poets Ulana Kalahiki-Anthony (junior, third place) and Luka Naeole (grade 7, fourth place) ... Kristen Bunce of Kaneohe has graduated from Air Force basic training, and Chad Fukunaga of Kaneohe graduated from Air National Guard training, both at Lackland AFB, Texas ...

I think City Councilman Ikaika Anderson may be trying to pack his district - the hard way - for the next election. He and wife Lisa are expecting twins in May ... Carla Rogers, a transition counselor at Windward Community College, was picked to represent WCC in the 6th Generation Community Colleges Leadership Champions program - an 18-month training experience for growing leaders within the Hawaii CC system ...

Neighbors can’t always solve their problems amicably. At the Nov. 5 Kailua Neighborhood Board meeting, for example, a motion was made “to bring the Chair and the Secretary together to work out their differences related to the (July 14 special meeting) minutes, so that the Board wouldn’t be so divided.” The motion was defeated: 3 yes, 5 no, 7 abstentions ...

Tracy Marie Meyer of Kailua and Timothy Paul Sutton of Kaneohe both received their masters’ degrees this month from the University of Oklahoma Norman campus ... Kevin Ichiro Kawabata of Kailua has earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from University of Northern Colorado in Greeley ...

Craig Washofsky of Kailua is now president of Servco Home and Commercial Products, and he also continues as group vice president ... The Kailua law firm Hartley & McGehee tripled its donations of food (1,000 pounds, 11 boxes) to Hawaii Foodbank this month by appealing to business neighbors and visitors to Kailua Professional Building 1 and 2 ...

Science time. Bernice Poole‘s first-graders at Enchanted Lake Elementary have welcomed Bob into their classroom. The giant caterpillar was found by the Bartrams on a hike on Old Pali Road. Next lesson: Bob’s transformation

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Former Kailua resident Alicia Vela-Bailey is the stunt double for Zoe Saldana in Avatar, a film she’s worked on for more than three years in California and New Zealand. You may have heard of it. The tough and nimble Alicia also performs the majority of stunts for all female cast members, plays bit parts herself and learned to speak the “Navi” language.

Her mother Cecelia and sister Marissa were at the initial screening of the James Cameron (Terminator, Titanic) sci-fi thriller Dec. 15 at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood. See it in full 3-D, Cecelia recommends ... Hurray for Hawaii Dental Service. It’s latest TV commercial features scenic glimpses of the Kaneohe Bay shoreline, from Heeia to Waikane. Something to chew on ... Hector Morales Jr., the chef at Turtle Bay Resort’s 21 Degrees North, was likely working in 21-degree Fahrenheit weather last week in New York City, where he prepared and served a five-course dinner with island colleagues at the famed James Beard House ...

Rich Figel and Ron Darby‘s Career Changers program airs on OC16, not ‘Olelo channel 16, as mentioned here last week. And if you know anyone looking to hire people, let Rich know at http://www.careerchangers.tv ... Honors for Windward lawmaker and mother: Sen. Jill Tokuda was named 2009 Citizen of the Year Dec. 17 by the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board (one of the only boards that meets so late in December). Members praised her achievements and personal involvement in addressing residents’ concerns and keeping us all informed. They also like the fact that Jill attends their monthly meetings ...

Tyrone Wells, Elina (Erin Chang Wells) and Kevin Chang of Kupa’aina are back at Anna Bannana’s this Sunday for the annual family gig, and doors open at 7 p.m. Erin and Kevin are Castle grads (like Senator Jill), and Tyrone is the L.A.-based singing star who had the good fortune to marry my daughter four years ago at Kualoa Ranch. No shame! You’re invited down for some great music (See main MidWeek What’s Up for details) ... Joener Castillo (Kailua 2007) has graduated from Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas ... Paddlers with PAL outrigger club Makalei treated homes along the Enchanted Lake canal to caroling by canoe last Thursday.

Coach Johnna del Castillo believes it may be the first water-bound serenade of its kind ... Le Jardin is proud of its state champion kayak team, and the excitement reached a high pitch Dec. 11 in the new gym when the students honored boys kayaking coach Brandon Woods and boys water polo coach Billy Brady. Both were named ILH coaches of the year for their sport ...

Keeping pace with the president’s holiday visit, Kailua authors Stu Glauberman and Jerry Burris are signing their own book about the man at Borders Ward store at 2 p.m. Sunday. They wrote The Dream Begins: How Hawaii Shaped Barack Obama ... My apologies to Honolulu Symphony concertmaster Iggy Jang, who performed on his magic violin Dec. 21 at Pohai Nani. I called him Iggy Chang in the calendar. (I wonder why?)

 

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Looking for work and advice on how to get hired (or create your own job)? Tune in to Career Changers TV at 7 p.m. Thursday on ‘Olelo channel 16 (or 96 or 1016) to see what Rich Figel has co-produced with his Kailua neighbor Ron Darby. “These are tough times for a lot of folks, unfortunately,” Rich says. “That’s actually why I created the show - my screenplays weren’t selling and my freelance writing work dried up to budget cutbacks.” Rich also credits Heald College and Chaminade for sponsoring the first show (which will repeat six times).

 

For more details, check out http://www.careerchangers.tv ... Another sign of the times. During a brainstorming session about fundraisers (what else?) this fall, parents at a Windward elementary school suggested washing windshields instead of “whole cars” ... Time to bow to new Kaneohe royalty. Amber Naneo Aduja, a 10-year-old honors student at St. Ann’s School, was crowned National American Miss Jr. Pre-Teen Queen in Disneyland during Thanksgiving week. She also topped the competition in her speech, interview, formal wear modeling and community involvement ...

Kailua author Fred Barnett will share parts (not body parts) of his latest book, Shark Stories, at noon Saturday at the state library (586-3490) ... Bess Press throws a party from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Friday for its new book, Buss Laugh: Stand Up Poetry from Hawai’i, at 3565 Harding Ave. You can meet the editor Lee “Da Pidgin Guerrilla” Tonouchi and the poets, including several with Windward ties: Kawika Calizar, Laura Lili’u Eckart Tomasello, Vito Higgins and Kalei Wodehouse (734-7159, ext. 11) ...

Kaneohe’s Toni Martin, director of WCC’s Gallery ‘Iolani, is no slouch as an artist herself. She took Best in Show at the Pastel Artists of Hawaii 2009 Open Exhibition, which runs through Christmas Day at Mezzanine Gallery at Pauahi Tower (545-7500)

... 24-VII Danceforce and Castle High alumni Cara Horibe and Mark Kanemura perform (in shades) with Janet Jackson in her latest video, Make Me ... Skyla Featheran (Castle 2008) has graduated from Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas ... Joining the Hawaii Theatre Center’s Education Advisory Committee (i.e. how do we reach out to more people and find more money?) are Kailua’s award-winning stage experts Joyce Maltby and Tony Pisculli. Go, guys. The Islands’ performing arts world needs to pick your brains now more than ever

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Kaneohe’s Edwin Buck (of E.A. Buck Co.) is doing his 30th straight Honolulu Marathon this Sunday, and he says his chief motivation is fear - the fear of being unable to meet the challenge and to look old age squarely in the face and say that he’s conquered another marathon. Best advice from this tax planner and fitness buff: Achieve a balance among the physical, financial and spiritual areas of your life. Another tip, gleaned from his first race in 1980: Don’t take brewer’s yeast by mistake the night before the race ...

Windward folks who shared their talent last week at the Mendonca Building courtyard for First Friday were Angela Mathieu, Sonya Napoleon, Shayne Turner, Erin Hannah, Heather Titus and Fred Gayagas (262-5930) ... Grace Redemption Ministries pastor Paul Kamanu, a Kahuku High grad and former tour guide, led a congregation of about 100 members each week at Kokokahi YWCA. But Paul also took his humanitarian outreach to 22 nations, preaching, teaching and mentoring. He worked at KAIM in the 1980s and ministered to prisoners and the homeless. Paul died Nov. 25 and age 55, and services are at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. Friday at Honolulu Central Seventh-day Adventist Church (234-0231) ...

Can’t get enough of the caroling sound? Go to the Kokua Hawaii Foundation Web site and you’ll find a cool, mellow version of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer by Jack Johnson ... Not only that, Kaneohe’s own Teresa Bright has a new CD out, A Bright Christmas. Holiday classics with a touch of soul, mixed in with other Windward talents like Del Beazley and Manu Boyd ...Do you realize that 2009 is the 40th anniversary of The Brady Bunch TV series? Well, Maureen McCormick (aka Marcia Brady) is on Oahu this month to support her favorite charity, Best Buddies Hawaii, and she’ll be at Borders Windward Mall at noon Sunday to autograph her book, Here’s the Story. Proceeds go to Best Buddies Hawaii, which links college students to youths with mental disabilities for friendship and support ...

David Simons of Kailua has been named 2010 Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year by Honolulu Best Lawyers, based on extensive peer review surveys and his 31-year record of multimillion-dollar decisions for employers. David studied law at Harvard ... Jeff Bookman, coach of the Chelsea Soccer Club in England, spent last week training future soccer stars at Le Jardin Academy. Jeff helped establish the David Beckham Academy in London and developed the Web site “Inside Soccer” ... Leo Domingo (Kailua 2003) graduated from Army Reserve basic training at Fort Knox, Ky. ...

Raymond Ellison (Le Jardin Academy 2006) and Matthew Vitart (Koolau Baptist Academy 2002, Mississippi State 2006) have competed Army ROTC leadership training at Fort Lewis, Wash. ... M.E. Reich of Kailua has collaborated with Oahu singer Anita Hall and others to produce the song Kailua Christmas. To find out more, look it up at http://www.kailuachristmas.com

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Look out, world leaders of today, tomorrow’s pacesetters are closing in fast. Among the 26 youth leaders from the U.S. attending the United Nations Climate Change Negotiations in Denmark next week is Maggie Comstock of Kailua. She’s a pure green delegate with plenty of credentials for her 21 years. As a member of SustainUS Agents of Change and co-founder of the Green Club at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., Maggie’s ready to help make policy for a global climate treaty.

“It’s ultimately my generation who will be dealing with the decisions, or indecisions, of our leaders in Copenhagen,” she says, “so it is important for youth voices to be heard at the conference.”

Also expected to attend is Maggie’s fellow Punahou alum, a guy named Barry Obama ... Speaking of youths, if there are any Windward high school students actually reading this column - what do you think you’re doing!? You only have two more days to apply for an internship with state Sen. Jill Tokuda (587-7215) ...

There is hope for folks who flunk English in grade school, according to children’s book author Graham Salisbury. The nationally acclaimed author returned recently to his former school, Kailua Elementary (where language arts was not his best subject), to discuss his own childhood and his newly released title in the Calvin Coconut series ... Elsie Fong, a Kaneohe resident and member of the Pali Seniors Club (see page 18 photos), was honored recently by RSVP for her volunteer work at local schools, nursing homes and for her willingness to be a leader. She pitches in wherever she’s needed, supporters say ...

Todd Iacovelli of Kailua took second place for his division in the Saucony Val Nolasco Half-marathon Nov. 8, when runners took off from Kapiolani park, up and around Diamond Head, through Kahala, out to Aina Haina and back for a total distance of 13.1 miles ... Matt Love, a Waimanalo resident, is a featured musician in the free Na Mele Nei Concert at 1 p.m. Sunday at Ward Warehouse Amphitheater (778-2945) ...

Pet photographer Mike Johnson will have his lens on your favorite little creatures this Saturday and Dec. 12 at VCA Kaneohe Animal Hospital. Holiday greetings with chirps, barks and meows - and Mike claims to understand them all (227-4159) ... Chad Chandler of Kaneohe plays King Kaspar in Honolulu Theatre for Youth’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, playing Friday through Dec. 19 at Tenney Theatre at St. Andrew’s. (839-9885) ...

Representing Castle High on panel topics at the College for Every Student national conference in New York Nov. 13-14 were Allyson Ijima, Dustin Telefoni, Chanel AhMow and Fuavasa Quirit Jr., along with their advisers Heather Evjen and Shiloh Richardson. Also participating was Puohala Elementary principal Alexis Kane

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Kaneohe writer, cook, grandmother and retired Aikahi teacher Jean Hee has just published her ninth cookbook. She’ll sign copies of Hawai’i's Best Quick & Easy Recipes (from Mutual Publishing) at Borders Windward Mall at 2 p.m. Dec. 6 ...

Another retired teacher, Kaneohe art specialist Dorinda Lum, put in her hour at the Windward Mall bookstore last Saturday for her children’s book Keoni’s Special Gift, also from Mutual Publishing. It’s a tale about an unhappy little o’opu, illustrated by award-winning Kaneohe artist Michael Furuya. The book was 20 years in the making, says Dorinda, who also graduated and taught at Castle High and several Windward schools ...

Daniel Loo of Kailua has graduated from Air Force Reserve basic training in Texas ...

The Accolade Competition likes worms. The group recently gave an Award of Excellence to Al and Jayne Cloutier of World Class Productions for their film Olomana Gardens: Permaculture and Aquaponics about Glenn Martinez‘s amazing farm of Waimanalo wigglies ...

HPU linguistics professor and Kailua resident Edward Klein sung with Hawaii’s Damien Canonization Choir at the largest Christian church in the world, St. Peter‘s Basilica, during the beloved priest’s sainthood ceremonies last month in Rome ... WallyAmos‘beloved cookies are still a hit.

He was seen autographing bags of them on a recent Sunday at Haleiwa Farmers Market ... Meet the newly certified teachers’ aides at KCAA Atherton Preschool: Kanani Kau of Kailua and Stacy Van Epps, a Castle High graduate from Kaneohe.

They earned their childcare credentials through KCAA’s online training while working full time at the Kailua preschool ... Kalaheo students have a good send-off to Thanksgiving at school today: There’s a pumpkin pie eating contest in the cafeteria ...

The cat people have another holiday show from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at McCoy Pavilion. It’s the, ahem, Cat Fanciers Association South West Region Christmas Cat Show, complete with international judges and a decorated cat cage contest. Katinka, a calico purebred Persian from Kailua, who previously graced this column, will attend ...

Bring your HI-5 cans to lululemon athletica atAla Moana Center by Nov. 30 and help the Windward Spouse Abuse Shelter (946-7220) ... Enchanted Lake bass player David Chiorini performs in Hot Club of Hulaville’s yuletide gypsy jazz show, The Gift, at 7 p.m. Dec. 2 at Manoa Valley Theatre (988-6131) and again from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 4 for Live on the Lawn at the state art museum (586-0900) ...

Pualani Ne had a visit from 20 bankers last Saturday, but it’s not what you think. Bank of Hawaii employees put in dry-wall and hammered away on other tasks at her family’s Habitat for Humanity house now going up in Waimanalo

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Surfrider Foundation honored Kaneohe artist Bill Braden last weekend with its Environmentally Friendly Local Company Award for Bill’s work to preserve the Islands’ beauty through his paintings and activism ... Darby Slick of Kailua, who has written hit songs with his sister-in-law Grace, will accompany Millicent Cummings in her HPR show at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Atherton studio (955-8821). Darby also has penned his autobiography, Don’t You Want Somebody to Love, highlighting his experience with the Great Society band, travels in India and other adventures ...

 

Mosaic tile designs created by Leah Kilpatrick Rigg are now gracing Windward Mall’s new food court. Her work also softens the Hawaii Self-Storage building exterior in Kapahulu ... Speaking of food, if you haven’t amassed copies of Castle High’s 2010 cookbook yet, it’s on sale Saturday during the craft fair at Ben Parker Elementary School (see calendar) and at the CHS fair Dec. 6 ... Kahuku High 2002 graduate Renee Nobriga is the new Miss Hawaii USA, crowned Nov. 9 in Waikiki. Renee is a sales associate and model with the goal of running her own boutique and earning a communications degree ...

Janine Oshiro of the WCC faculty has won the Editors’ Choice Award for poetry from Bamboo Ridge Press and will read her work during the press’ book launch at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 23 at UH Campus Center Ballroom (626-1481) ... The first chairwoman of the Honolulu Police Commission, Olga Waterhouse, died Nov. 4 at the age of 91. A longtime Kailua resident and active Republican, Olga also volunteered with the Red Cross and Castle Medical Center, among other service groups ... A little girl at Kainalu

Elementary has grown up to land a lead role in a “Bollywood” movie. Now filming in New York and India is When Harry Tries to Marry, an independent romantic comedy co-starring the former Kailua keiki Stefanie Estes, who plays the love interest of an Indian chap who thought he wanted an arranged marriage. Stefanie also has her BFA from NYU and considerable experience in stage, film and TV work. Plus she’s pretty. Proud mom is Brett Alexander-Estes of Kailua ... Castle High grad Darren Shiroma now heads the L.A.-based United Airlines flight attendant union (1,600 members).

Darren has chatted with Dr. Phil on his show, and done other interviews on hazards of the job ... Kaneohe artist Wayne Takazono is in Matchbox Plus, a miniature art show on view through Dec. 5 at Cedar Street Galleries in town ...

Kailua’s Dean Nelson wears many hats as founder of WildHorse Health Care and chiropractic service, professional dancer, author of Don’t Waste Pain and now a life coach, which takes him deeper into his patients’healing process. Of healthcare reform, he says: “If you’re caring for someone’s health, you want to see that person celebrate life, not simply live without a headache.” Further, there’s a gap in the system once a diagnosis is made: “While it may do well in prescribing chemo or radiation therapy, it’s less adept at dealing with the patient’s emotional free fall.” Want more? Call 342-3907

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Kailua resident Seigfried Ramler will discuss his memoirs, Nuremberg and Beyond, Thursday at 11 a.m. at Temple Emanu-El on Pali Highway (261-5786). Born in Vienna, Seigfried became the longest-serving interpreter at the Nuremberg Trials (held in 1945 and ‘46 to prosecute Nazi war criminals) and is now a scholar and retired educator in the Islands ... Jason Santos of Kailua has graduated from Army ROTC leadership training at Fort Lewis, Wash., while studying at University of Hawaii ...

Kaneohe actress Pomai Lopez is Suzy in Winter Wonderettes, Manoa Valley Theatre’s sequel to the Broadway hit The Marvelous Wonderettes, on stage Thursday through Nov. 29. It’s all about Christmas nostalgia in a hardware store (988-6131) ... When retired Hawaii judge James Burns spoke recently to the Wahiawa-Waialua Rotary Club, he shared details - and sometimes firsthand accounts - of Hawaii’s “Road to Statehood.” Yet the Kailua resident began his remarks by lamenting that he doesn’t have an identity of his own: “I’m referred to as Emme Tomimbang‘s husband or Gov. Burns’ son” ...

The story of Dusty the elderly golden retriever and his rescue by Kailua couple Daniela and Brian Tow is now appearing in the Happy Tails book series Lost Souls Found. They adopted the severely abused, blind and handicapped dog in Denver and made special arrangements with the airlines when moving back to Hawaii two years later. Dusty flew with them in the cabin and had his own flatbed cart in the airport. He’s now happily settled in Kailua with the Tows and two other dogs who act as his eyes and ears ...

Clarence and Cecelia Izuo of Kaneohe have returned from their Father Damien canonization trip to Belgium and Rome with a greater respect for European crowds, union strikes, lines, food and weather. Cecelia also met with Aiea’s Audrey Toguchi (St. Damien’s cancer miracle) while in Belgium and witnessed all the sacred events for Hawaii’s saintly priest. They’ve also been to Kalaupapa. They give a thumbs up to the Belgian waffles. Not sure if they sipped the Father Damien beer ... Carmen Hergenrader (Kahuku 2000) has completed Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas ...

Kathie Wells of Community Helping Schools in Kailua says that Central Middle School needs a digital camera or two compatible with iMac to get the students up to snuff as tekkies (225-2621) ... Jennifer Shiraishi of Kaneohe earned her doctorate in optometry recently from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore. ... Congratulations to 2009 UH Regents Scholar Stephanie Soon from Castle High School. As an outstanding first-year college student, Stephanie won a full, four-year tuition grant plus a $4,000 yearly stipend and a $2,000 travel grant from UH ...

Kaneohe’s Daisy Lee Carinio is now a member of The Call at Ashland University in Ohio. The Call is a pre-seminary initiative to help undergraduates discern their calling to seminary and church leadership ... Retired UH religion professor Alfred Bloom of Kailua was honored for “enlightened leadership” by Pacific Buddhist Academy last week at its annual banquet in Waikiki ... Aikahi Playground is finally open again, thanks to the Navy and several businesses who made sure it was safe to play on. The school combined its grand reopening with a Halloween party and movie night

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We haven’t heard the last word from Kailua author Ian MacMillan, who died of pancreatic cancer last December. Mutual Publishing has released his final novel, Bone Hook, posthumously, and it’s what they call an engaging mystery and whodunit page-turner - set in Kailua, of course. Ian was an award-winning writer of seven novels and five short-story collections ...

Martine Aceves-Foster of Pohakupu displays her exquisite flower photos in the Mendonca Building courtyard on First Friday (Nov. 6) in Chinatown (262-5930) ... Kailua girl Brooke Alexander left Hawaii nearly 30 years ago wearing the 1981 Miss World-America crown, which led to a very successful TV and modeling career in New York. Though she claims that 40-ish beauties get less work, Brooke has picked up some treasured new roles as mother to 5-year-old Jace and wife - as of Sept. 26 - to Croatian tennis pro Marko Zelenovic. Their wedding was detailed in the New York Times society pages, but only Waha Nui got this scoop: Brooke’s dusting off her tennis racket after a 25-year lapse to learn the latest backhand techniques from Marko - “and I still have a killer 15-foot jump shot,” she says, from her basketball days in the Islands ...

Juliet Lighter, the 2002 Miss Hawaii USA from Kaneohe, probably likes this title even more: 2009 Outstanding Advocate for Children and Youth. The state Legislature’s Keiki Caucus honored her last week for her tireless campaign to educate youths on preventing domestic violence ...

Flight officer Joshua Caldwell, his wife and three children were named Navy Family of the Year by the National Military Family Association. “It’s non-stop laughing, all the time,” Joshua told Hawaii Marine. The Caldwells, who live in Kailua, also earned a free trip to Washington, D.C., last week to compete with families from other armed services branches for the ultimate Military Family title ... Latest feather in the cap of Kailua actress B.K. Cannon: She had a role last week in an episode of the new TV drama series Lie to Me, playing “a very troubled teenager.” In real life, B.K. is a full-time college student in L.A. ...

If people were mourning Frances Peoples, who died Oct. 15 at age 91, you would-n’t know it at her Oct. 31 funeral. They came in Halloween costumes as a tribute to her love of life. Frances spent her retirement helping Kailua, worked as a senior intern for U.S. Sen. Dan Akaka, headed the Kailua Seniors Club, and was named Female Senior Citizen of the Year. St. Anthony’s Church and Kainalu Elementary, among many others, also knew her generous spirit

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Kailua psychiatrist and Native Hawaiian health advocate Benjamin Young received the annual David Malo award last Saturday from the West Honolulu Rotary Club, which cited Ben’s lifelong commitment to “the welfare and perpetuation of Hawaiian medicine and culture.” Currently writing a book on the history of medicine in Hawaii, Ben helped build the Hokulea canoe, rode on it as crew doctor, and was back on land as chief of staff at Castle Medical Center in 1997. He also founded the Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence at UH medical school ...

Norma Ching,mother of Waimanalo artist Patrick Ching, has published a book of healing poetry, From the Master’s Heart, and filled it with vivid illustrations by her son. At the end she mentions, as most mothers are wont to do, how amazed she is by her little boy: “Patrick was an A student in elementary school, then became a wild teenager,” she writes. “Who would have thought that this boy who had gotten so out of control would someday be a forest ranger and own his own at gallery?“You can check out Norma’s book at http://www.xlibris.com ...

 

Kahaluu’s Robert Braunthal brings 20 years of experience to RevoluSun, where he’s the new residential construction manager of the solar electric and hot water systems firm. Robert also owns One Palm Woodworks, which makes high-end custom doors and cabinets, and he belongs to Anuenue Outrigger Canoe Club ... MidWeek‘s own Bob Hogue (who recently moved from Kailua to town) has written Sands of Lanikai, an action thriller/romance about coming of age. It starts with a mysterious spy in Kailua bay just prior to Dec. 7, 1941. Bob even introduces a Kailua policeman named Jack Burns. Island Heritage will have it ready next month ...

Members of the pilots’ union at Hawaiian Airlines helped build a Habitat House for Pualani Ne and family recently in Waimanalo. Their job was framing and roofing, which got them off the ground, so they must have felt right at home ... Kailua writer Mary Lombard‘s piece, Guts Up, will be read during the live taping of HPR’s Aloha Shorts program at 6:45 p.m. Sunday at Atherton Studio in Honolulu (955-8821). Mary’s work will be published in the upcoming Bamboo Ridge No. 94 ...

Kailua insurance executive Stephanie McGuire has been promoted to assistant vice president with King & Neel Inc., based on “her strong drive and work ethic,” according to president Wesley Uemoto ... The National Indie Excellence Awards honored The Survivor Spirit: The Beauty, Passion & Power of Breast Cancer Survivors took first for Women’s Issues, second for Editor’s Choice and was a finalist in Non-fiction Anthologies. Take a bow, author Cynthia Derosier of Kailua and photographer James Anshutz of Kaneohe ...

Tickets are selling now at the Hawaii Theatre box office for Jack Johnson‘s concert and documentary screening Nov. 13-14. Proceeds go to Kokua Hawaii Foundation, which is sprouting gardens and healthy eating lessons at several Windward schools. The En Concert film of Jack’s latest world tour starts at 8, following by a full acoustic treat from Jack and Zach Gill

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Keynote speaker for Hina Mauka’s benefit dinner Nov. 5 at Hilton Hawaiian Village is William Cope Moyers, son of the famed journalist Bill Moyers (236-2600). The Kaneohe drug rehab center is a perfect cause for Moyers, who wrote Broken: My Story of Addiction and Redemption. Also planned at the gala: a performance by Hina Mauka’s therapeutic community at the Women’s Community Correction Center (Ke Alaula) ...

St. Mark Lutheran School third-grade teacher Charlene Hinton celebrated her birthday by skydiving. That tops off a year of various diversions for her, such as the Tin Man and Na Wahine races. As her colleague JoAnn Gundermann says, the Kaneohe grandmother “has lots to share during show-and-tell” ... Walt Keale will sing at Windward YMCA’s annual Hallo-Wine gala Saturday at Koolau Golf Club where many great buys await at the silent auction - if you can tear yourself away from the wine and pupus (261-0808) ...

 

Kaneohe resident Crystal Evans has been promoted to director of sales and marketing for the Waterfront at Aloha Tower Marketplace. Crystal has already built the banquet facility and event venue into a busy destination for parties of all kinds. Want to get married by the harbor? Call Crystal & Co. (545-5900) ... An alert resident pointed out to the Koolauloa Neighborhood Board last month that it was great to have the bus stop across from Kahuku High School moved further down the road, “however, the bus shelter is still in its original location.” Oops ...

Congratulations to MidWeek editor Don Chapman, a Kaneohe resident, who received the Ating Kaibigan (Our Friend) award from the United Filipino Council of Hawaii last Saturday at the Hilton. The award recognizes a non-Filipino who has shown great support to the Filipino community ... Kailua resident Joan Harris and Katinka, her pet Persian calico, head for the annual Halloween Cat Show Oct. 31 at McCoy Pavilion. It’s from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., complete with kitty costumes, decorated cages, international judges and an admission fee (531-4891). Joan breeds Persian cats and is an officer in Aloha Cat Fanciers, the show’s cosponsor ...

Kailua photographer and waterman Peter Ahing has an exhibit of his Humpback whale images, Among Giants, now through Dec. 4 at Laser Eye Center of Hawaii’s Art of Vision Gallery in the Pan Am Building. If you can’t see the photos clearly, I bet they can fix your eyes there so you can! There’s a reception Thursday night (946-6000) ...

Multiple award-winning actor, singer, dancer, TV performer and now minister Ben Vereen comes to Castle High Tuesday (Oct. 20) to talk with CPAC students and alums about his extraordinary career, ranging from the Roots TV miniseries, to nine Broadway shows to recent appearances as a patient on Grey’s Anatomy. “We are so excited we’re beside ourselves,” declared CPAC director Karen Meyer. Oh, he’s also opening the Pops season this weekend with Honolulu Symphony at the concert hall (792-2000) ...

That familiar face on the Oceanic Cable commercials (she cries with happiness over the cheap monthly fee while slumped on a couch) will be at Kahuku Library telling her own stories Oct. 28 (see calendar). For this show, acclaimed actress Janice Terukina becomes “Auntie Jan”

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Le Jardin Academy fourth-grader Nicole Lauro, a Kaneohe gymnast, earned a spot on the TOPs National B Team Sept. 25-27 at Bela Karolyi‘s women’s national gymnastics training camp in Texas. Nicole and her three team-mates at Hawaiian Island Twisters are now among the top 20 for their age group in the entire country. The girls return for more training with Bela and the national team/Olympic coaches in December ...

 

Out $100 for a costume that does-n’t fit, Kailua environmental advocate Shannon Wood advises Halloween customers to know the company they rent from and make sure its policy allows you to inspect and try it on before paying. Let’s face it, she learned the hard way, you can’t teach about global warming if your polar bear costume hangs down past your toes ...

Why would an English teacher need swords in her classroom? Would you believe “clashing pronouns”? While trying to add excitement to grammar lessons, Castle High teacher Diane Lee finally broke the handle off of her old prop and needs new ones (cheap plastic toy swords) to help make her point (233-5600) ...

A belated thank you to Tyler Lau and his fellow scouts from Boy Scout Troop 117 who built and painted a backboard for the Castle High tennis courts last semester. Tyler’s Eagle Scout project means the folks who play tennis there can use it for a long time ... Busy Castle High grad (and Miss Hawaii 2007) Ashley Layfield is currently on stage in Paliku Theatre’s West Side Story as well as having the title role in The Actors Group’s Soul Saviour: Dancing Between Heaven and Hell, playing Oct. 5-25 downtown (722-6911) ...

When Aikahi’s Aaron Kellogg graduated from Army basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., last spring, he asked dad Allan Kellogg Jr. (a Vietnam vet and Medal of Honor winner in the Marine Corps) to pin on his graduation rope. It must have inspired him, because Aaron has since completed paratrooper training, reports proud sister Tanna Kellogg ...

Kailua artist Warren Stenberg is in good company for his latest show with legendary sculptor Satoru Abe and Harry Tsuchidana, who was once Warren’s teacher. Their works are on view in No Plan B through Nov. 14 at Louis Pohl Gallery in Chinatown (521-1812) ...

Paul Sato of the Saloon Pilots admits that the local band attracts a diverse crowd to its Friday night gigs at Kailua’s Big City Diner (see calendar). On Oct. 2, for instance, a man cruised by on his bike with a big white rabbit, and both of them stopped to listen in. The band also will bring its fiddling frenzy and bluegrass sounds to KEY Project annual Ohana Festival and fundraiser Saturday

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If you rely on a GPS to get around those confusing mainland cities (what! no mauka or makai?) take a lesson from Kaneohe business couple Roland and Janis Chun. Upon landing in Philadelphia on a vacation, they drove a rental car to their hotel, where hunger pangs took over. Quickly and efficiently, hi-tech Roland found some recommended restaurants for dinner and punched in the address of one on their GPS. Off they went from the hotel garage.

“Take freeway on-ramp, circle here, turn there, now park.” Hmm, very familiar. The restaurant was in their own hotel, right where they started. On top of that, Janis recalls, “We decided not to eat there anyway” ...

John Au of Kaneohe has earned his designation as a retirement income specialist. John is vice president at Chinen & Arinaga Financial Group Inc. ... Book beat: Released nationwide by A. Lee Totten of Kaneohe is her book Suffering: The Uncovering of Spirit. A holistic biblical adviser and columnist, Lee and husband Earl have four keiki and seven adopted foster children. Look for her title at http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore and other online sites ...

Read all about it: “Unemployed advertising guy transitions to certified wellness coach.” That’s Kaneohe resident Brian Samo Ross‘s story, and you can find out more by reading his book, Talking to God without Calling Long Distance. It’s at Bookends in Kailua and major online outlets ...

Waimanalo author and psychologist Walter Wild has published Escape from Paradise, a suspense story set in Waimanalo “ignited by a clash of values that erupts in a battle between two psychologists.” You can find it at http://www.xlibris.com ... Kim Green of Kailua is new project developer for Revolusun, a provider of residential and commercial solar electric and hot water systems ... Benny Tran of Kaneohe has graduated for Army ROTC leadership training at Fort

Lewis, Wash, while studying at Santa Clara University ... Kristina Diaz (Kalaheo 2005) has graduated from the Air Force’s Air Traffic Control Operations Apprentice course at Keesler AFB, Miss. ... Michael Morgan of Kailua and Erik Ramseyer of Waimanalo have graduated from Air Force basic military training at Lackland AFB, Texas ...

Curves managers Judith Knutson of Kahuku (293-4400) and Marilyn Creek of Kaneohe (236-6188) have joined the breast cancer awareness campaign through their businesses: For every woman who brings in a mammogram taken within the past year, or who donates $25 to American Cancer Society, they will waive the service fee for joining Curves (during one of the last three weeks of October ...

Theo Vidourous, an Army attorney by day, found out his mom is coming - all the way from the East Side (New York) - to see him on stage as Lt. Shrank in West Side Story at Paliku Theatre

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Scott Ritchie is revving up the Lanikai school ohana for two whole hours of fun and games - about math. The school’s first “Orbit Around Math” night starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday offering 24 games and activities designed for keiki fun and to boost Hawaii’s dismal standardized math scores. “A lot of fathers have offered to help,” notes Scott; Wally Amos has been invited to read word problems as only he can, and state Rep. Chris Lee will assist in the adventure. Everyone is welcome. Call Ann Pederson at 266-7844 ...

Lanikai’s Barbara Eberhart has a one-woman show up now through Oct. 31 at Che Pasta at Bishop Square. It represents new paintings and techniques over the past four years of work. There’s a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday. Uh-oh. That’s during math night ... Kailua’s Mark Tawara, marketing director here for Belt Collins, was named Chapter President of the Year at a July conference in Las Vegas of the Society for Marketing Professional Services.

Mark’s Hawaii group also took first place for excellence among small chapters ... Julice Ubando (Castle 2003) has graduated from the Army ROTC four-week leaders training course at Fort Knox, Kentucky. She is a student at University of Hawaii ... Trenton Manson of Kailua has entered basic cadet training at the U.S. Air Force Academy in preparation for his first academic year there ...

Congratulations to Longs Drugs’$1,000 scholarship recipients from Windward public schools: Tiffany Kishida of Castle, Weathirly Grace of Kahuku, Sharay Galdeira of Kailua and Natasha Stenson of Kalaheo. All have expressed an interest in business, which the drug chain supports ... Gwen

Yamamoto-Lau of Kaneohe is now president of Hawaii Community Reinvestment Corp., a nonprofit that serves the affordable rental housing market here ... What’s former Royal Hawaiian bandmaster Aaron Mahi doing now? For one thing, he leads a choral singing group at the Koolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club quarters on Mondays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Come on down, everybody. Call 235-8111 for directions ...

Lauren Sandborn of Kaneohe is the first recipient of the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard robotics scholarship, which funds up to four years of engineering study at UH-Manoa - plus an offer of full-time work at the shipyard ... WCC is particularly proud of three of its outstanding faculty, who recently were honored by the UH system.

Assistant professor of Hawaiian studies Liko Hoe won the Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching; anatomy and physiology instructor Ross Langston won the UH Regents Excellence in Teaching award; and former English professor Frank Mattos received the WCC Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Service (for service learning programs) ...

Kalaheo High School can boast that it’s got the only 2010 National Merit Scholarship semifinalist among Windward schools: Kat K. Compagnoni

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Puohala Elementary student Tatyana Kahaulelio has been accepted into the People to People World Leadership Forum, set for Oct. 5-10 in Washington, D.C., where she’ll study, tour, share and meet with the capital’s movers and shakers ... Speaking of global connections, by the time Castle High’s Save Darfur campaign ended last semester, Lesley Mace‘s social studies students had collected from colleagues, faculty and others more than $1,000 - double last year’s total, Lesley says. It will go to the Save Darfur Coalition, which campaigns worldwide against the genocide in Sudan ...

Closer to home, Dave Kowalczyk of Roger Dunn Golf Shops is offering a Chromax metallic golf ball as the hole-in-one prize on Tuesday nights at Bay View Mini-Putt. And there’s more. Call him at 234-7100 ... Joyce Bellino has been named Kailua and Kalaheo complex area superintendent for the DOE, moving over from her job as principal at Kapunahala ... Look for Castle High’s band and Marine Corps JROTC in the Aloha Festival parade Saturday ... Malia Paresa of Ahuimanu made the spring dean’s list at USC, where she’s just begun her junior year as a biology major ...

Kaneohe physician Kalani Brady will accompany his Kalaupapa patients to the Oct. 11 canonization of Father Damien de Veuster in Rome. But before he goes, Kalani will discuss the history of the Molokai settlement at 12:30 p.m. Thursday in the education building auditorium at UH medical school (692-0897) ... Speaking of the Belgian priest, part-time Lanikai artist Michael Ives has created folk art serving trays plus a portrait of him, which you can see at his website, http://www.ivesart.com ...

The recent Operation Homefront drive at Windward Mall amassed more than $500 and 16 garbage bags worth of island gifts and treats for deployed troops at Christmas. As Lt. Col. Jeff Hagan told Hawaii Marine, favorite items before he returned home from the desert were “flipflops, Ultimate Fighting magazine (with a story about BJ Penn), moist towelettes and macadamia nut chocolates” ...

Good news, waterbabies. The Windward YMCA’s heated swimming pool reopened earlier this month after a makeover ... Better take up engineering, folks. Ethan Hottendorf, a Pearl Harbor electronics mechanic apprentice from Kaneohe, has started fall semester at UHManoa. He’s being paid his regular salary by the shipyard while he pursues an electrical engineering degree full time. The shipyard also picks up the cost of tuition and books and guarantees him a higher job when he graduates. Ethan already has a related degree, but says this will “improve not only the shop but the entire engineering department” ...

Curves International has engineered a 30-day diet plan to get Windward wahine back in shape, launching it on Sept. 30, which is National Women’s Health and Fitness Day. To check it out, call Marilyn Creek of Curves Kaneohe at 236-6188 or Judith Knutson of Curves Kahuku at 293-4400 ... It’s no surprise to learn that Le Jardin’s athletic director Reed Olaso loves movies about sports. High on his list are Remember the Titans and Hoosiers - and for good balance, he also likes Romeo and Juliet, plus a few crime flicks

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As you watch the pageantry of the Aloha Festivals, keep in mind that all four royals on the 2009 court are Windward residents: Much aloha to King Wyatt Kamalulani Kahape’a of Hauula, Queen Tracy Lokelani Keli’iho’omalu of Kailua (parent board member at St. Anthony’s), Prince Justy Keikili’ili’ionalani Kalilimoku of Kaneohe and Princess Elise Ululani Kahikina of Kaneohe (a Samuel Kamakau charter school student) ...

Sisters and former Hawaii beauty queens Ashley and Jonelle Layfield are both involved in Paliku Theatre’s West Side Story, and Ashley (who plays Anybodys) will soon move to New York where the play’s story originated. On a recent NYC trip, guess what play revival she saw? Yep, ‘twas WSS, and she found the choreography similar to Marcelo Pacleb‘s for the local version, which opens Sept. 25 (see calendar). Jonelle will move to L.A. but not before she finishes helping Marcelo with dance routines here. In fact, both sisters teach at Marcelo’s 24-VII dance studio ...

Not dancing, but running, Kaneohe’s Bill Cunningham won the bronze for Hawaii in the 400-meter run at the National Senior Games last month at Stanford. He also finished fourth in the 200m and 800m finals. Bill won in the 75-79 age group, and he’s still going strong in many local races. ...

Seen shopping and at the keiki play area at Windward Mall: model Heidi Klum, husband soul singer Seal and kids ... You’ll find local storytellers at Mililani Library delighting preschoolers Sept. 15 (Kaneohe’s Yona Chock) and Sept. 29 (Kailua’s Vickie Dworkin) ...

Who says art is dead? Andy Kay, a world-class expert in Chinese art and calligraphy who lives in Kaneohe, led three art classes for Emily Vergara‘s second-graders (“my little peeps”) at Ahuimanu Elementary - for free

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School bake sales, yum. Led by Kathy Sakamoto, Castle High parents are manning a bake sale booth at every home football game for the Knights this fall, trying to pay for a trophy case that was never completed in the school gym - one $1,775 cabinet at a time. Look for them by the the main concession at 5 p.m. Oct. 2 and 4 p.m. Oct. 10. “All sales only one dollar!” Kathy says. If you want to give more, call 233-5600, ext. 2236 ...

Ku’ulani Miyashiro of Kaneohe reported in OHA’s newsletter that Native Hawaiians in New York City have formed a hui, Na ‘Oiwi, to educate those East Coasties about all things Hawaiian (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)). A Castle High and UH graduate, Ku’ulani is now in graduate studies at NYU ... It was a Bright day at the opening UH football game last Friday when three lead actors in Paliku Theatre’s upcoming West Side Story (pages 1 and 2) departed from their Broadway repertoire to join Kamehameha Schools Children’s Chorus (directed by Lynell Bright) to sing We Are the World. Tori Anguay, Kim Anderson and Brittany Browning also joined play director Ron Bright‘s son Michael in singing the Star-span-gled Banner and Hawaii Ponoi at the game ...

Uheina Hanohano of Laie has joined the Honolulu General Office of New York Life Insurance Co. as an agent. Uheina is a BYU-Hawaii graduate, wife and mother of two sons ... Kahu Kordell Kekoa had a busy blessing schedule in August for Windward’s oldest and youngest folks. Among his responsibilities were the groundbreakings for both the Wilson Care Home in Kailua Aug. 22 and the Kamehameha Preschool in Haiku Village Aug. 31 ...

Though WCC’s Common Book program has not yet launched for fall semester, coordinator Brian Richardson has another book for you in the meantime: the 2010 Entertainment coupon book for $30. No heavy reading, no discussion - just bargains, and the profits go to the Common Book program. (Title this year is Freakonomics.) Contact Brian at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) ...

Christian Hall (Castle 2008) has graduated with distinction from Air Force Reserve basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas ... CPAC alumnus Alex Selma is in the ensemble of the L.A. production of Wicked, currently playing in San Francisco, where he’s had the opportunity to play Boq on stage as well ... Tune in to the Travel Channel tonight (Sept. 9) if you’d like a peek at Laie’s Hukilau Cafe during Adam Richman‘s Man vs. Food show ... Also getting national mention as celebrity favorites are Kailua eateries Lucy’s Grill & Bar, Kalapawai Cafe & Deli, Lanikai Juice and Morning Brew, in the July issue of Conde Nast Traveler magazine ...

Leading the fund drive to keep the libraries open are Hawaii’s biggest book fans, state librarian Richard Burns and Friends of the Library of Hawaii executive director Byrde Cestare, both Kailua residents ... Noted musician Alan Akaka is opening Ke Kula Mele Hawaii, an academy of Hawaiian music, in his Enchanted Lake home this month. Alan says he’ll be teaching steel guitar, ukulele, guitar, “Hawaiian style” bass and choir (375-9379)

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Come Sept. 12, three Windward executives from REHAB will be washing cars for charity in the hospital’s parking lot: Ko Miyatake of Maunawili, REHAB Foundation; Nancy Hughes of Kaneohe, chief of psychology; and Dr. Kent Yamamoto of Maunawili, medical director of traumatic brain injury programs. Watch out for washers’ elbow. For tickets, call Jennifer Pang of Pang Communications at 371-2882. She’s washing cars, too ...

The organ at Christ Church Uniting is showing its age and has “many internal electrical problems.” Don’t we all? Bob Grantham reports that they’re going with the much cheaper rebuild, rather than buying new. Kind of goes with the Kailua congregation’s green theme, too ... Windward painter Sonya Napoleon and metal sculptor Wilbert “Bert” Wong Jr. will showcase their latest works during First Friday at Ernie and JoDee Hunt‘s Mendonca Building courtyard, 5 to 9:30 p.m. Friday downtown (262-5930) ...

Kailua nutritionist Deanna Moncrief has won the 2009 Public Health Nutrition Award from the Society for Nutrition Education. Though she helps companies keep their employees healthy for a living through Benchmark Wellness (537-1333), it’s Deanna’s volunteer work that was honored by SNE. She coordinates lessons in good eating for more than 4,000 students in grades 2, 5 and 6 that Kokua Hawaii Foundation reaches through its ‘AINA in the Schools program. “We’ve been able to help kids connect the dots between caring for their environment, their bodies and each other,” she says ...

Speaking of growing things, Leland Miyano got the attention of the local chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects during its 2009 recognition program. The Kahaluu landscaper won the ASLA honor award in residential design for the Aliomanu Residence on Kauai. They say it “incorporated both the intimate, charming spaces and the expansive grounds of the residence.” Way to go, Leland ... Rhianna-Katherine Farm of Kaneohe has entered basic cadet training at the U.S. Air Force Academy in preparation for her first academic year at the Colorado Springs college ...

Beth Tom is back in business on Oneawa Street after a year’s search for a new space for her growing Price Busters chain. The seventh Price Busters is right across the street from her former Kailua store (now Walgreen’s). Beth had a soft opening Aug. 20 in the former Hardware Hawaii showroom ... Lauren Kajiura is heading for a life of crime. The Kaneohe graduate student has won the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Scholarship, which will help her continue her forensic science studies at Arcadia University in Pennsylvania ...

The new legal counsel for Bishop Museum, Kahikino Noa Dettweiler, once taught Pacific Island and Hawaiian studies at Waimanalo Elementary and Intermediate School. Kahikino has his BA from BYU-Hawaii and graduated from UH law school. “It’s an honor to work among the treasure of Hawaii and my ancestors,” he says ... Local finalists and prize-winners in the state library’s Teen Summer Reading Program sponsored by Pizza Hut include Chenoa Yorgason (entered through Kahuku Library), Ryan Hambelek (Kailua), Jennifer Au (Kaneohe) and Sunshine Saucedo (Waimanalo). It pays to read ...

Windward favorites, the Saloon Pilots, make their Atherton Studio debut at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, bringing bluegrass to Kaheka Street

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Liana Green-Wright will represent Hawaii beginning Sept. 6 at the Mrs. America pageant in Tucson, Arizona, accompanied by husband Matt and parents Estelle and Michael Green of Kaneohe ... Windward talents Uncle Mel Murata and the Keiki Palaka Band and Hoku Zuttermeister (that jewelry designer mentioned in last week’s column) are all performing Sunday afternoon at Kapiolani Medical Center’s 100th birthday bash at Honolulu Zoo ...

Speaking of animals, Kailua’s Ron Darby produces The Pet Hui on OC16, turning out two new programs each month. If you have a pet idea for him to cover, report your hot tip to him at 398-3360 ... Still more on pets. Kaneohe resident Deb McGuire, aka Hawaii Pet Photographer, went after bigger game recently by visiting a special animal refuge near Eureka Springs, Arkansas. “Believe it or not, it is still legal to purchase lions and tigers and bears in many states,” Deb says. “People buy these exotic animals when they are small.

They realize when their pets are 6 to 7 months old that ‘cute’ is VERY BIG” ... When Kupono Aweau was on stage at the packed 24-VII dance show Aug. 15 at Windward Mall, he revealed his favorite dance assignment from his successful run on the So You Think You Can Dance TV show. Yep, Pono liked the crash-test dummy role best ... Windward Artists Guild members Michelle Kaskovich and Jill Butterbaugh have their work on display through Sept. 11 at the Contemporary Museum at First Hawaiian Center, as part of the Schaffer Portrait Challenge ...

Lost: Hawaiian bracelet that says ‘Kawehileilokelani” on it. It’s true home is on the wrist of Rose Talmadge of Kaneohe. Rose thinks she lost it in mid July “somewhere near Denny’s at Windward City” (247-1882) ... As Frank Lockwood retires this month after a long career with the Kailua family law firm of Lockwood & Hartley, Elsa McGehee is excited to take his place with partner Steven Hartley. “I love it,” says Elsa, a veteran litigator and UH law school graduate who commutes from Mililani. Elsa also is active with American Cancer Society and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation ...

Susan Lee St. John of Kailua will read selections about food at Hawaii Public Radio’s next taping of Aloha Shorts, set for 7 p.m. Sept. 6 (955-8821). This time, you can bring canned goods, too, for the Hawaii Foodbank ... Polynesian Cultural Center’s new evening showcase, Ha: Breath of Life, debuted to a sold-out crowd Aug. 14, complete with standing ovation. To find out what it’s all about, call 293-3333 for reservations ...

Kailua artist David Behlke‘s Recycle Group is on view through Sept. 3 at Gallery on the Pali (526-1191) ... The Hawaii Conservation Alliance selected 25 student stories and poems to fit its 2009 theme of “My Hawaii,” and 11 of them come from Windward students (out of nearly 400 entries). They are Moana Keaunui, Joanna Leung and Kiana Ringuette of Kailua Intermediate; and Devon Franke, Robert Graper, Georgia Havens, Cheryl Kapahu, Logan Spencer, Kira Szabo, Erin Voss and Jasmine Ying of Le Jardin Academy

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Kaneohe’s Hoku Zuttermeister, a multiple award-winning musician, is branching out to another form of art. At 6 p.m. today (Aug. 19) he will launch his own exclusive line of jewelry, with a song or two at the Royal Hawaiian Heritage Jewelry store at Pearlridge Center Downtown (524-4300) ... Singer/songwriter Ruth Shiroma Foster will perform at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday at Hawaii Public Radio’s Atherton Studio with the Oahu Songwriters Group (955-8821). Ruth serves as a pianist on Sundays for the congregations at St. John’s By the Sea Church in Kahaluu ... Kaneohe resident Corinne Emi Kamiya has earned her master of fine arts degree from Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston ... Kailua native David Watt and partner Dale Geldum have established a brisk business recycling discarded beach mats and air mattresses by turning them into cool beach totes. Kini Beach now has a steady supply of sunbather riff-raff from the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach and other Island hotels. One place you can find their green wear - 99 percent recycled - is at Muumuu Heaven, in Kailua, of course ...

 

Kailua’s Bobby Silva has completed work on a new episode of the TV hit series Medium with Patricia Arquette, and you also can see him in G.I. Joe, which opened recently on the big screen. As Bobby told his dad Bob, however, the economy did affect Hollywood, and especially another acting project of his. He had landed the lead role in the horror film Blood Moon: The Rise of Skinwalker, which is now “postponed indefinitely” ...

Skinwalkers may be out, but magic is still in, as many of you have enjoyed recently at Koolau Magic Theater. Kaneohe’s Yona Chock, who has performed at the monthly Koolau show with The Great Davidio and Mr. O, will help teach a free magic class at Kalihi-Palama Library at 6 p.m. Aug. 27 (234-5262) ... Kaneohe historian Tom Coffman now has a second edition of his classic Nation Within: The History of the American Occupation of Hawaii, in paperback ...

More literate locals. Golden Plover awards for Windward Community College 2009 literary journal Rain Bird went to student John Harrison IV for his sci-fi short story Sea of Clouds and to writing retreat participant Joan Gencarelli for The Cupboard under the Stairs, which relates how at age 4 she was sent away from London by her mother to get her out of the bombing zone during World War II ... Seen on a van coming back from town on a recent evening: license plate KLY-BOY. That’s gotta be the vehicle of one of Kaneohe’s favorite singers, Kelly Boy DeLima ...

Alan Akina‘s Kahuku-based company, 101 Financial, made the top 500 list of the “fastest-growing private companies in the U.S.” in Inc. magazine. The former BYU-Hawaii basketball star also has helped coach high school hoops - and he has five kids of his own. Good enough reason to be akamai about money ... You can watch Waimanalo’s star farmer Dean Okimoto in action at 2 p.m. Friday at the Made in Hawaii Festival at Blaisdell Arena, where he and Ronnie Nasuti of Roy’s Restaurant whip up some dishes to support buying and eating locally ...

Good news for coffee and music fans at Schofield Barracks. Julie Loo just opened a Muddy Waters Cafe at Kalakaua Community Center on post. Julie already runs the popular Muddy Waters in Aikahi Park and at Bellows Air Station, so she knows what military customers like ... While visiting my daughter Erin Chang Wells in Chino, Calif. (the fading dairy capital of California’s Inland Empire), I learned that local high school band boosters were staging their annual Cow Chip Bingo benefit. It could work here, if you’ve got a big flat field. People bet on the location of the first, second and third “plops.” Then they release the cows onto a numbered grid and let the chips fall where they may. Instant “green” money for a good cause ...

Meanwhile, Castle Medical Center’s annual Chip in for Castle golf tournament brought in more than $800,000 to help the hospital go green

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Warning: Lots of words here. Windward Community College student Jessica Nalani Leonard has received a $1,000 scholarship for academics and her “practical application of geospatial technology and GIS (geographic information systems).” As a student intern with Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, Jessica created a database of coral reef conditions for the WCC Marine Option Program and is working on a GIS of the Waikalua Loko fishpond system. Her grant is from the, ahem, Hawaii Geographic Information Coordinating Council ... Kaneohe’s Paloma Almanza is one of 83 Avon sales reps to receive a college scholarship from the Avon Foundation for Women - and that’s not a foundation for your makeup! Paloma was selected for her academic record, leadership, community service and much more ... Windward Community Federal Credit Union has awarded $1,000 college scholarships to graduating seniors Jeanise Royos of Castle High and Jayginealeen Ifenuk of Kalaheo High ... Kailua resident Madeline May Taylor has earned her bachelor’s degree in special education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison ... Eden-Lee Murray of Ahuimanu is the new education director for Hawaii Theatre Center, and she can lead her ensemble of young aspiring actors by example. A veteran of local theater, Eden-Lee won two Po’okela awards just last month for both acting and directing ... Two Windward boys, the only representatives from Hawaii, did well at the U.S. Junior Olympic Skills Competition national finals July 25 in Chula Vista, Calif. Mitchell Quinn of Kailua won a silver medal for track and field (boys age 8 and 9) and Josh Aughenbaugh of Laie took the bronze for tennis (boys 10 and 11). They earned the trip by winning in the West regionals ... Congratulations to Sea Life Park and its bottlenose dolphin Hi’iaka, who gave birth to Waiohakaupo, a “healthy baby girl,” on July 6 after a very short labor. The park is offering special guided tours to take a peek in the nursery (259-2500) ... Castle High’s pride, Olympic decathlete Bryan Clay, will be standing still for a little while this Saturday and Sunday as the guest speaker for New Hope church services at Farrington High School auditorium (842-4242). Bryan also is keynote speaker for Hawaii’s Admission Day commemorative conference Aug. 21 at Hawaii Convention Center (522-0825) ... LesLeeAnn Pulliam (Castle 2007) has graduated from Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas ... Ziggy Marley hosts a children’s concert at noon Saturday at Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center with a little help from Windward recording artists Jack Johnson and Paula Fuga and others (524-5437, ext. 23) ... Brian Albus’ summer band students put on their Rock Works finale of light and heavy rock with eight bands and 30 songs Aug. 8 at Paliku Theatre. Brian calls Paliku “one of the best theaters around,” and strong enough to handle the vibe. Brian gears up for fall classes in Kaneohe soon (953-7631)

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Congratulations to Tom Holowach, Kailua resident and manager of Paliku Theatre, who earned a Po’okela award for Leading Male in a Musical - at another theater. He won for his performance in Army Community Theatre’s Curtains. Also making a splash outside of their Windward haunts are Kaneohe’s Shari Lynn with a Po’okela for Female Lead in Diamond Head Theatre’s Gypsy, and Bree Bumatai of Kailua won for Director of Manoa Valley Theatre’s Frost/Nixon ... Don’t hold your breath, library fans, but Kaneohe branch manager Tom Churma says the state/city folks held a pre-construction meeting July 28, and “it looks like work will begin in September” on the parking lot expansion ...

Director Susan Luehrs is pleased to announce that her Hawaii Fi-Do Service Dogs agency has won a grant from Hawaii Community Foundation to repair and improve its youth training site on the Kahuku hospital grounds ... Into the nightly music mix at BayFest next weekend the Marine base also has arranged for a Hawaiian-style jam at 5 p.m. Aug. 16 featuring Ten Feet, Fiji (6:30) and the New Zealand roots reggae band Katchafire (8:30). Admission is free with the $5 BayFest ticket (254-7679) ...

Not everything’s depressed in Las Vegas. Recent Windward slot machine winners at the downtown Sam Boyd casinos include Kailua’s Joan O’Connell ($20,888), Edmund Tawara ($9,231), Charles Okuhata ($6,400), Annette Pipi ($4,000), and Kaneohe’s Anna Santos and Gail Keppa ($10,000 each), Richard Hirai ($5,401), Clayton Nascimento ($4,974) and Lorraine Chow ($4,000) ... Kai Yamashiro of Kaneohe is preparing for a career on land, sea or in the air. He just graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy (as a All-Mountain West swimming standout) with a bachelor’s degree in legal studies, spent a month in Europe, and then new 2nd Lt. Kai reported for pilot training at Laughlin AFB in Texas ...

Correction: The unlucky steer downed by arrows in Kaneohe last month was shot in the stomach and rump, not in the eye ... Benjamin Smith (Castle 2008) has graduated from Army basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., and Brandon Paulo of Kaneohe has graduated from Army basics at Fort Sill, Okla. ...

Windward artists Joan Dubanoski and Frederico Domingo will exhibit their original works at First Friday, 5 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 7 at the Mendonca Building courtyard on Smith Street (262-5930), with music by Fred Gayagas of Kaneohe ... Kailuan Bill Stone and his wife Trudi recently returned from a trip to New York, London and Scotland, where golf was a highlight. “I stood on the very spot where Tom Watson dropped his ball and almost made a statement,” Bill says. Also, did you know that there’s no golf on Sundays at the famed St. Andrews course? ...

Kaanoipono Cabrinha (Kahuku ‘99) completed Army National Guard basic training at Fort Benning, Ga. No surprise there, Kaanoipono is already the HIARNG Soldier of the Year out of Wheeler ... Did you know that it will take a minimum of half a billion lei to repair the parliament and presidential office in the East European nation of Moldove?! Actually, that’s what Moldovans call their monetary unit, according to James Hargreaves, a family friend now assisting the judiciary there. He says the exchange rate is $1 = 11 Lei ... Chris Picciotto says that Kali Systems LLC of Kailua is now certified as an Enterprise Suite Intuit Solution Provider for evolving mid-size businesses with specific IT and E-commerce needs, and you know who you are! Call him at 262-8995

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Animal caretaker John Teves is still puzzling over who shot a 2-year-old steer with two arrows on July 19 or 20 on a small farm near Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden. On July 20 John and a friend discovered the dying black-and-white cow on the ground, bleeding internally with blunt target arrows in its eye and gut. “My heart just dropped,” he says. “Who would want to do something like that?” The men put him out of his misery, buried him nearby and filed a police report. If anyone has knowledge of this crime, call him at 783-4778. He adds that the steer weighed about 1,000 pounds and was valued at $1,200 ...

 

Speaking of farms, Dean Okimoto‘s trademark Baby Nalo greens were used in a salad prepared by the Kapiolani Community College culinary team that recently returned home as national champions from a competition in Florida ... A little bit farther from the farm, I recently spotted a black feral pig with tusks trotting up the Halemanu Street sidewalk when I went out to fetch my morning Star-Bulletin ... Aikahi teenager Brianna Pratt is still singing up a storm in Honolulu with recent gigs at Don Ho‘s Island Grill and Jimmy Buffett‘s at the Beachcomber restaurant ...

Castle High vice principal and former Knights athletic director Richard Haru takes on a new job next Monday as deputy director of the city Department of Parks and Recreation. Richard’s sports background and participation on the Parks and Rec board were praised by Mayor Mufi Hannemann, who says he should “hit the ground running” ... More Windward educators in the news. Kailua’s Kathryn Matayoshi has been appointed deputy superintendent of the state Department of Education for her public policy and strategic planning skills. Kathryn is an attorney and former director of the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, among many other responsibilities ...

Kourtney Kanno (Kalaheo 2008) had graduated from Air National Guard basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas ... Two well-known and talented Windward women are behind the documentary The Queen’s Medical Center: 150 Years of Moments, which will air at 9 p.m. Thursday and 4 p.m. Saturday on KHON2. The one-hour special on the Islands’ first hospital is co-produced and co-written by Emme Tomimbang (EMME Inc.) of Kailua and Lynne Waters of Kahaluu ...

Congratulations to Ward Yamashita and Dennie Chong and the gang at Hungry Ear Records, which marks its 29th anniversary in Kailua this month, still going strong on Kuulei Road. Why? Dennie says: “Independent music stores, especially one like ours, have always been a place for people to hang out and talk about music and make friends. There is a sense of community and ohana” ... Dentist David Brown (The Great Davidio) is keeping busy in his off hours as a magician. Koolau Magic Theater just staged another monthly Friday night show in bigger quarters at the shopping center, plus he performed at the Hawaii Kai Library’s reading finale and also at Randy’s Auto Service reopening July 24 in Kaneohe. Who knows where he’ll pop up next

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A longtime member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 1-14 Kaneohe, Nancy Airhart has been named a Most Valuable Partner for 2008-2009 for going above and beyond in her effort to recruit students for the Coast Guard Academy. Nancy has many interests in the community besides the auxiliary, such as the Windward Orchid Society ... If you fall ill while visiting Samuel Kamekau School in Kaneohe, rest assured you’ll get quick help. Not from the Coast Guard though, but from a defibrillator. Diamond Head Bakery president Brent Kunimoto presented the immersion school with its very own heart-saver on June 16 ...

Kailua High graduate John “Rooster” Thomson, a drummer and vocalist now living in Kaneohe, will perform at 7:30 p.m. July 25 at Atherton Studio with Boogie and The Humbones (955-8821) ... Ke’alii Green of Hauula is the new project manager for Na Kama o Koolauloa, and he’s currently working to meet deadlines on Na Kamalei’s new early education curriculum for Native Hawaiian families (372-7086) ...

Little Axl Deacon is doing just fine now, thanks to the fundraising last year in Kailua by Prostreet Custom Cycles at Kapaa Quarry. The Gearhead Classic drew 3,000 people and paid for his brain surgery. (Axl was born with a skull that didn’t grow fast enough to accommodate his brain, and the family insurance didn’t cover the bone-grafting procedure at a Texas hospital.) Last week Prostreet did it again, only this time with partner Dana Vennen, executive director of Therapeutic Horsemanship of Hawaii. The 2009 event will support scholarships to the Waimanalo horsemanship program ...

According to business filings, Formaggio Grill is part of a corporation registered as Laughing Gravy Inc. It’s the wine, however, that makes you smile there ... If you’ve wondered what’s going on when firefighters shoot formidable water sprays over the bridge on Luluku Road and elsewhere, the mystery is now solved. Fire Capt. Terry Seelig told me it’s what they call “wet drill training” - for trouble shooting and how to handle equipment - “just so we know we can use the hoses under working conditions” ...

Speaking of firefighters, HFD fire chief Kenneth Silva of Kaneohe has a killer recipe for “Silva’s Chop Steak” featured on the city’s human resources online spring newsletter. He starts with lean, trimmed pork. Just don’t leave your pan unattended on the stove, for Pete‘s sake ...

Military news: Cody Dion of Kailua, John Lyman of Kaneohe and Liam Wilson (Kalaheo 2008) have graduated from Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB, and Natasha Hopkins-Moniz (Castle 2006) has achieved the same distinction, but with the Air National Guard

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Kaneohe resident and Stanford freshman Micah Maetani has been published in Nutrition and Cancer for his work in 2007 at Hawaii Cancer Research Center on, ahem, “Association of Leptin, 25-Hydroxivitamin D, and Parathyroid Hormone in Women.” I think they put too many commas in there ... More about writers: Regarding Kailua author Fred Barnett and his past history with The Gong Show (in the July 1 Islander story on his shark book): He wrote jokes for the show, not music. We ancient ones all know what the music sounded like ...

HPU chemistry professor and Kailua resident David Horgen received the 2008 Jack Beal Award July 1 for “best paper” in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Natural Products. David and five colleagues wrote about a potential anticancer substance and a new molecule that has potential to advance the study of inflammatory diseases (and that’s just the layman’s version of the topic!) ... Kaneohe resident and MidWeek reporter Alana Folen is part of the team that won a 2009 Telly Award for cable show No. 120 of Living Local with the Baraquios. For that OC16 program, Alana reported on Broadway star Lea Salonga - one of her favorite performers. Congratulations, Alana ...

At Noboru Restaurant on Hamakua Drive, owner’s wife Julie Yoshioka has been conducting tasty lessons in sake appreciation since April. Only six people at a time can partake of the class (6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursdays for $30 each), but with the education come pupus and “unique sake desserts,” says Julie, who is a certified sake specialist. Call her at 261-3033 or sign up while you’re eating there ... She once attended Heeia Elementary School and still has plenty of family in Windward. But for now, Navy Ensign Nicole-Marie Lilinoe England is enrolled in flight school in Pensacola, Fla. Not too long ago, Nikki was a scholar and volleyball standout for the Naval Academy team; she’s also cousin to Kamehameha the Great - that is, Keoni Kilbey, who portrayed the king in the recent parade here ...

Castle hospital ER doctor Craig Thomas was missing for much of March, when he served as onboard physician for the Hokule’a crew during its Palmyra Atoll training run. He told the hospital’s newsletter that canoe life is much like an emergency room as it demanded critical teamwork. Sunburn was the ailment of the day ... The Marine base job fair in June attracted about 1,428 civilian and military folks looking to fill 170 jobs on base. Ric Paguio, Family Member Employment Assistance Program manager, told Hawaii Marine that most new jobs are in security: “Our security is growing and growing as far as what we’re protecting and where” ...

Washington State in Pullman graduated two Kaneohe students this spring: Joelle Kikukawa (basic medical sciences) and Alexander McManus cum laude (education) ... Manoa Valley Theatre’s 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee runs July 1-19, and in the cast is Kaneohe actress Ivy Hays (988-0098) ... Kaneohe artist Wayne Takezono has an exhibit up through July 12 at Cedar Street Gallery in Honolulu, and a self-portrait at the Contemporary Museum in First Hawaiian Center through Sept. 11 downtown ... See if you can figure out these license plates: CR8ON, BF8FUL and DV-ANT

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Castle High graduate (1996) Candice Bonser Wong has been inducted into the Heald College Alumni Hall of Fame. Candice graduated with highest honors from the school and also from HPU magna cum laude. She currently works on Heald’s Honolulu campus as director of financial aid ... Speaking of scholarship, Oregon State’s honor roll for spring term includes Rachel Pavlis of Kaneohe with a straight A average in pre-apparel, and Kailua students Jo Ann Lozano (human development and family science), Wilder McAndrews (general science) and Stephanie Root (natural resources) ...

Military pilot David Hamershock of Kailua has published his first novel, Wind to Water, described as “a love story, travel adventure and romantic comedy” all rolled into one. Check it out at http://www.windtowater.net ... Laukii Cheng of Kaneohe made the Provost’s List fall semester at University of Wisconsin-Parkside in Kenosha with a gpa of 3.8 or higher ... Seth Wilkinson of Kailua has graduated from Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas ...

 

Kahuku Red Raiders Zachary Frampton, Kameron Ho Ching and Kenner Shumway won a second-place medal at National History Day June 14-18 in Washington, D.C., in the Junior Group Performance Category for “Hope is an Action: The Legacy of Father Damien” ... Windward photographer Martine Aceves-Foster‘s work is on view during First Friday July 3 at the Mendonca Building on downtown Smith Street. Kailuan Joan Dubanoski has her digital nature designs up, too, along with live painting demos by Edgardo Garcia II and music by Kaneohe’s Fred Gayagas (262-5930) ...

Kailua historian and author Bob Dye has penned a comic novel this time through Watermark Publishing about a Hawaii native who moves to Ireland and becomes embroiled in the historical controversy surrounding the sinking of the Lusitania and her mysterious cargo. It’s call Humble Honest Men. Dye himself lives part time in the town of Kinsale in County Cork. (I had a great steaming bowl of mussels there once) ... You can eat lotus plants, too, and Kevin Mulkern‘s nursery is loaded. Stop by on Saturdays to check it out at 1465 Waimanalo Road ...

As an “outstanding middle school student,” Blaine Ohama of Ben Parker Elementary School will be at the Junior National Young Leaders conference July 6-11 in Washington, D.C., to absorb leadership skills through presentations, tours, interviews and meetings with national leaders, sponsored by the Congressional Youth Leadership Council. Whew! Pretty heavy for just finishing fifth grade. Blaine recycled cans and plastics to help pay for his trip ... Windward’s “triple threat” of traditional Hawaiian musicians - George Kuo, Martin Pahinui and Aaron Mahi - perform at 7:30 p.m. July 18 at HPR’s Atherton Studio (955-8821) ...

Manoa Valley Theater’s 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee plays July 1-19, and in the cast is Kaneohe actress Ivy Hays (988-0098). I hope I spelled her name koreckly ... Kailua’s Paris Priore-Kim reads from Nora Okja Keller‘s Ghost Stories at 7 p.m July 5 at HPR’s Atherton Studio for the next taping of Aloha Shorts (955-8821) 

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Lucky music students at Windward Community School for Adults. Their teacher Noel Jaderstrom is one of seven Hawaii Adult Education Teachers of the Year, recognized June 3 for his “dedication to lifelong education and excellent contributions to community schools.” The retired band director conducts special-interest piano classes at the adult school, which I hear are highly sought-after and always full. I think they’ve all caught Noel’s passion for music ...

Speaking of learners, James Phee of Kaneohe has earned his BA from the College of William and Mary in Virginia, and another Kaneohe student, Kaikoa Kinoshita, graduated in exercise science/sports administration from Fort Lewis College in Colorado ... Elida Rodriguez has been named Kailua’s top sales adviser for lia sophia, a direct-sales fashion jewelry business (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)). ...

Judges of the recent Home Beautification contest for Olomana residents were so inspired by what they saw that one of them declared: “I’m going to go home and clean up my yard and garage area!” ... For one day, Kailua resident Keoni Kilbey became Kamehameha the Great, posing proudly on the King’s Float in the Kamehameha Day parade. He’s had good training in pageantry from riding as the page to his mother Loretta of Waikane in past parades, including her time as pa’u queen. In his day job, Keoni fights fires out of the Moanalua fire station, has his helicopter and airplane pilot’s license, and built his own house. Not bad for a king ...

Kaneohe Bay Shopping Center coaxed some good words out of area children in its “What I Have Learned from my Dad” essay contest. The top three tributes were from Haevyn-Joy Alviar of Puohala Elementary, Erin Carson of Iolani and Misty Ma’a of Kamehameha ...

While in Normandy in early June for the 65th anniversary of D-Day, Kaneohe’s Zane Schlemmer, 84, was honored with other veterans and met President Barack Obama who told the story of Zane’s 82nd Airborne Division’s parachute landing on that fateful day in 1944. A retired real estate developer, Zane also brought tropical flowers for the graves of his fellow para-troopers and hoped to drop orchid blossoms over his landing site ...

Waimanalo Intermediate student Kiana Ahovelo was in New York June 13-14 to sing the national anthem at the Staten Island Irish Fair before a paying crowd of about 5,000. Kiana also has a CD out called Angel of the Islands (Staten and Oahu islands?) ... Kickboxers Pat Candeleria, Dean Henze and Jacob Smith of Smith Taekwondo & Pro-Sport Kickboxing Center in Kaneohe fight for Hawaii honor Saturday at Heavy Hitter VI in the Las Vegas Harley-Davidson Center ...

Hauula’s Ace Keoni Olszowka just earned his BS in computer science at Rocky Mountain College in Montana, doing it all in two-and-a-half years. And he’s already employed by a software company. Sister Jade, meanwhile, will be a sophomore at St. Martin’s College in Washington state, where she’s an RA and president of the Hawaiian Club this fall

 

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Kahuku artist Hilton Alves continued his Surf Art Kids Hawaii Tour by painting Hukilau and Our Laie Bay murals at Laie Elementary School recently, one of them with the help of all 600 students. Hilton got in the spirit of hukilau by attending the town’s annual real one May 25, put on by the Hamana Beach Hukilau Crew ...

And on June 8 Kailua muralist Thomas Deir unveiled a large tile mural at Iroquois Point Elementary, which features tiles created by each of the keiki. Thomas always suggests you look at the children’s faces when the veil comes off, instead of at the mural itself: “It’s very rewarding for me to see their faces explode with satisfaction and camaraderie,” he says ... Melody MacKenzie of Kailua, an assistant professor at UH law school, is among 10 women the YWCA will honor Friday at its annual Leaders Luncheon in Waikiki (695-2602). Melody has worked on Native Hawaiian legal issues for three decades and teaches courses on it at the school. She also takes hula from Mapuana de Silva at Kokokahi YWCA ...

Julian Tamba, one of 13 of Kalaheo High’s valedictorians, also sung the National Anthem at the Blaisdell Arena ceremony June 5 and followed up June 7 with a performance of Japanese pop music at the International Marketplace. Julian really likes that music genre. So much so, he’s taking his guitar to Japan this summer for three weeks to play “anywhere they will let him,” according to his mom, Whitney Heyd. He plans to return and study Japanese at UH ...

When speaker Steven Snow stepped to the podium at the BYU-Hawaii commencement in Laie, he looked out upon a United Nations-type assemblage: more than 200 students from 34 countries graduated on June 6 ... Kailuans Tamara Moan (paintings and prints) and Ron Kent (woodworking) have a Friends and Mentors exhibit opening this week in the Pauahi Tower Mezzanine downtown with Patrice Federspiel (watercolors). There’s a reception at 4:30 p.m. Thursday (221-8102) ...

If you haven’t seen Haleiwa Farmers Market yet, this may the the right Sunday to go (9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on old Kamehameha Highway by Cane Haul Road). Kailua musician and author Fred Barnett will be there signing copies of his expanded edition of Shark Stories, 101 Amazing Real-life Shark Tales. No need to take a shark dive from Haleiwa Harbor, just read Fred’s book, if you dare ... AnnaRae Kahala of Kahuku High was a student finalist in the UH-West Oahu Flyer contest to promote the school, which is a four-year university housed on the Leeward Community College campus ...Hawaii Job Corps’ community liaison Julie Dugan got special attention at the National Job Corps Association conference. They named her “the best of the best” ...

Still looking for that Father’s Day gift? Designer Andrea Weymouth-Fujie says East Honolulu Clothing Co. at Waimanalo Town Center now custom sews knit Aloha Shirts on site, tailored to your special guy (259-7677) ... Speaking of Father’s Day, Nelson Chang of Ahuimanu has published Flavor of a Family, a book about a father’s love for his ohana. “It’s touching, funny and full of aloha,” writes his wife (me). You can check it out at http://www.lulu.com ... Oahu Civil Defense (now Department of Emergency Management) is mourning the loss of Bruce Eguires, coordinator of volunteers from Hanauma Bay to Kaaawa for 30 years. “Bruce was an outstanding volunteer who didn’t hesitate in storms, floods and hurricanes to protect his community and his Windward ohana,” said Mayor Mufi Hannemann. He died June 6 ...

Kailua’s hottest crash-test dummy right now is Kupono Aweau, still in the running on the So You Think You Can Dance FOX TV show. The former 24-VII dancer and his partner successfully conveyed a romance between “dummies” on last Wednesday’s show. Want more? Tune in tonight

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Kaneohe’s Andrew Dexter has graduated summa cumlaude from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, where he majored in aerospace and mechanical engineering. He also won the Paul Hemke Prize for academic achievement and promise. Andrew will be home for three weeks, then start a job with G.E. “making jet engines” in Massachusetts, says proud mother Norma Domingo ...

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale sanctuary folks had a contest for children recently to test their understanding of the environment. Among the winners are Lanikai Elementary students Benicia Palmer-Lasky, Lehua Roland and Nate Barton (for art), Laie Elementary’s Rayna May Shumway (poetry) and Kiari Orian (short story), and Mokapu’s Gabrielle Salsman (poetry) ...

Military news: Princess Pearson, granddaughter of Louise Lee of Kailua, has graduated from Army National Guard basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. Aaron Chan (Kalaheo 2006) has arrived for duty at Cannon AFB in New Mexico where he is a crew chief. His Kalaheo classmate Kiana Cabrinha, and Shantell Barros and Lauren Greenwald of Kaneohe have graduated from Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas; and Anthony Morris (Castle 2004) has graduated from Army National Guard basic training at Fort Sill, Okla. ...

I’m sorry, Donna Fouts, I’ll never do it again. So many times United Cerebral Palsy called to remind me, including the night before, yet I still forgot to put out my bags of offerings on June 2 ... Patrick Ching has finished building his new classroom at Naturally Hawaiian Gallery in Waimanalo. Thanks to community help, the former gas station with the big horse in front has new furnishings, supplies, a webcam and a new floor for yoga and hula. Now the hunt is on for even more teachers. Call 259-5354 or 499-6044 ...

Kailua’s Charlene Hosenfeld had her new book on display at the packed Solar Energy Fair May 30 at Christ Church Uniting. It’s called Eco Faith ... On a break from her Las Vegas show, Cher was seen with her security pals at Lanikai Bath and Body shop in Kailua Shopping Center, where they purchased some “necessary luxuries” from associate Alana Abbey and obliged fans with a few photo ops ... Aikahi teen Briana Pratt sung a duet with Jay Pierce - Broadway star of Les Miserables, Big River, Cats, Miss Saigon and Jesus Christ Superstar - on June 5 in the Honolulu Broadway Babies show at Leeward Community College

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Selected from a pool of national dance experts and panelists with the National Endowment for the Arts, Kailua freelance writer Carol Egan has been tapped with eight others to read applications from dance companies vying for funds under the Arts and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Carol also chairs the dance program for Windward Arts Council ... P.J. Huonker, a product of Enchanted Lake Elementary, Kailua Intermediate and Kailua High (1999), has just graduated from UH medical school and is heading to Las Vegas and Irvine, Calif., for years’more training in surgery and anesthesiology. His proud mom, Barbara, recalls that KHS principal Mary Murakami used to address him as “Dr. P.J.” because of his wish even then to be a physician ...

Seattle Pacific University’s spring dean’s list includes Chara Hokama and Tracey Ige of Kaneohe, and Spencer Sutherland of Kailua ... Ryan Brilhante of Kailua has claimed his BS in biology from Saint Martin’s University in Lacey, Wash. ... The Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans has selected state Rep. Cynthia Thielen for its Kokua Council’s Shining Light award because of her strong and dedicated advocacy of issues concerning seniors and retirees. Cynthia co-founded the Legislature’s Kupuna Caucus, and the ARA says she’s “very easily accessible” when they need her ...

 

Pomai Lopez of Kaneohe and Krisha Fairchild of Laie will read from local authors’ works at 7 p.m. Sunday at Atherton Studio during HPR’s taping of Aloha Shorts (955-8821) ... Grade-level essay winners in the state library’s Nene Awards program include Marissa Kauppi of St. John Vianney and Kaneohe Elementary’s Grace Franco and Mitchell Ho. Their entries were on 2008 Nene author Rick Riordan‘s The Lightning Thief (about a boy battling Greek monsters in a modern setting) ... Kai La’a (Kailua 2006) graduated May 28 from Army Military Police School at Ft. Leonard Wood,Mo. Next assignment? Germany ...

Kailua artist Michael Ives has created a short film on Moki the Sea Monster, a Lanikai version of Nessie. To check it out, go to http://www.gallery.me.com/mpives ... Congratulations to Kaneohe’s Lori-Ann Navares, the new Mrs. Hawaii USA. She and husband Allen have three young daughters and will mark their 10th anniversary this summer. Lori-Ann works as a legal assistant with Leavitt Yamane & Soldner ... Trained under Rev. Robert Schuler of Crystal Cathedral, Kauai motivational speaker Robert Merkle will talk at 9 a.m. Sunday at Windward Unity Church (160 Mookua St.) on “Unanticipated and Anticipated Surprises” (262-6731). So don’t be surprised when you get there ...

Le’Etta Grance Garbett of Kaneohe tells us that longtime Kailua resident Katherine Higgins Grance, 92, died last month. Twice widowed, Katherine raised six children and helped raise four of her grandchildren (who were exemplary Sun Press carriers, by the way). “She never made the newspapers as a celebrity,” Le’Etta laments, “but she was mother of the hour, day, month and year for her family.” Now she has ... Kailua’s Denise Mollison brings her miniature purses to First Friday at JoDee and Ernie Hunt‘s Mendonca Building courtyard this Friday night, and Shayne Turner, also of Kailua, will share her “Grand Strands” creations at the Chinatown venue (262-5930)

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Aregistered nurse and U.S. Navy commander from Kaaawa and Kaneohe, Lauriann Mahealani Broad is currently in the Caribbean on a humanitarian mission with a fleet of medical personnel to help needy residents in Antigua, Barbuda, Cartagena and Panama. Her day job is with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a clinical care coordinator for the homeless ...

Music director Tim Carney of Kailua has a busy weekend ahead with the Hawaii Vocal Arts Ensemble. They will perform American Voices (from six composers) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m.

Sunday at the Mystical Rose Oratory at Chaminade (550-8457) ... Castle High seniors Ashley Duarte-Smith and Samantha Nakahira have received $1,000 grants from the Han Chew Hee Art Scholarship competition. Ashlie already has put her passion for art to work by designing, coordinating and fundraising for the colorful and new senior class mural on Building K. Look for it as you pass the school on K-Bay Drive, between the playcourts and the theater ...

Have you seen a pretty, sandy-colored mixed pit bull puppy with blue eyes in Kailua who answers to “Hoku” or “Nala”? She vanished from the front yard of the family home, at Kaiemi Street off of Oneawa, at 2 p.m. May 18. Call Pamakani Lopez at 687-1029 ... Windward principals Lanelle Hibbs (Kailua El.) and Mitchell Otani (Kaneohe El.) each received $1,000 and a commemorative plaque last month from the Island Insurance Foundation, which honors public school leaders each year. They also were recognized May 20 at a banquet for all 12 honorees for excellence in leadership ...

Kalaheo High’s Navy JROTC program is getting noticed big time this year, too, having finished in the top 10 percent nationally among the Navy’s JROTC programs. Designated the No. 1 unit in a region of 62 units, the cadets also won three Hawaii triathlons, three of four major drill competitions and saw seniors Arin Nunes and Gabriela Espino win academy prep school scholarships and Brendan Tourek win a full JROTC scholarship. A salute to leaders Henry Van Oss and Jose Colon ...

Speaking of the Mustangs, some students get a handshake and their names in the paper, but at Kalaheo, teens with perfect attendance during third quarter were served Coldstone Cupcakes by PTSA president (and former Mustang) Ray Benzing ... Kaneohe’s Adam LeFebvre won a video camera for placing first in Clark University’s inaugural Clark Voices Student Video Contest for his spoof Call Yourself a Clarkie. Adam is a communications major at the

Massachusetts college and will be the next program manager for CNN (that’s Clark Cable Network, by the way). His proud mom is city parks staffer Martha McDaniel (She was at Ho’omaluhia, now at Hanauma Bay) ... Kaneohe gymnast Jenna Frowein, 15, earned a medal May 16 at the Junior Olympic National Women’s Gymnastic Championship in Puyallup, Wa. Jenna, who trains with Hawaiian Island Twisters, earned the fourth highest score on the Uneven Bar in the Junior C division ...

Kailua High graduate Lisa Nakamichi, now an internationally acclaimed pianist, will direct the Aloha International Piano Festival June 6 and 13 here, as well as perform in its free community concert at 2 p.m. June 7 at the Hawaii Convention Center (428-1625). Lisa founded the festival in 2006

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You knew someone was going to do it. Kaneohe entrepreneur Dave Swirsky and Yasin Alsagoff have developed a website for a timely new product, Aloha Masks. Flu protection Hawaiian style, they call it. Colorfully styled in hibiscus patterns, the respirator masks should keep those flu bugs away. Three Windward families had a hand in the concept, Dave says. Go to http://www.alohamasks.com or call 382-0406 ...

Lucky mothers got essays recently from their award-winning children, thanks to Kaneohe Bay Shopping Center’s Mother’s Day Contest. First-place grade-level winners are Kaitlen Camara-Ah You of Heeia Elementary, Spencer Oda of St. Mark Lutheran and Kylie Haitsuka of King Intermediate. Their topic: “What I have learned from my mom” ...

 

The Public Schools Foundation honors Sam Choy tonight (May 20) along with two other distinguished public school graduates. Chef Sam is a Red Raider from way back ... Congratulations to Ikaika Anderson, who officially took his City Council seat May 14 after a private swearing in. He will swear again in public during a council meeting at 10 a.m. May 27 ...

Isaac Yuen is now an agent with the Honolulu general office of New York Life Insurance. Born and raised in Kaneohe, he has a BA from George Washington University.

Managing partner Michael Ceci says Isaac is eager to help families protect their financial futures (386-7879) ... The new Aikahi playground is temporarily closed pending the fixing and/or completion of various projects. Plus the Friends are still figuring out where to find $20,000 to buy and ship in the final ground cover. To get the latest news or to offer help or money, go to http://www.aikahiplay-ground.org ...

Kaneohe’s Wayne Shishido plays Hawaiian music “with lots of aloha” along with Elena Martinez from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays at Moana Surfrider’s Banyan Veranda (778-2945) ... Chaminade University’s Hogan Entrepreneurial Program has honored Lanikai elder Cliff Cooper with its Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding contributions to the business community. Now 92, Cliff’s company built rockets that launched America’s first satellites into space. He also headed a bank, the national Jaycees, advised the Secretary of Defense, wrote a book and sat on the Hoover Commission, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Small Business Administration. Phew! ...

Kelley Sumner‘s second-graders at Furry Elementary School in Ohio are eager to get postcards from Hawaii for their “Picture America” project. Send ‘em to her at 310 Douglas Drive, Sandusky, Ohio 44870 ... Brandon Ing (Castle 2001, UH 2006) won an Okinawa Prefectural Government scholarship to spend a year in Okinawa studying the arts. Brandon plays guitar and would like to combine Western instrumentation with sanshin (traditional Okinawan music) ...

No one in “north” Kailua should be dumping bad stuff down city drains anymore. According to Richard Lau, Kalaheo High’s student activities coordinator, more than 125 students marked 350 storm drains during a recent campaign to protect the quality of the water flow into the ocean

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One of the chosen few for the Artists in Hawaii 2009 Exhibit, opening May 14 at the Honolulu Academy of Art, is retired Army Corps of Engineers regional director, Frank Oliva of Kailua. His wife Connie especially likes his aboriginal paintings, created after his inspiring trip to Australia. Not only that, Frank also does furniture, books, walls and any great surface waiting for his special touch (263-8223) ...

Good news from the market (Haleiwa Farmers Market, that is, not that one in New York): The April 19 market day brought in $1,200 for the Hawaii Pubic Radio pledge drive. I personally enrolled my dog Max as a new HPR member during the pledge drive. I hope he enjoys the Brother Noland CD he’s getting for it, and thanks again to J.N. and Linda for rescuing him from Kahekili Highway traffic ...

 

It pays forward when you shop during Foodland’s Shop for Higher Education campaign. Here are three reasons why: Castle High students Stephanie Soon, Sandra Huang and Hi’ilei Haru. They all won $2,000 scholarships for the promotion ... Sadly, multi-talented singer/songwriter Barbara Higbie is leaving Kailua for the Mainland, but not before a final concert at Atherton Studio at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday with Windward musicians Lisa Gomes, Kilin Reese, Bill Griffin and Paul Sato (955-8821) ...Speaking of Bill Griffin, happy birthday. Bill is a mandolin player and singer with the Saloon Pilots, who will celebrate the occasion of his birth during their gig May 15 at Big City Diner Kailua ... Helping feed supporters at Paepae o Heeia’s benefit May 16 at Waikiki Aquarium (263-6178) are homegrown chefs Tammy Hoe Smith of Hakipuu and Karen Miyano of Kahaluu. Yumm ...

Windward Ford dealer Mike McKenna has launched a promotion for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. (Hawaii’s race will be Oct. 18.) Now through June 1, Mike’s dealership “will match any donation made by Ford for any participation in the Warriors in Pink test drive event.” Download your certificate at www.fordcares.com ... Castle High’s Mitchell Lum represented the state at the International Career Development Conference last week in Anaheim, meeting up with more than 15,000 students in DECAprograms (for marketing students) from Guam to Canada ...

Island Air presented Robson Ah Puck of Kahuku High with the Jamie Wagatsuma Award for outstanding Aviation Student Explorer. Robson is in the first graduating class of 18 who completed the program last month. (The airline revived it after Aloha Airlines bowed out). Other Windward graduates are his brother Sonny Ah Puck III, Carissa Jeffery of Le Jardin Academy, Daniel Lum of Castle High and Naomi Martin of Windward Community College ...

Kailua’s Scout Shutter and Marcel Chan play this week at Central Oahu Regional Park courts in an important USTA Junior Tournament. The top junior players from all over the world are in town for this one ... Puohala school librarian Patti Matsuura does more than say “shhh!” She’s directing the students in the musical Jungle Book. Curtain time is somewhere between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Friday in the cafeteria

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Current chancellor of Windward Community College Angela Meixell has been appointed by the Board of Regents to be interim state director of the board for Career and Technical Education, effective July 1. It’s a field Angela is familiar with because of past jobs directing the Employment Training Center and overseeing academic grants and vocational programs at Kapiolani Community College. For news about her WCC replacement, see page 10 ...

Kalaheo High graduate Diana Niles-Hansen (plus a University of Phoenix master’s degree) still likes the public schools apparently. She’s just been appointed assistant superintendent for the DOE Office of Human Resources. Diana was previously with the Consuelo Foundation, Child and Family Service, AIG Hawaii and St. Francis Healthcare System ...

 

You’ve heard how green the Marine base is getting - no more plastic bags, etc. They also recycle furniture. Recently a homeless shelter in Waianae got a truckload from the base barracks, now being renovated. And that’s just one agency. The base also sent nearly 70 beds to the Hawaii Youth Leadership Alliance (Winners Camp). If you have a legitimate need of furniture, call the Base Recycling Center at 257-4300 ...

Kaneohe’s Jason Elento, now a Hawaii Technology Academy student, is having a good spring playing for Kailua AYSO VIP soccer team. He was in the Kirk Banks tournament April 4 against other teams for children with special abilities, and received a medal from Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona ... Barbara Eberhart of Lanikai, Kailua native Lynne Boyer, Lanikai photographer Heather Titus and Kaneohe musician Fred Gayagas are among the talents to be enjoyed and partaken of at First Friday from 5 to 9:30 p.m. May 1 in the Mendonca courtyard on downtown Smith Street (262-5930) ...

Just a few blocks makai of there, Kailua’s busy songbird Mihana Souza entertains at Don Ho‘s Island Grill on Fridays from 5 to 8 p.m. ... Paepae o He’eia, the group caring for Heeia Fishpond, will have its first benefit dinner from 6 to 9:30 p.m. May 16 at - where else? - the Waikiki Aquarium, serving the best delicacies from the pond and the land. Call Mehana Makainai at 236-6178 ...

Mark Takahata has saved $80 on his monthly electric bill since installing a 20-panel photo-voltaic system from Sunetric of Kailua. An open house at his Kaneohe home is set for this Saturday (see calendar) ... When driving past HPU’s Hawaii Loa campus these days, keep in mind you’re close to Howard Okita Softball Field. The college honored the longtime Kailua High and HPU coach by officially naming the field after him earlier this month. Howard stepped down from the head coaching job in January, but remains on staff ...

Lead singer Tom Patrick says the Aqua trio now plays Saturdays at Club Komo Mai in Kaneohe. “The club has an all-new dance floor and lighting system,” he writes. “Just think of us as your Saturday night aerobic workout” ... Congratulations to all the area halau, but especially Hula Halau o Kamuela, which took first in Wahine ‘Auana, second in Wahine Overall and fourth in Wahine Kahiko at the Merrie Monarch Festival. The Waimanalo and Kalihi troupe is led by Kau’ionalani Kamana’o and Kunewa Mook

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A longtime Kailua resident with that beautiful voice, Nalani Olds, is one of this year’s Living Treasures of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii. She was honored in February for her contributions to Hawaiian culture, such as founding the Prince Lot Hula Festival and counseling former inmates through Alu Like’s Substance Abuse Prevention Program ...

Rudy Ortega (Kahuku 2007) has graduated from the Plumber Utilities Apprentice Course at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas ... Patrick Perry of Aikahi Elementary captured the grade K-1 category of the SuperNationals Chess Tournament this month in Nashville, Tenn. ... Retired Hina Hauka CEO Andy Anderson does not give up. He says you can go online to hear stories of substance abuse recovery through http://www.olelo.org. Just click on OleloNet, type in Recovery, then hit video. See if it doesn’t help you out. (If you have trouble getting to it, call Andy at 391-8929.) Also accessible is a Recovery Special on Gary Stomberg produced by Kailua’s Rich Figel ...

 

The Critical Care Nurses Association of Hawaii applied some critical care to the Silva family house in Waimanalo, volunteering with Honolulu Habitat for Humanity’s construction project work day on April 11. “On a daily basis we are used to helping patients,” explains association president Jennie Chadbourne, “but this is a great opportunity to help people outside the hospital, in the community” ...

Daisy Lee Carinio of Kaneohe has won the Leslie and Ida Lindower Endowed Scholarship at Ashland University in Ohio, where she is majoring in social work ... Former MidWeek publishing couple, Ken and Karen Berry, are now behind the Chattanooga Times Free Press monthly “high-end lifestyle” magazine called Chatter. Karen is executive editor, and Ken works on the sales and writing side ...

More down to earth is KEY Project, which you can now call KEW Project - for Kualoa-Heeia Ecumenical Worm Project. Eldean Kukahiko and his youthful gardeners have given their worms a home in “whirly-type” Christmas tree stands where they can do their vermi-casting thing. Stay tuned for phase 2, when an organic garden should sprout from the rich homemade compost ... According to Piilani Aea (see page 1 story), it ain’t easy to untie a maile lei, even with a mayor and U.S. senator helping out. Piilani was at the blessing for Waimanalo’s new sidewalk, you see. “It was kind of hard because it was tied with raffia,” she recalls. “I kept yanking at it, 1-2-3, 1-2-3” ...

Deb McGuire is devoted to shooting pets - shooting them with a camera, that is. She and Tim, her retired Marine husband, live in Kaneohe where she now devotes her time to capturing the best images of animals, domestic or wild, large or small (yes, even a bug!). Check out http://www.hawaiipetphotos.com. She also has a photo on page 8 ... Teacher Vicky Villegas proudly announces that Lanikai Elementary School’s first-graders will perform a favorite Dr. Seuss story, The Lorax, in observance of Earth Day today (Wednesday) on campus ... Happy 45th birthday to Enchanted Lake Elementary School. The ohana celebrated with a steak dinner April 3 ... Observed on car license plates while driving carefully on Oahu streets and obeying all traffic laws: BIG OPU, 4U2T, WEEHA, ALAS, KLLNME, JNANDN

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Windward bands are gathering around one of their own to help Janell Araki, a Kaneohe resident and owner of Precision Sound, who is stricken with a rare and very expensive kidney disease. From 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Vaihi and others will play at Ala Moana Hotel’s Pakele Lounge for her (265-0073). Also, from 2 to 10 p.m. May 3 at Aloha Tower Marketplace, emcee Tiny Tadani, Kapena, Vaihi and more will do it again (479-0606). Donations also can be sent to Friends and Family of Janell Araki, P.O. Box 6477, Kaneohe Hi 96744 ...

Wanna be the City Clerk? Kaneohe’s Denise DeCosta has officially retired from the job, and now you can call her Mahealani Cypher all the time, instead of just when she’s wearing her Hawaiian Civic Club hat. To follow in Mahealani’s footsteps, apply by April 24 to City Councilman Gary Okino (fax your impressive resume to him at 768-5011) ...

Sorry to learn of the passing of well-loved Kailua author Ian MacMillan, who succumbed to pancreatic cancer in December, one month after wife Susan‘s death. A prolific fiction writer and UH English professor, some of Ian’s best works were The Red Wind, Squid Eye and the award-winning Village of a Million Spirits: A Novel of the Treblinka Uprising ...

 

According to the Kaneohe Bay Shopping Center judges, these are the best darn Easter Coloring contestants of 2009: Kylie Dover of Kapunahala Elementary, Noelani Root of Kapunahala and Erica Freitas of St. Ann’s School ... Lydia Pascoe already has seen a few of her dreams come true. After all, the Pohai Nani resident has lived for 101 years. But on April 2 she was granted another wish - a limousine trip around Oahu with her family to some of her favorite haunts - courtesy of Buckee Yee of Elite Limousines and Debbie Coy and the Pohai Nani staff. Lydia is the first recipient of the facility’s “Dreams Do Come True” program ...

Kaneohe physician Kalani Brady will talk to the Hawaii Jewish Seniors at 12:30 p.m. Thursday about “Health after 50” at Temple Emanu-El. But first they’ll fill themselves up on lox, bagels, turkey on rye or Greek salad, dessert and drinks. The public’s welcome, but you have to call Pearl Stock by April 13 at 261-3851 ...

Kiana Ahovelo of the Celtic Keiki and also a sixth-grader at Waimanalo Intermediate School, performed in the pre-show concert for opera legend Sumi Jo, starring here in Carmina Burana, last weekend at Blaisdell Concert Hall. Earlier Kiana did some Irish dancing at the local Highland Games ... Castle High student Niki Torrijos won an honorable mention for her entry in the Memorial Day poster contest, which attracted more than 300 posters statewide. You can see it May 5-28 at Honolulu Hale ...

It’s an all-Windward cast when Andy Bumatai, Da Braddahs, Kaleo Pilanca and Del Beazley entertain for Administrative Professionals Day (i.e. secretaries) at 11:30 a.m. April 22 at Ala Moana Hotel’s Hibiscus Ballroom (944-4330, ext. 4333) ... Rev. Wally Fukunaga is back in a familiar Kailua pulpit at Christ Church Uniting. It was his first pastoral ministry, and now he’ll start as interim pastor there at 10 a.m. April 26. There’ll be a reception after the service (262-6911)

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Lanikai resident and slam poet extraordinaire Kealoha (aka Steve Wong) is behind the Second Saturday program at Hawaii State Art Museum. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday, experience images, poems, watercolors and sculptures all in one mad flurry of creativity (586-0300) ... If you’re heading for Pearlridge Center on Saturday, you can hear some Windward vibrations from the Castle High Jazz Band’s free show at noon at Uptown center court. Then the Knights’ Polynesian Music and Dance classes will give a spring concert there at noon April 18 (488-0981) ...

“Chief Geek” James Kerr proudly announces that SuperGeeks has opened three new outlets, once of them in the Hawaiian Tel store at Windward Mall. “In this business environment, it’s more important than ever to bob and weave,” James explains. “We’ve gotta have one foot on the gas and one foot on the brake at the same time.” What he means is he wants to help everyone in the state with their computer problems, and now is the perfect time to expand (531-GEEK) ...

 

Kailua artist Alan Leitner is showing his newest work at Cedar Street Galleries in Honolulu through May 10. A reception to kick things off is at 5:30 p.m. Friday (589-1580) ... A MidWeek salute to entrepreneurial brothers Cody, 12, and Kai Ellis, 10. They’ve cultivated a decent weekend car-washing business in Ahuimanu Hills - $8 per car, $10 for trucks and vans. Pau and glowing in 20 minutes (239-4158) ... It’s no surprise that the Kailua Seniors Club nominated Skip Tomiyama for the city’s Senior Recognition program. Skip is a club officer who also serves on the staff of the Justice and Reconciliation Center for Homeless and the Women’s Board of Missions ...

AnnaRae Kahala of Kahuku High is a finalist in the UH West Oahu flyer contest - it’s a fun and artistic way to promote the four-year college in Pearl City ... If it’s not too late, you can still catch a talk on autism by parent Mane Futo at 6:30 p.m. April 7 at Kahuku Library. Mane will discuss how to get help for your child (293-8935) ...

And Susan Redpath has begun her Running for Women course at Fleet Feet in Kailua. See if you can still join by calling 262-3278 ... It’s always such a small world when the Pali Lions venture out of their den. On a trek to Kalaupapa during spring break, Cecilia Izuo of Kaneohe and her group had a guide named Norman Soares. “Norman is from Kailua, and I taught his granddaughter at St. Anthony’s School,” she reports in the club newsletter ... Brig. Gen. Kathleen Berg retired last week from the Hawaii Air National Guard. The Kailua resident became the first female general in the HIANG when she got her rank in 2005 ...

Kimo Kaona of Kailua and Pomai Lopez of Kaneohe will perform in Honolulu Theatre for Youth’s Goodnight Moon musical, opening April 17 at Tenney Theatre (457-4254) ... The air pumps have been busy at 808 Bounce. The Windward Mall children’s fun center has added four new inflatables to its repertoire: a pirate ship, a butterfly-themed bouncy house, a jungle-themed inflatable and a 35-foot obstacle course (366-6055) ... Windward Oahu artists are among those being featured through April 25 in a downtown exhibit at Cafe Che Pasta on Bishop Street. They are Julie McIntyre and Tomas Del Amo of Kailua and Lauren Achitoff of Kaaawa (271-1344) ...

Congratulations to Alica Hiatt, who has been elected 2009-2010 student body president for Kalaheo High School ... Also distinguishing themselves for the Mustangs are Kaua Cale, Shyla Ho and Jordan Lewis, who took first place (and $250 for the Communications Academy Learning Center) for their video It’s Like Making Duck Soup in the city’s clean water program promotion

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Honolulu Fire Chief Kenneth Silva received the highest possible ratings from the Honolulu Fire Commission in his third annual performance review. The Kaneohe fire-fighting veteran earned raves from the commissioners and from Mayor Mufi Hannemann for his leadership skills ... Look and listen for the award-winning bagpiper Jake Kaio, a Native Hawaiian from Kahaluu, to play his pipes during the Caledonian Society’s tribute to Princess Kaiulani at the Royal Mausoleum Thursday night, and also at the Highland Games Saturday and Sunday at Kapiolani Park. After all, Jake points out, the princess was half Scottish from her father Archibald Scott Cleghorn. Jake eventually wants to record Aloha ‘Oe or Meleana E on the bagpipes ...

Congratulations to first-time blood donor Jasmine Hoopii, who gave up her inaugural pint during a blood drive at Kailua High School, where she is a senior. According to Hawaii Blood Bank, Jasmine required several blood donations herself as an infant - totaling more than 100 transfusions from 64 volunteer donors. “I wanted to experience a part of what the donors went through for me, as well as to give the gift of life to others,” Jasmine explains ... Kailua resident Jasmine Vieira has graduated from Air Force basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas ...

 

Plugging away at Oregon State University has paid off for several Windward Oahu students, who made the winter term honor roll at Beaver Nation in Corvallis: Phoebe Arnett of Hauula, Gina Lucas of Kaaawa, Rachel Pavlis of Kaneohe, and Kailua residents Dexter Carolino, Nicole Chun, Kelsey Copeland, Lauren Kaina and Bryson Kamisato ... Kailua resident Noa Williams will perform at the Young Organists Concert at 7 p.m. April 25 at Lutheran Church of Honolulu (221-9608). The event is a fundraiser for music scholarships ... Sea Life Park played host to 30 foster children from Kapiolani Child Protection Center last Saturday, giving them some time to interact with dolphins as a form of animal therapy ...

Stressful situations can lead to unhealthy habits, but Teddi McEwen of Kailua (261-1778) and Rena Sunaoka of Kaneohe (227-7788) believe they can help you out, especially now during Stress Awareness Month. They sell Symmetry nutritional products ... It’s First Friday, folks, and that means the Windward stars are out at Ernie and JoDee Hunt‘s Mendonca Building courtyard in Honolulu’s Chinatown. From 5 p.m. this Friday, you can enjoy Adam Palmer‘s landscapes, Martine Aceves-Foster‘s photos of flowers, Kate Wagner‘s box dinners, and Shana Squier‘s abstracts (262-5930) ...

Wet Seal officially reopened last Saturday at Windward Mall with a new look and prize giveaways ... Kaneohe soprano Megan Mount steps behind the spotlight this spring to be musical director of Army Community Theatre’s Children of Eden. The show will open on May 7 at Fort Shafter’s Richardson Theatre (438-4480). Maunawili’s Vanita Rae Smith directs, and Windward cast members are Chandler Bridgman of Kaneohe, and Kailua residents Madison Eror, Addison Berkey and Ava Williams ...

Kaneohe’s favorite pro golfer Dean Wilson is honorary chairman of the First Hawaiian Bank REHAB Golf Challenge, set for May 27 at the Hawaii Prince Golf Club, and Kailua’s golden-tongued Michael W. Perry will emcee the awards banquet afterwards (566-3451) ...

Smooth-voiced Aaron Sala invites you to “wrap yourself in the moon’s light and let us sit together on an incandescent shore.” In other words, relax with the Kailua musician’s new album, Napo’ona Mahina: the Illusion of Reality

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March 25, 2009 - MidWeek The Islander

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Jeff Grimmer

Kailua’s expert on historic Island graveyards, Nanette Napoleon, will sit down for a talk (taped earlier) with PBS-Hawaii’s Leslie Wilcox at 7:30 p.m. March 31 in the popular local TV series Long Story Short ... In a similar field, Kaneohe’s super bug sleuth Lee Goff still has his hand in the dramatic. As director of forensic sciences at Chaminade University, he and his students helped put together the school’s second annual Murder Mystery Night, which unfolded with gruesome clues on Friday the 13th ...

Speaking of mysteries, Dana Stabenow shared her love for writing mysteries with a large, enthusiastic group of fans recently at Kaneohe Library, but she confessed that sometimes a character just has a mind of its own. She wanted the native Alaskan lady detective in her Kate Shugak series to fall for the villain in one plot, but alas, the woman resisted it for 75 pages, so Dana finally gave it up. Still, the award-winning author had some revenge - she brought Kate to the brink of death several times to teach her a lesson ...

Ahuimanu Elementary student Garrett Cho was picked to be one of eight Junior Ambassadors who will represent Hawaii at the Asia-Pacific Children’s Convention in Fukuoka, Japan, this summer ... U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono has picked Kaneohe’s Karl Doehm and Kailua’s Nicolas Ogier, Damon Pescaia, Gabriela Espino and Brendan Tourek as her nominees to the U.S. Naval Academy. Her U.S. Air Force Academy nominees include Trenton Manson and Geramiah Simoes of Kailua, and Rhianna Farm of Kaneohe; also, Kaneohe’s Nicholas Cerny to the U.S.

Aaron Chan

Merchant Marine Academy and Kailua’s Arin Nunes to West Point ... First Insurance Co. actuary Jeff Grimmer, who grew up in Kailua, has won a President’s CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters) Scholarship worth $4,000 toward completing his CPCU designation.

Jeff, 29, also won praise from his bosses for his high performance and desire to develop professionally ... The Daughters of the American Revolution American History Essay Contest produced two outstanding essays from Kailua Intermediate students Kayli Sullivan (best for grade 7) and Sari Foundas (best for grade 8), according to proud teacher Kathleen Nullet, who says they’ll receive cash prizes at a DAR luncheon ... Aaron Chan (Kalaheo 2006) has graduated from Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas ...

Dale Hazlehurst, a Kaneohe resident who works in commercial shipping, has joined the new advisory council for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary ... Daisy Lee Carinio of Kaneohe plays for the women’s club rugby team at Ashland University in Ohio. Off the field, Daisy is majoring in social work ... Kailua resident (also a Surfrider alum) and chief economic consultant for Bank of Hawaii Paul Brewbaker will address the Hawaii Economic Association luncheon Thursday on the topic of economic stabilization. Oh, yeah. Soon, I hope ...

Hawaii Theatre plans to stage Romeo & Juliet late next month, but there’s one Ahuimanu couple, Romeo and Juliet Corpuz, who will probably skip it. Romeo, a KEY Project board member and co-concept general manager for Pizza Hut Hawaii, says they didn’t need the balcony scene or all that family fighting. “I just asked her” (and she said yes) ... If you’re not registered to vote in the District III City Council special election,City Clerk Bernice Mau says March 24 is your last chance (768-3802)

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March 18, 2009 - MidWeek The Islander

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B.K. Cannon

Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women will honor longtime champion of land and water issues, Kailua’s Donna Wong, at a reception March 24 with Gov. Linda Lingle. “Donna has been and remains one of the most knowledgeable and staunchest defenders of Hawaii’s fragile environment in modern history,” says commission chairwoman Carol Philips ...

Maluhia Hospital has proudly announced that Kailua volunteer (and clown) Kathy Summers and her dog Willy have joined its team of entertainers and therapists for the elderly patients. They’ll be making weekly goodwill visits ... Candidates for Barbara Marshall‘s City Council seat will debate the issues at 6:30 p.m. March 23 on KIPO 89.3, moderated by HPR reporter Wayne Yoshioka. So far, it’s Ikaika Anderson, Tracy Bean, John Henry Felix, Wilson Ho, Steve Holmes, Sol Nalua’i, Tom Pico and Pohai Ryan ...

 

If you watched Grey’s Anatomy March 12, you also saw up-and-really-coming Kailua actress B.K. Cannon, playing three scenes with “two of the cute male lead doctors” on the show. Something about doctors. Now a student at Mount St. Mary’s College in California, B.K. also played the star patient in the Christmas show of House. Mom Trudi Cannon says she “got to be a bit of a smart aleck” in Anatomy ... Richard Lindley (Castle 2007) has graduated from Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas ...

Alberto Maldonado

Kaneohe’s Karen Archibald is sharing her talent with Manoa Valley Theatre this spring as the scenic artist for Tuesdays with Morrie, playing today (March 18) through April 5. And the play’s guest director Lolly Susi, who lives in London, has “temporary Kailua residency” during the show’s run (988-6131) ...

Kailua organist Thomas Rhoads will donate his talent along with 11 fellow musicians for a free organ marathon of Bach‘s greatest hits at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Lutheran Church of Honolulu, which has the largest mechanical action pipe organ in Hawaii(941-2566) ... Youth springs eternal a Ho’omaluhia, which is offering stories, songs, crafts and a short hike to the keiki on St. Patrick’s Day. Nature hour starts at 10:30 a.m. at the visitor center (233-7323) ...

Brook Gramann says Lanikai Bath and Body on Kailua Road (262-3260) will donate a portion of its March sales to Hawaii’s Domestic Violence Action Center ... ProService Hawaii has named Kailua resident Alberto Maldonado its director of sales for business development statewide. Alberto also is active in Friends of K-Bay, Surfrider Foundation and Navy League ... On the fall dean’s list at Seattle Pacific University were the very studious Nathaniel Irvin of Kailua and Kaneohe residents Chara Hokama, Tracey Ige and Toby Salado

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March 11, 2009 - MidWeek The Islander

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Ruth Pistor

Waimanalo resident Kanoe Cheek needs help planning a grand reunion in 2010 of the royal descendants of Kamehameha I and his first wife, Kaneikopolei. Surnames include, ahem, Poepoe, Keaulana, Parker, Aiu, Koki, Guerrero, Kealohi, Devereux, Bright and Kepilino. You can reach Kanoe at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 778-5598 ...

Speaking of leaders, Kailua photographer Susan Benay has an online show of Barack Obama‘s two visits to Hawaii in 2008, as seen through her professional lens. It’s at http://www.thecolorsofhawaii.com/obama ... While we’re all worried about ourselves, the island, the state, the nation and the world, save a moment of concern for the loulu palms that were planted recently along Kahekili Highway. Some of them are in dire need of some stimulus ...

 

Kahuku High School’s AnnaRae Kahala was a finalist in the contest to create a promotional flier for UH West Oahu, touting it as a choice for four-year college students ... Longtime Windward artist and art teacher Ruth Pistor has donated her original watercolor Just Flowers to Trinity Christian School for its annual spring gala auction this Saturday at Luana Hills (see calendar) ... Kailua musicians Lesley Kline and Kilin Reece perform a flurry of Irish tunes as Celtic Crossing at 6 p.m. on St. Patrick’s Day at Gordon Biersch. Then they’ll slip back into their roles with the Saloon Pilots at 8 p.m. March 20 at Kailua Big City Diner. Top o the Week to ya! ...

More music. Members of the Kailua Symphonic Band play at 4 p.m. March 18 on the Ala Moana Center stage in preparation for their trip to New York and D.C. this month with the Saint Louis band ... Don’t know for sure, but Kiewit Building Group may be in the lead with its LEED-certified engineers. Among the latest to qualify in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design at the company is Jared Sakamoto of Kaneohe ...

If you heard the Steve Miller Band March 1 at Blaisdell Arena, surely you noticed how smooth and relaxed it all was. Could it be because Jayme Newhouse was invited to give Steve a two-hour massage before he went on stage? Jayme owns the Pilates Training Center Hawaii in Kailua and got to go backstage and see the show. She says Steve is “extremely personable and down to earth” ...

Kailua’s Randy Williams is passionate about technology, so say his bosses at Synergy Asia Pacific. They named him a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional for 2009, honoring him for his expertise and his willingness to share it ... For the dwindling few who just can’t get enough of reading newspapers, Kaneohe Library now has in microform the full run of Hawaii’s two daily newspapers dating back to 1882 (Advertiser) and 1912 (Star-Bulletin) ...

Kailua artist Ron Kowalke has his latest paintings on view through March 21 at Robyn Bunton of Honolulu gallery on Beretania (523-5913) ... A memorial service for Barbara Marshall begins at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. John Lutheran Church on Kailua Road

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March 04, 2009 - MidWeek The Islander

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Mia Chen

Four Windward students - Theresa Richmond and Kevin Tanaka of Kailua, and Amelia Linsky and Christopher Medeiros of Kaneohe - have been named candidates for the 2009 Presidential Scholars Program, based on their college board test scores. Ultimately, two high school students from each state will be invited to Washington, D.C. for official honors. So far, these four are among 3,000 elite who made the initial cut from 2.8 million nationwide in the Class of 2009 ...

Vaughn Timilai Lesuma (social sciences) of Laie and Kendra Kikumi Pang (mechanical engineering) of Kaneohe earned their bachelor’s degrees at the end of fall semester at Washington State University in Pullman ... Past dancers with Mary Kupau Mikaele‘s Kuhai Halau o Kahealani Pa Olapa Kahiko are urged to call her at 239-4852. The halau is preparing for its 10th annual Ho’okupu April 25 at Kualoa Ranch. Crafters also welcome ...

This is National Sleep Awareness Week, so you should be aware of a recent survey that says Americans are “losing sleep over the economy.” Dr. Jamil Sulieman agrees. “It’s a troubling time for many in our community,” he says, “but people should not overlook nature’s basic restoration mechanism of sleep.” Jamil is a certified sleep specialist who runs The Sleep Lab in Kaneohe (234-0033) ...

 

Wake up, Waimanalo. State Civil Defense tests its new warning sirens throughout the day on March 2 and 3 - in addition to Monday’s regular monthly test. Consider yourselves warned about the warnings ... Do you know how to zumba? Bianca Moxey can tell you all about the zumba dance classes at Windward YMCA. Call her at 543-3970 ... Feng shui consultant Mia Chen of Kaneohe sees special meaning in Barack Obama being the 44th president. The double fours, she explains, “symbolize twice as much work needing to be done by Obama, resulting ultimately in greater power, wealth and prosperity for the country” (239-0602) ...

Perhaps not as daunting an assignment: Kaneohe’s Nancy Ortiz has been elected vice president of the United Puerto Rican Association of Hawaii ...Will the person who bought the antique blue wine glasses at the Boys & Girls Club garage sale please step forward? Maureen Purington says they’ve located the other three sherbet glasses for you. Call 263-0555. Hey, this column does whatever it needs to do to serve our readers! ...

Congratulations to Leader for the Day essay contest winners from Kailua Intermediate School. Social studies teacher Leslie Ringuette says most of them will get their reward by shadowing a state legislator on March 12, then eating a free lunch and accepting accolades from the august body. They are Sydney Forsythe, Kristi Sakaguchi, Puakailima Keeno-Kaea, Kenneth Theoret, Shawn Wilhoite, Alicia Collete and Tarell Monmaney. Andrew Drake gets to shadow Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona. He’s known for using the stairs instead of the capitol elevator, Andrew, so don’t eat too much that day ...

A Kaneohe family has a “leftover” piano to give to a nonprofit group. It’s a Cable Nelson piano with only a few keys that need tuning (“low D and E from the first octave, and the last two on the board, high B and C”). Call 235-8589 ... Oluolu Street folks, say hello to your Honolulu Habitat for Humanity homeowning neighbors, Alexander and Lorilei Gallarde and clan. After months of work and hundreds of helpers, they got the keys on Feb. 21 to their new Waimanalo house ...

In his own words, Andy Anderson says he’s “retiring AGAIN” from Hina Mauka as of March 1. But he’s still producing Recovery-Talk Story on ‘Olelo channel 52. In fact, he reminds us to watch Gary Stromberg, publicist to the stars and former drug addict, in programs that air at 9:30 p.m. March 9 and 16, 1:30 p.m. March 11 and 4:30 p.m . March 18

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February 25, 2009 - MidWeek The Islander

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Philip Bretz

Part-time Kahaluu resident Snookie Mello and her husband David Miranda are on the board of a new initiative called the Volcano House Project. The nonprofit group intends to bid for the concessionaire contract at the Big Island’s famed national park and resort to develop a job-training center for the unemployed and disenfranchised. Check out their ambitious mission at http://www.volcanohouseproject.org. You also can sign a petition of community support for their bid ...

Kaneohe’s Bill Riddle will discuss John Rogers’ daring and almost disastrous 1925 flight across the Pacific - the epic first flight to Hawaii - at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor. Bill also will autograph his book, Dead Downwind. Reservations are due today (Feb. 25) to 441-1008 ...

The Lanikai Christmas Craft Faire really is worth the extra “e” in the name. According to retiring (and pooped!) fair chairwoman Kiri Esibill, the December fair attracted 104 vendors and netted more than $10,000 for the community’s maintenance fund ...

Hawaiian music legend Eddie Kamae stopped by Uncle Mel Murata‘s birthday party Feb. 15 in Kaneohe to play and enjoy the good eats Lynn and Mel are known for. Then it was on to Honey’s at Koolau for his weekly gig with the Hawaiian Boys Crew, and a trip to Kauai on President’s Day where one of his documentaries, Keepers of the Flame, with wife Myrna, was featured at the inaugural West Kauai Film Festival in Waimea (plus another performance by Eddie, of course). And he’s only 81 years young ...

 

Congratulations to Kailua High student Ashley Josue. She took first place for poetry in the 2008 Life Foundation’s World AIDS Day Youth Leadership Challenge, which inspired 134 local teens to step forward in the fight against AIDS. Her teacher is Shelley Andrews ...

When Lori Sampaio lost her job at Aloha Airlines last spring, she and her kid sister Keri Gall brainstormed for awhile, then opened a dog-walking and pet-sitting service in August just for Kaneohe, Kailua and Waimanalo folks. You can call them to find out more at 291-4836, or go to http://www.2sisterspetsitters.com ... Philip Bretz of Trinity Christian School and Malia Smith of St.

Anthony School emerged as the winning team at the Windward District Spelling Bee, held Feb. 10 at Le Jardin Academy. They shall return for more word battles March 15 when Paliku Theatre hosts the state bee. For the record, Philip was first and Malia second ... You can see Stroller Strides Kailua owner Jawea May on ‘Olelo channel 52 at 9 p.m. Thursday, and March 12 and 26 talking about the fun exercise regime for moms and tots. She’s likely to say things like “The total body postnatal exercise classes not only save families baby-sitting fees, since baby is part of the fitness program, but also offer added value through free playgroups, moms’ night out activities and more” (351-3313) ...

Paris Priore-Kim of Kailua will read a Susan Nunes short story, and Hoku Gilbert of Kaneohe will read a Mavis Hara poem during an Aloha Shorts taping at 7 p.m. Sunday in HPR’s Atherton Studio (955-8821) ... Congratulations to Lynn Wells and Andrea Kia, both Realtors, who were named the top producers for 2008 by the Windward realty Homequest ...

Northeastern University in Boston has announced its fall semester dean’s list, which includes three Windward brains: Raquel Guss and Carey Goo of Kailua, and Christopher Lau of Kaneohe ... Accordion player Anita Trubitt will perform with Partners in Time at 7:30 p.m. March 7 at HPR’s Atherton studio. A Kailua resident, Anita is an original member of the band, which plays folk music of the Balkans and Middle East. It was first known as the Pleasant Peasant Band (955-8821)

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February 18, 2009 - MidWeek The Islander

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Buddy Summers

The hard-working man behind Nalo Farms in Waimanalo and the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Dean Okimoto, will be inducted into the 2009 Hall of Fame Laureates by Junior Achievement next month at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel for his contribution to free enterprise - and great salads! ... The saints come marching in to Kaneohe: On Feb. 10 it seemed like uku million buses rolled in to St. Ann‘s Church parking lot from Maryknoll Schools, which didn’t have a big enough venue to celebrate Founders Day. And across Haiku Road from St. Ann’s, you can view the artwork of St. Mark Lutheran students Feb. 23-March 7 at the mall ...

With so many Chapmans in the news these days, it can be hard to return a $5 bill to the right one. Steve Basso, who runs U Wash & Dry laundromat in Kailua, received a complaint from a certain Don Chapman that his machine ate up the man’s Abraham Lincoln. Since MidWeek editor Don Chapman is the only one in the phone book, he was the first one that conscientious laundry proprietor called. Alas! Wrong one. If the real DC is out there reading this - as all well-laundered residents do - please give Steve a call at 255-5859. Your fortune is waiting ...

Terry Johnson is looking for someone, too. The Kailua-based IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre needs an experienced executive director (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) ... Kaneohe native Juliann Naughton ran the Windward Half Marathon last fall, but by mid-December she was helping run a supply convoy over miles of open road in Afghanistan. The Marine 2nd lieutenant commands a motor transportation platoon there, and was proud of their first mission, which had two incidents with warning shots fired. “We’re not here to cause harm,” she said. “We’re here to deliver. But if someone gets in our way, we will move them” ...

Christ Church Uniting will have a farewell potluck for Rev. Fabian “Buddy” Summers and his wife Estelle Codier this Sunday after morning services. At CCU for 13 years, Buddy officially retires that day by delivering the last of approximately 750 career sermons. “It’s not a record,” he admits in the church newsletter, “but plenty for me and probably plenty enough for at least a few of the faithful in the pew” ...

Nearly 100 Windward keiki created Valentine cards for Kaneohe Bay Shopping Center’s annual contest, and most went to patients at Castle Medical Center. First place in the heart for “most creative” are Boris Garcia of Ben Parker Elementary for the under-8 crowd, Jaida Johnson of Ahuimanu Elementary for 8 to 12 years, and Haley Palma-Hepton of St. Mark Lutheran for ages 13-18 ... Aloha to two men who made a big difference in Windward Oahu: 100-year-old E. Alvey Wright, the former state DOT chief and H-3 proponent who died Feb. 5, and longtime Kailua pediatrician Robert Dimler, 92, who died Jan. 29 in Tacoma

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February 11, 2009 - MidWeek The Islander

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John Au

Marines of Task Force 1st Battalion,3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1 recently distributed shoes and cold-weather jackets to children living in Karmah, Iraq, according to the Hawaii Marine. The project was initiated by Kailua resident Lt. Brandon Harding, who is the battalion’s chaplain. He said donations poured in from all over the U.S. In response, Hamid Naief, a Karmah father of seven children, said: “We need it so much. I do not like seeing the kids go to school or to play with bare feet and without jackets. The Americans helping us means so much” ...

Meanwhile, Kaneohe resident Nathan Bourg has graduated from Army basic combat training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina, and Stephanie Enos-Wong (Castle 2007) has graduated from Army National Guard basic training, also at Fort Jackson ... Hawaii Public Radio will tape its next Aloha Shorts show on Monday (Feb. 16), for free, in its Atherton Studio on Kaheka Street, paying tribute to writings about the Neighbor Islands.

The program features music by the Kahaluu-based Kupa’aina band at 6:45 p.m. to warm folks up. Also in the spotlight that night will be Kaneohe poet Norma Gorst‘s Kekaha, Kauai, and Kailua’s Devon Nekoba, who will read from Stu Harada‘s Star Mokihana, also about Kauai (955-8821) ...

 

John Au of Kaneohe has been promoted to vice president of Chinen & Arinaga Financial Group. He’s also a chartered financial consultant, certified fund specialist and chartered adviser for senior living ... Kaneohe artist Rose Ellen Chin has some of her latest paintings on display at the Louis Vuitton Creative Art Program exhibit at Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific. The show runs through Feb. 28 (531-3511) ...

And Windward Oahu talents are involved in Army Community Theatre’s musical whodunit, Curtains, opening Feb. 26 at Fort Shafter (438-4480). They are Tom Holowach of Kailua with a leading role, Heather Taylor, who grew up in Kaneohe, and Vanita Rae Smith (director), who is a longtime Maunawili resident ...

U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye has announced his nominees for national military academies, and they include William Rodin of Kalaheo High (alternate nominee to the U.S. Air Force Academy) and Windward Community College student Karl Doehm (alternate list for West Point as well as the U.S. Naval Academy) ...

It’s time to pay attention when you’re cooking, folks. Firefighters say the blaze that destroyed a Mahalani Place home in Kaneohe last month was caused by a pot of oil left unattended on a hot burner. That oil did a total of $570,000 in damage ... Raymond Mahelona still needs more adult volunteers to help with Breakthroughs’ mentoring weekend with King Intermediate School students Feb. 21 and 22. Call him to learn all about it at 754-7620 ... Kaneohe student Ryan Okinaka was one of 10 young directors presenting very short shows in Leeward Community College’s 10-Minute Play Festival Feb. 6 and 7 ...

It’s not just the Kahaluu Neighborhood Board that’s jumped into food-drive mode. Kailua’s board also keeps a donation box at each meeting, with all food and household items going to St. Anthony’s Church, the Kailua Homeless Alliance, Hale Ola and more ... Ross Teruya of Kaneohe has earned recognition from FedEx Ground for 10 years of safe driving without a preventable accident. Ross has worked for the company’s Honolulu facility for 11 years ...

I hope they’re peace and harmony in the Kailua home of Francisco and Tiffany Beltran. The military couple produced quadruplets - two boys and two girls - on Jan. 16 at Tripler ... Not ready for babies yet are Marisa Hayashi and Alyssa Fuchsberger. The Kaneohe students both made the fall semester dean’s list at the University of Portland where Marisa is a senior nursing major and Alyssa in a junior studying organization communication ...

These folks were rewarded for studying long and hard the games of chance. Making the dean’s list on the downtown Las Vegas slot machines recently were: Kiyoe Adachi of Kaneohe $20,000), Janet Yamamoto of Kaneohe ($7,200), Barbara Yee of Kaneohe ($10,025), Hazel Tando of Kailua ($8.894), Joan O’Connell of Kailua, $4,500) and Kaneohe residents Lorraine Chow and Tomas Cayetano ($4,000 each)

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February 04, 2009 - MidWeek The Islander

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Cory Brede

Busy Kaneohe actor Miko McDonnell, currently on the Paliku stage in Wind in the Willows (see page 13), got permission from director Ron Bright for a short break to play opposite Evangeline Lilly in a scene for Lost. Apparently Miko also got his own trailer for the day’s shooting ... You’ll find Shayne Turner of Ahuimanu and her unique “Grand Strands” of jewelry in the Mendonca courtyard during First Friday this Friday night in Chinatown (262-5930) ...

Speaking of art, Micacla Gradie of Kailua made the fall dean’s list at Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia ... Now that crews have gutted the anchor restaurant at Windward City Shopping Center to make way for Denny’s (in March, they say), we should revisit its glory days. Thanks to Kaneohe reader Craig Fukushima for recalling Flakey Jake’s hamburger joint - the fun but sometimes too-juicy place for lunch, what with thick burgers flying out of buns without warning. Then there was Tiki Tops with its colorful manager, some buffet operation I can’t recall the name of and last-but-not-least Flamingo’s, where you could stare at people’s dishes through the window. Anything we’ve left out? ...

 

Laie Elementary School fourth-grader Shyanne Fullmer is one of four poster artists singled out in Hawaiian Electric Co.‘s Home Energy Challenge campaign. Shyanne’s entry pledged: “Using solar power panels on my house so I won’t have to use as much electricity. It will conserve energy for our island.” For this vow and her drawing, Shyanne won a performance by Mad Science at her school. “We wanted to show that everyone, including children, can make a resolution to help protect our environment by using energy wisely,” said HECO’s Kaiulani de Silva ...

Cory Brede got a promotion from N&K CPAs. The Kaneohe woman moved up from audit senior to audit supervisor at the large Honolulu firm ... Congratulations to Anderson Dining Hall on the Marine base, winner of Best Military Mess Hall for the third straight year. Kailua resident Kevin Witsell, a civilian cook on the Anderson team, told the Hawaii Marine one of the secrets of its success: “Most of the time people come here smiling and enjoy themselves” ...

Former Windward state Sen. Melodie Aduja had an adventure she “wouldn’t trade for anything” when she accepted an invitation to Barack Obama‘s inauguration. Even if the hotel sold her pre-paid three-night reservation to someone else because she checked in late. Even if she had to walk zig-zag for six miles to find a place to watch the ceremony. Even if she had to wear two layers of thermal tops and pants, a high-neck sweater, blue jeans, ski jacket, two pairs of gloves, a knit cap, thick socks, walking boots, scarf and shin-length mink-like coat. (“I felt like a walking closet!”), and it wasn’t enough.

Her remedy for freezing hands: Place them on the warm engine hood of a running Secret Service vehicle. She also observed people walking across the frozen Reflecting Pool, though she didn’t chance it herself. Nevertheless, she bought her souvenirs, dined at the inaugural luau, made friends and had “an experience of a lifetime”

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January 28, 2009 - MidWeek The Islander

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Michael Johanson

Kailua couple Jeff and Linda Lowe happened upon a film fest last summer at the Festival of Pacific Arts in Pago Pago, and they were so impressed with Kiribati’s offering, Te Ribana, that they’ve brought it to Hawaii. Linda Uan‘s five, 80-minute episodes begin airing Feb. 2 on ‘Olelo Channel 53 at 12:30 p.m. (also Feb. 3, 4, 5 and 6 - see schedule at http://www.olelo.org). To say they were caught up in this tale of Pacific culture is an understatement. “Our flight home boarded right in the middle of the most exciting part of Rianako’s Story,” says Jeff, “so even though we were the last to board, we still missed the ending!” ...

Putting up a bank at that famous corner makai of Windward Mall has led some of us to stretch our minds back to all the restaurants and good times originating there over the years. If we’ve missed any, let us know: Honey’s Lounge, Smitty’s Pancake House, Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor, Eastside Restaurant, Koolau Ranch House (remember Teddy and Nancy there as well as Sam Kapu III?) and the latest, Times Coffee Shop ...

Castle High junior Rolando Udarbe will play clarinet with the Miyamura Woodwind Trio at 7 p.m. Tuesday (Jan. 27) in Orvis Auditorium at UH (941-9706). As a member of the Hawaii Youth Symphony, Rolando gets some great tips from HYS music director Henry Miyamura ... Kailua musicians Paul Sato and Barbara Higbie will entertain at 7 p.m. Feb. 1 during the live, free taping of HPR’s Aloha Shorts program in the Atherton studio on Kaheka Street (955-8821) ...

City firefighters gladly participated in Olomana Community Association’s annual Christmas parade Dec. 21, even though they had to answer a distress call just after the parade started. When they were finished, reports parade chairwoman Leslie Pacarro, they came back and rejoined the march ... Natalie Thielen Helper of Aikahi got the famous shaka from President Barack Obama Jan. 21 as she marched with the Punahou band, playing the French horn. Plus her mom, DLNR board chairwoman Laura Thielen, is “Barry’s” classmate. And I guess it’s OK to have a Republican grandmother (state Rep. Cynthia Thielen) in these heady times ...

Michael Johanson succeeds the retiring Duane Roberts as director of communications and marketing for BYU-Hawaii. He and wife Katrina and their three daughters now live in Laie ... Kaneohe artist Wayne Takazono will paint married couples’ portraits for Valentine’s Day - in charcoal, pastels or oils - giving a special discount for their years of bliss. If you’ve been hitched for more than 30 years, take off 1 percent of the price for every year after the 30th one (554-4600) ...

DePaul University student Debra Frascarelli of Kailua made the fall dean’s list at the Chicago Catholic college for earning a 3.50 or above grade-point average ... And over at Washington State University in Pullman, Kaneohe students are shining too. Making the President’s Honor Roll for Fall 2008 are Brandon Takeo Kamita, Alexander Colin McManus, Kyle A. Mendes and Ryan Ngit Mung Renio ...

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., lists five brainy students from Hawaii, and three of them are from Windward, of course. Fall semester names on the dean’s list there include Nicole Picciotto of Kailua, a sophomore in chemical engineering; and Kaneohe seniors Andrew Dexter (aeronautical engineering) and Jeffrey Sult (computer science) ...

Royce Arakaki of Kaneohe earned his associate degree in culinary arts last semester from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y. ... Kaneohe’s Rena Sunaoka has been promoted to marketing manager with Symmetry, a direct-sales company that distributes nutritional supplements ... Kaneohe’s super Latino couple, Nancy and John Ortiz of Alma Latina Productions, will celebrate their wedding anniversary with a salsa party Feb. 14 at Hard Rock Cafe (285-0072)

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January 21, 2009 - MidWeek The Islander

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Laurie Cateriano

As the community’s food pantries run dry, folks are thinking up creative ways to fill the shelves. Kahaluu Neighborhood Board is now collecting nonperishable food items at each monthly board meeting (next one is 7 p.m. Feb. 11). The food goes directly to the food pantry at KEY Project, where the board meets. “The goal is to create a continuous stream of donated foods to needy members of our community,” explains board treasurer Dan Bender, who suggested the drive. “We anticipate that this will become more and more important in the months ahead” ...

Speaking of food, TD Food Group announced several promotions recently, including these new general managers for Windward area Pizza Huts: Congratulations to Edward Lindstrom at Temple Valley (Koolau Center), Jose Marie Sacramento at Enchanted Lake, Lynette “Peaches” Su’a at Aikahi and Russell Takase at Windward City Shopping Center, at your service ... Gary Sinise, who wears many hats, and his Lieutenant Dan Band play at 7 p.m. Jan. 30 in the K-Bay Lanes parking lot, headlining a USO Celebrity Show there (254-7597). In recent years, Gary’s Lt. Dan character (of Forrest Gump fame) has morphed into police Det. Matt Taylor on the TV hit CSI: New York ...

Also, at the Marine base exchange: no more plastic bags for customers, but plenty of reusable ones for sale ... As ‘Olelo completes the encore airing of HBO’s TV series Addiction, Rich Figel reminds us that Hina Mauka’s Andy Anderson has a locally produced talk show, Recovery, which is available for downloads through the OleloNet On Demand website. On TV, view it at 10:30 p.m. Thursdays on Channel 52 - or call Andy at 447-5227 ... American Savings Bank has promoted Kailua’s Laurie Cateriano to senior vice president of cash management services ...

Kamakani Enterprises Inc. (in Building 28C of Kapaa Quarry Industrial Park) has more cash lately. It’s proud of its TikiMaster.com website, which is being featured on a Verizon TV commercial for the new BlackBerry Storm. (Look for the onscreen hula girl ornament.) Owner Jerome Coudrier says the web traffic has increased 30 percent since the ad began airing this month. “As one of the largest emporiums of Hawaiian art,” he says, “we were thrilled to be featured in the ad” ...

You can watch the ad and everything else on a “new” TV set from the Castle High athletics department. They’re not flatscreen TVs, says Sam Kakazu, but the price is right. The Knights are selling 20-inch Panasonic hotel TVs for $40 each. Come buy ‘em and haul ‘em away between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. this Sunday at the upper parking lot (near the tennis courts). Proceeds help the baseball and softball programs ...

Did anyone else experience that stinky, smelly odor oozing from somewhere along Likelike last week on the way to the tunnels, near the H-3 over-pass? Whew! Too strong to be rotten bananas ... My daughter Kelly and I enjoyed lunch (and much better smells) at A Cup of Tea on Uluniu Street Jan. 10. Even noticed a few men partaking of the offerings (without extending their pinkie fingers). Only thing is, I parked in the stall with a jammed meter right in front. You guessed it: a $35 ticket was served on my car. Surely they will accept my argument on that one, or maybe I should recommend the broccoli and cheese soup with chicken curry sandwiches

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January 14, 2009 - MidWeek The Islander

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John Davidann

There’s a beautiful room waiting for you at the Pink Lady, according to Kelly Hoen, a Kailua girl and general manager of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel which has just completed a multimillion-dollar redesign. The four-night stay features a first-night charge of $19.27 (symbolic of the hotel’s original opening in 1927). To find out more, check your wallet and call 866-716-8110 ... Gently used shin guards. That’s the buzz in Castle High’s P.E. classes. Teacher Kathy Burt says she would welcome the donation of shin guards for their team sports unit on soccer. Call 233-5600, ext. 2239 or drop them off in the main office ...

Speaking of Castle, PCNC Kathy Martin could use an anti-hacker kit. Someone using her name and similar address is claiming to be in a “devastated state” in Malaysia, appealing to hundreds on Kathy’s school e-mail list for financial help. Stay tuned for a revamped communication system, and do not, repeat, do not send $3,000 U.S. to the bogus Kathy, even if she is waiting right this minute in a far-away hotel lobby for your money ... Stanley Kim was spotted filming at Waimanalo Beach Park the other day for the Japanese fashion magazine, Vivi (“for teens and young office ladies”). He says his company, s.i.k.e., likes Waimanalo, as well as the old-town backdrop atmosphere of Keneke’s and the gas station area, since Asian readers seldom see such sights ...

Thanks to Robert Merriam‘s example, there are now six members of his Kailua family who donate blood on a regular basis to Hawaii Blood Bank: Robert, his sons Mark and Keith, daughter Carol, granddaughter Sarah and now grandson Paul, who shed his first pint at a Kailua High School donor drive. To keep up with the Merriams, you can sign up for the Jan. 24 drive at Windward Mall (see calendar) ... Windham Hill singer/songwriter Barbara Higbie, now a Kailua resident, will perform with singer/comedian Lisa Koch at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 24 at the Elks Lodge in Waikiki ...

Also on Jan. 24, Windward musicians Stacey Tangonan (“one of Honolulu’s most respected drummers”) and bass player Dave Chiorini (who’s also in the Honolulu Symphony) play with Rachel Gonzales and Les Peetz at 7:30 p.m. at HPR’s Atherton Studio. All proceeds from the $20 tickets go to Hawaii Foodbank. Expect ballads, jazz and some wild original pieces throughout. You also can bring canned food (955-8821) ... HPU history prof and Kailua resident Jon Davidann will give a free lecture on “The Causes of Pearl Harbor” during a 1 p.m. Hangar Talk Saturday at the Pacific Aviation Museum at Pearl Harbor. ...

King Intermediate seventh-grader Brandon Susa earned an Honorable Mention and $25 for his entry in the District 50 Lions Club Peace Poster Contest. (That’s the state level, you know) ... New Year’s Eve report from Pali Lions Club couple, Clarence and Cecelia Izuo. “Sitting at a Blazing 777 that was ringing (hit the jackpot) was Cecelia’s nun friend, a Sister of St. Joseph. God was on her side!” Other recent female winners in downtown Las Vegas are all from Kaneohe: Kiyoe Adachi $20,000; Barbara Yee $10,025; and Janet Yamamoto $7,200; ... WCC’s slack key master Ron Loo will share it all in an upcoming guitar class through the Hawaii Music Institute at the college. Beginners’ slack key starts at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 20 ($66) and you can sign up now at 235-7433 ...

Thursday night is a good time to turn your TV dial (oops! your remote) to TLC, if you want to see an Olympic soccer player get a new tattoo. Kahuku standout Natasha Kai is scheduled to “show off the gold” and go under the needle on the show LA Ink ... Documentary filmmaker Ann Marie Kirk has turned inward to share the life of her grandfather, Hauula-born Oliver Homealani Kupau, an Army officer and filmmaker in his own right. She welcomes memories that others may have so she can include them in her latest film project. Contact her at 371-3072 or at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Among the clues she’s found to his life are numerous old film clips he took of the family in Waiahole valley

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January 07, 2009 - MidWeek The Islander

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Wen-yu Lee

Taking over as the manager and chief engineer for the Board of Water Supply is Wayne Hashiro, who moved over from his post as city managing director. His first official day was Jan. 2. A trained engineer, the Kailua resident has led similar organizations in Norfolk, Va., in Zama, Japan, and also within the Pacific Ocean Division of the Honolulu Engineer District. Wayne was the unanimous choice of the BWS board of directors ...

The Oregon State Beavers are doing as well in the classroom as they did on the football field this school year - except for that terrible loss to the superior Oregon Ducks. (Hmm, where did I go to school?) On the fall semester scholastic honor roll in Corvallis are Kailua residents Stephanie Root (natural sciences) and Ian Smith (forest recreation resources), and Kaneohe’s Rachel Pavlis (pre-apparel with straight A’s) ...

If it’s not too late, you can catch local gardener Stella Keil at Kahuku Library (6:30 p.m. Jan. 6) conducting a class with tips on how to care for your houseplants. Call 293-8935 ... Moving across the Koolaus, Kahaluu resident Richard Paglinawan will explain the cultural significance of sharks at 6 p.m. Thursday - from inside Bishop Museum’s Megalodon exhibit (847-8296) ...

 

St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii has appointed Dr. Wen-yu Lee as medical director for St. Francis Hospice. Working with Dr. Hiram Young, she will develop a palliative care program for those patients who are “not quite ready or eligible” for hospice. A resident of Kailua, Wen-yu founded the hospitalist program at Straub and Castle hospitals, and also serves as an associate clinical professor at the UH medical school ...

Danielle Scherman, the mover and shaker behind Cool Kailua Nights, has moved the popular yearly block party to Oct. 3, 2009. So don’t show up in February expecting street booths and crowds on Uluniu and Aulike streets. Save up for next fall ... In a first-ever promotion ceremony at Lanikai Elementary School, troops from the Marine base air facility elevated five Marines in rank Dec. 1 in ceremonies on campus, following their normal daily seven (exercise routine). Many students joined in the fitness drills, according the the Hawaii Marine, including John Davids, who said it was like getting to run “with just a ton of our P.E. teachers” ...

Kaneohe musician (and psychologist) Lisa Gomes will perform with the Honolulu Blues Co-op at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in HPR’s Atherton Studio (955-8821). It sold out last year ... In a timely move, Big City Diner Kailua has installed bigger and better table umbrellas to keep its outside customers dry (at least on the outside) during some of the island’s damper days and nights. Paul Sato of the Saloon Pilots (who play regular gigs on the lanai at the Hamakua Drive restaurant) calls the umbrellas “gi-normous” ... Personal license plates spotted recently (from behind) on Oahu streets: AYYOLE, ISK8R, LDYVIP, MZBHVN, NTE MGK and GIZ-BIG

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December 31, 2008 - MidWeek The Islander

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Hector Morales

In the wee hours of one of our recent stormy Saturdays (Dec. 13), members of Kaneohe Boy Scout Troop 117 brought wreaths to honor veterans of all U.S. armed forces at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. According to Debra Straight of the cosponsoring Daughters of the American Revolution Aloha chapter, cemetery employee Willie Hirokane made sure all wreaths and humans at the ceremony were covered and dry for the tribute. It was part of the 2008 Wreaths Across America program ... Kumu Lehua Beltrame-Tevaga is hoping former dancers in Castle High’s Polynesian classes might share their dresses, pa’u skirts, etc. with this year’s students. Heck , she’ll even buy them back. Call her at 233-5600, ext. 2317 after winter break ... Turtle Bay’s executive chef Hector Morales is definitely one of the good guys. In addition to conducting a cooking demo at Kahuku Library while on his vacation, he also arranged for the food required to serve to 700 homeless people Christmas morning via the North Shore’s Once a Month Church. Earlier in his career, Hector served at the pleasure of the King and the Royal Family of Norway as their banquet chef ... The Kaneohe Christmas Parade does not have to be a fading memory. Art Machado says the T-shirts still are available at American Savings Bank Kaneohe branches and other merchants to help pay the parade bills ... LeRoy Brilhante relates this Obama moment from the perspective of his grand-nephew, Aikahi fourth-grader Ryan Vargas. “Ryan was there on Mokapu Boulevard awaiting the arrival of Barack Obama and family on their way to their beachfront vacation home. When the caravan went by and our president-elect waved at him, Ryan grabbed his grandmother Patti Vargas‘s hand and said, “Grandma, this is the best day of my life!” ...

Wally Amos

Meanwhile Wally Amos and retired HPD Maj. Bob Silva (with help from Wally’s shop manager Kelsey Arnesen and clan) arrived at Obama’s Kailua compound on Christmas Eve via a brightly painted Chip & Cookie truck bearing 44 bags of fresh-baked treats for the president-elect’s party. Bob confirmed delivery to the Kailuana guard shack, but the secret service may have to taste every last cookie for security reasons ... If you haven’t witnessed the Step*Taculars - a classy, leggy 50-andolder tap dance troupe - you can catch them at noon on the first Tuesday of every month at Ala Moana Centerstage. Windward resident Sandra Kam is one the the high-kickers ... Kaneohe musician Freddy Gayagas entertains Friday at the Mendonca building courtyard during First Friday downtown from 5 to 9 p.m., while The Cottage of Kailua plies its homemade fudge to sample and sell to visitors. Look for storyteller and singer James McCarthy, too, and art by Jayme Miyamoto, the GroundUp Crew and Spencer Hamada and Michael Creek (262-5930) ... Congratulations to Hawaii FiDo, the Kahuku-based service/therapy dog training agency now marking its 10th year. According to Judy Suan, the group also has three breeder females and looks forward to many more “mini doodles” come spring. That’s in addition to its standard Labradoodles ... Elaine Matsuda has relocated her art studio to Kaneohe from town and offers lessons in oil painting. You can see her and her work “on location” at Byodo-In Temple on the first, second and last Sunday of the month (295-8506) ... A story by Kaneohe author Gary Pak, A Toast to Rosita, will be read by another Windward talent, Michael Paekukui, during the first 2009 taping of HPR’s Aloha Shorts program, set for 7 p.m. Sunday at Atherton Performing Arts Studio on Kaheka Street (955-8821) ... Kailua entrepreneur Dorothy Mack owns the new chapter of Single Gourmet Hawaii, a group that operates on the theme, “Why sit home alone, when you could dine with us?” The dining club books outings to clubs and restaurants around the island for single professionals between ages 30 and 60 “give or take,” who pay a reservation fee to attend the preplanned events (428-5562) .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Waha Nui

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December 24, 2008 - MidWeek The Islander

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Kaneohe artist Andy Kay is proud of his latest crop of young artists. The children of Kaneohe Head Start Preschool are having an exhibit of their work through Jan. 2 at Gallery on the Pali, which is located at 2500 Pali Highway (595-4047). Andy says he wants to get the word out that “people can make a big difference in the lives of kids by volunteering at Head Start - to read with kids, make music or paint with them as I do.” Andy himself is a brilliant calligrapher who has shown his work in China.

Maddie Komatsu

At one time he also designed costumes for the Frankfurt and San Francisco Ballet companies (235-0927) ... Speaking of art, Windward Nazarene Academy student Maddie Komatsu is one of the featured young illustrators of Kapiolani hospital’s Christmas cards. She visits the hospital each Friday for continuing care and treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Maddie is currently in remission and drawing cool reindeer for her greeting cards ... Castle’s Project Grad co-chairs Ailyn Lum and Teri Lynn Sato declared their Dec. 7 “Taste of Castle” a success. The evidence? All of their recipe-book sample dishes, made by volunteers, were a sell-out. Kaneohe, the munching capital of Oahu ...

Krista Ruchaber

The green utensil company Styrophobia, co-owned by Kailua resident Krista Ruchaber, has received the John Kelly Environmental Achievement award from the Surfrider Foundation-Oahu. The award came during a VIP benefit party last Saturday at Aloha Tower. Since it was catered by Town restaurant, there’s no doubt Ed Kenney used Krista’s corn- and sugar cane-based knives, forks, spoons, cups and take-out containers ... When Norma Perry Smith was a little girl, they hadn’t even invented Styrofoam (1941). But Happy Birthday anyway, Norma. The former Hollywood graphic artist turned 102 recently so Beth Slavens and Norma’s friends at Kina’Ole Estate had a birthday lunch for her Dec. 12 at Baci Bistro ... Andrew Johnson of Kaneohe has won a tuition scholarship to Wartburg College in Iowa, where he participated in a fall competition through essays, interviews and a review of his academic achievements. Wartburg is a four-year Lutheran liberal arts school ...

Eamonn Kinsella

The busy Kailua solar company, Suntech Hawaii, has hired yet another professional to its staff. Eamonn Kinsella is the new vice president of sales who will develop overall sales growth throughout the Pacific Rim. As you might expect from his name, Eamonn graduated from Terenure College in Dublin, Ireland (a green island where there isn’t quite as much sun as this one) ... YYork is not donating her entire national playwright award back to the fund for next year, as mentioned in last week’s column, just part of it. But she still gets an A in my book ... Kawainui’s tireless marsh man, Chuck Burrows, was on KGMB TV last week highlighting for reporter Ramsay Wharton the work he and his volunteers are doing for Na Pohaku Hauwahine. The piece showed off the beauty of the marsh plus a few birds enjoying their improved habitat. Wanna help? Call 593-0112. Maybe you’ll be on TV ... A spot of tea for Michelle Obama? That’s an idea brewing for Jay Pahed, who would love to invite the visiting first lady, her daughters and friends to A Cup of Tea in Uluniu Street for a nice lunch during their stay here. Jay says his wife Darlene would comp the entire food bill and donate 15 percent of the cost back to the American Cancer Society. OK, Michelle, the number is 230-8832

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December 17, 2008 - MidWeek The Islander

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With so many Nutcracker productions on Oahu this weekend, know that Hawaii Ballet Theatre’s version at Leeward Community College has 36 performers from Kaneohe and Kailua (456-8100) ... In their year-plus run at Kailua’s Big City Diner, the Saloon Pilots never had to cancel a gig until Nov. 21 (because of very many raindrops). As fiddle player Lesley Kline said, “There’s nothing cute about electrocution.” They will try again this Friday ... Kailua actor Tony Young (recently of Manoa Valley Theatre’s Rocky Horror Show fame), will soon be on stage for MVT’s Gutenberg! The Musical!, opening Jan. 14 (988-6131) ...

The Kaneohe Neighborhood Board plans to honor Art Machado as its Man of the Year during its meeting Thursday (see calendar) for his 37 years of work coordinating the town’s parade ... Jill Mathis of Kaaawa has become an independent consultant with Tastefully Simple Inc., a direct-sales, easy-to-prepare gourmet products company. Hungry? Go to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) ... Along the same lines, Kaneohe’s Rena Sunaoka has joined Symmetry, which sells a resveratrol infused juice product for good health (227-7788) ... As Waimanalo’s Weinberg Village gets ready for a Christmas party for its families, director Holly Holowach reports that someone broke into the tool shed Dec. 5 and took a weedwacker, power blower, saws, drills, power cords, a chainsaw, nail gun and tool kits (259-6658) ... With busy fingers weaving flowers into a theme of “Holiday Heroes,” the Koolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club took second place (for theme) in the Mayor’s wreath contest. You can see the club’s wreath at Honolulu Hale right now ... While you’re there, take a look at the Honolulu Gift Fair (Friday through Sunday) at Blaisdell Exhibition Hall.

Gabriel Chong

Kaneohe couple Dexter Doi and Carol D’Angelo are selling eco-friendly, artistically designed tote bags (371-4366) ... Suntech Hawaii has hired Gabriel Chong as project engineer of the Kailua-based renewable energy company. Gabriel will oversee installations from start to finish ... Though they’ve already settled in chilly Cincinnati, Kaneohe dramatists Mark Lutwak and YYork have both garnered more awards for work while here. Mark was among the individual honorees by Bamboo Ridge Press recently for his work to promote local writers though HPR’s Aloha Shorts. And Y received the 2008 Smith Prize from the National New Play Network for her latest play, ... and L.A. is Burning. Her share of the prize - $2,500 - she’s donating back “so that another playwright can be so honored in 2009” ... Look up at the Kaneohe hillside and you’ll see Pohai Nani “tree” lights again. The custodial staff has been mounting the huge project for 21 years now. The seven-story display goes on and off by timers, says maintenance worker Tommy Padeken ...

Here’s one Kailua grandmother who’s not rocking and knitting on the front porch. Ilana Fernandez, Psy. D., recently celebrated the opening of her Fit for a Goddess women’s sanctuary and studio on Ward Avenue, where she offers a remarkable fitness program through pole dancing. It’s an 800-year-old practice, she says, that builds strength and flexibility (783-4404) ... Randy Wong of Boston and Kailua performs with his band Waitiki in a tribute to Martin Denny and Arthur Lyman and all exotica at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 27 at Atherton studio (944-8821) ... Also happening Dec. 27, The Chang Family Singers, sort of, at Anna Bannana’s. Starting at 8 p.m., adults with $10 will be treated to Waha Nui‘s familiar Kevin Chang of Kupa’aina, Erin Chang Wells (Elina) and the main act, Erin’s husband Tyrone Wells, THE coolest Universal recording artist straight from his in-laws’ house in Ahuimanu .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

 

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December 10, 2008 - MidWeek The Islander

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B.K. Cannon

Managing Windward community development for the American Cancer Society, Hailey Hermosa sometimes resorts to a cup of tea. It’s healthy and, throughout December, you too can sip away and help ACS by flashing a special coupon on your next, or first, trip to A Cup of Tea on Uluniu Street in Kailua (230-8832). Call Hailey at 432-9164 to get the coupon. The tea room will donate 15 percent of your bill to Relay for Life. Plus, Jay Pahed, husband and right-hand man of owner Darlene Pahed, has brought many of the couple’s well-known Kailua Christmas decorations to the tea room, including at least five trees. “But there’s no room for the upside-down ones,” Jay laments ...

 

Rich Vermeesch offers YouTube as a way to experience Hawaii’s Thanksgiving turkey imu - at KEY Project, in this case. You can find several short clips by googling YouTube, then entering Thanksgiving Day Imu for the search (my lazy way). The real address upsets our printing system . . . Pualani Kauhane has been named the top Sales Advisor in Kailua for lia sophia, a direct-sales jewelry company ... Kupa’aina will entertain for the environmental activist group KAHEAHawaii at its pau hana fundraiser, starting at 5:30 p.m. today (Dec. 10) at thirtynine hotel downtown ...

Ryan Urbanich

If you’re a fan of Fox TV’s hit show, House, this is the week to tune in because a Kailua girl will have the disease du jour. B.K. Cannon, now living closer to the action in L.A. and attending Mount St. Mary’s College, will guest star on the Dec. 9 program of stump the doc ... Congratulations to seven Windward Community College students who are recent recipients of $1,000 grants. Selected by the Kaneohe Business Group scholarship committee, three of them will pursue nursing, courtesy of Ho’olaulea profits: Maile Iloa, Michele Inciong and Camille Marquez. The KBG scholarship awardee is Melissa Hinkley, and three others were picked by KBG for Kamehameha Schools grants: Cherilee Pokipala, Sharon Virgen and Tomani Kamiko ... Ryan Urbanich of Kailua has graduated from Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas ...

Sam Kakazu seeks old sofa cushions to absorb the water that ponds on the Castle High athletic fields. Now that’s recycling (233-5600, ext. 2208). Speaking of Castle, Allyson Ijima, Jenna Nakachi and Malina Manning attended the National College for Every Student conference in upstate New York, representing their school on several panel break-out sessions ... Don’t do anything risky if you’re hanging around Wesley Uemoto. The Kailua executive has been named president of King & Neel Inc., a Hawaii-based bonding, insurance and risk management company ... Need another gift idea? It’s Sam Kakazu again. He says Castle has a variety of school shirts, sweats and jackets in all sizes - up to 3X ...

Wesley Uemoto

Kaneohe artist Rose Ellen Chin has her work on display now through Jan. 31 at Rehab hospital’s Louis Vuitton Creative Art Program show ... Kailua’s Andy Poepoe retires from directing the local office of the U.S. Small Business Administration at the end of the month after 17 years. After serving the Windward side on the City Council and in the state Legislature, Andy worked in private industry before finding his niche at SBA. He is well-known for championing Native Hawaiian small businesses which in turn contributed to Native Hawaiian social programs ...

While most of us just drive slowly around the block for it, Kaneohe’s Annette Kaohelaulii will lead a hike for friends Saturday to see the Honolulu City Lights by moonlight as they stride by on the downtown streets and hear details from Annette about the decorated buildings ... Windward Mall’s first “Saint Nick’s Pet Pics” was a success, according to spokeswoman Crystal Yamasaki, who says 40 pets and their human companions showed up Dec. 2 to pose for photos with Santa Claus. The next camera camaraderie begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday (Dec. 9) at center court

Waha Nui

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December 03, 2008 - MidWeek The Islander

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Mocha

BYUH fine arts professor Viliami Toluta’u will see his bronze sculpture, Mamalahoe, dedicated at the Kaneohe Courthouse on Pookela Street at 2 p.m. Tuesday (Dec. 9) ... If you go down to watch the Honolulu City Lights Parade this Saturday night, look for Arnold Alconcel and the Castle High School band ... Happy 50th anniversary to Kailua United Methodist Church, which had its golden jubilee last month ...

Linda Harris and her family want to speed up the sale of their Hauula house. “For anyone who is the first to refer a buyer of our oceanfront home,” she says, “we’re offering a $100,000 bounty that will be paid to them out of escrow at the close of the sale.” Want to know more? Call her at 293-2981. ... Gail Yoneshige and her Enchanted Lake Elementary School music ensemble have rehearsed for months to put on Santa University - plus chili dinner - Friday at the school. Then at 2 p.m. Sunday you can hear them singing at Windward Mall ...

 

Some of your neighbors are now out on DVD in the local award-winning film, All for Melissa, including Milan Tresnak of Kailua, Scott Francis Russell of Kailua and Melissa herself, Kimberly Estrada, who is from Laie ... Have you seen Mocha? She’s a brown pitbull mix last seen in Keith Belles’ pickup truck at the Kaneohe 24 Hour Fitness on Nov. 20. “Someone must have unchained her in the back,” the distraught Waimanalo owner told me on Nov. 28 - while searching for her in a stream behind Castle High where someone said they’d seen her. Call in your tips to him at 783-7747. She’s very shy, Keith says ...

Aaron Siders

Kailua artist Garry Palm returns to First Friday Dec. 5 at the Mendonca building courtyard to create “on the spot” painting for Chinatown browsers, from 5 to 9:30 p.m., along with a number of other local talents put together by Lanikai’s JoDee Hunt (262-5930). Garry also joins Kailuan Danielle Scherman‘s Social Wahines for a business networking at Pictures Plus at Ward Gateway Center Dec. 9 (782-7576) ... Also at First Friday, at Hawaii State Art Museum, the Windward-based performing arts youth troupe, HEARTS (directed by Pam DeBoard), will sing carols ... Aaron Siders (Castle 1999) has graduated from Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas ...

How often does this happen? The new Kaneohe Walgreens will have five favorite local recording artists signing their CDs from noon to 8 p.m. today (Dec. 3): Augie T comes at noon, Amy Hanaiali’i at 1 p.m., Brothers Cazimero at 2, Maunalua at 6 and John Cruz at 7 p.m. (Augie T also will pop in at Borders Windward Mall at 2 p.m. Sunday) ...

Robert Hayashida wants all former Hawaii boxers (like himself) in Windward Oahu to know that the Old Timers Club will meet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the Oahu Veterans Center by Radford High School to talk story about the glory days. Cost is $10, and you can call him at 677-4501. (One such area boxer is Tsuneshi Maruo). Then there was my grandfather-in-law, Chang Kau, a colorful figure who invented the portable boxing ring in the 1930s ...

Kaneohe couple Alice and Walt Herring are the honored bellringers Monday (Dec. 8), not for the Salvation Army but for Chamber Music Hawaii’s Honolulu Brass Choir concert at St. Andrew’s Cathedral. They will pull a rope that sets off the bell tower chimes. The bells weigh anywhere from 595 to 1,370 pounds. The concert’s at 7:30 p.m. but the bells start at 7 (For $25 tickets, call 489-5038)

 

Waha Nui

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November 26, 2008 - MidWeek The Islander

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Odell

The Sierra Club-Hawaii has tapped Kahaluu attorney Robert Harris to lead the grassroots environmental group. Robert succeeds Jeff Mikulina, and he plans to focus on native plants and animals, energy (including his own, which will be continually tested) and global warming issues. He recently represented a group seeking to rescind the urban zoning of Kahuku land related to Turtle Bay resort expansion ...

Restaurateur Ed Wary of Kailua is throwing a 25th anniversary party for Auntie Pasto’s on Dec. 7 as a benefit for Kapiolani Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Tickets are $35 (591-9733) ... Odell the basset hound recently waddled through the island’s Pet Walk and even won a gold medal once in the Doggie Olympics in Long Beach, Wash. Here’s a hint, though. His category was The Rip Van Winkle Sleep Off.

Adopted by the Slagel family of Kaneohe, Odell also markets (with help from Paul Hughes) his own line of greeting cards. You can find them at Island Treasures in Kailua. Some proceeds go the the Hawaiian Humane Society, where he once resided ...

Scott Carvill

When Honolulu Theatre for Youth’s A Christmas Carol opens Dec. 5 at Tenney Theatre, Windward will be well-represented with Kaneohe actors Maiya Carreira, Pomai Lopez and Mitchell and Niell Gorman, and Jessica Blumenstein of Kailua in the cast (457-4254) ... Marines and sailors each carried 25 pounds of food on a 5.2-mile hike last Friday, and then donated it to Kaneohe’s Salvation Army, St. George’s food pantry in Waimanalo and the Armed Services YMCA on base ...

Remember when the shark off Kaaawa attacked Ahuimanu surfer Todd Murashige in September? Well, his friends are throwing a benefit party and silent auction for Todd and his family at 5 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Willows. The $45 tickets are available at the Hope Chapel Kaneohe Bay bookstore, or contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) ... While you’re in a giving mood, an ailing Puohala Elementary father, Suki Hoapili, needs help, and the Ohana has a golf tourney for him Sunday at Olomana ($150, call 722-1216) and a karaoke night Dec. 14 at Ohana Karaoke in Kailua ($15 at the door, 233-5660) ...

Mark Duda

Carvill & Company of Kailua has recognized Scott Carvill as the top sales agent and closing agent for October ... Now the parents are learning from the kid. While viewing some online cooking shows filmed by our daughter, Erin Chang Wells, in her California kitchen, we picked up a few tips on fresh garden pasta and sushi. Now we have a garlic chopper, too. As long as we both eat it at the same time, no matter if you smell like garlic, yeah? Punch in to http://www.tvlesson.com and search for lessons by “Elina.” There are uku millions of short, how-to videos by others, too, including “How to Get Angelina Jolie‘s Lips” ...

The vice president of finance for the Kailua-based Suntech Hawaii, Mark Duda, has been named to head the Hawaii Solar Energy Association. Founded just four years ago, Suntech is now considered the largest Hawaii-owned and operated solar company ... Kailaua’s greatest UH Warrior football fan, Brian Kajiyama, former graduate assistant coach under June Jones, has returned to the program as the team’s academic manager under coach Greg McMackin, and addressed the Honolulu Quarterback Club lunch last week from his wheelchair

Waha Nui

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November 19, 2008 - MidWeek The Islander

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Doug Fitch

Does the Miss Saigon talent ever let up? No! Christopher Bright, who played drums in the play’s orchestra at Paliku Theatre this fall, recently tied for first place in the Percussion Arts Society’s International Convention in Texas. And the Kamehameha junior also was picked to represent Hawaii in the Macy’s All-Star Thanksgiving Select Band. Naturally, grandparents Ron and Mo Bright will be in the crowd in New York City to cheer him on during the chilly holiday march. Look for Christopher on TV Nov. 27 from the warmth of your island home ...

The Republicans, all two of them, have met to organize the state Senate for the 2009 session - and they agreed that Sen. Fred Hemmings (Kailua to Hawaii Kai) shall be Minority Leader again, and Sen. Sam Slom (Diamond Head to Hawaii Kai) will continue as Floor Leader. “It wasn’t difficult to count the votes,” admits Fred ... Speaking of politics, the City Council reorganized Nov. 12 with Todd Apo as its new chairman, replacing Barbara Marshall in that post because of her ongoing battle with cancer. “We continue to pray for Councilmember Marshall and her quick recovery,” he said, noting that she’s done an amazing job, but this should help her focus her energies on recovery ...

 

Kailua musician Doug Fitch would just like to recover his ukulele, which he believes was taken during a Nov. 12 burglary at his Kailua home. It’s a Pono tenor with a light-colored spruce top and gloss finish. The case disappeared, too. It’s plain black with “Koolau” on it (383-3684) ... King Windward Nissan has jumped in to help the Castle High School football program. According to Athan Arquette, football parent and Nissan employee, any customer who comes in and mentions “Black Knights” gets a discount or special service. The Kaneohe car dealer also will donate $300 to Castle from any used car sale and $150 from any new car sale ...

This year’s Hawaii Theatre Center education team includes two veteran pros from Kailua: Richard McPherson, director and actor of stage and TV; and Tony Pisculli, the state’s premiere fight choreographer and producer of the Hawaii Shakespeare Festival ... Ginny Walden continues to show her art around town. The Waimanalo talent now has Windward pastels at Bogart’s Cafe on Monsarrat in Kapahulu through December (739-0999) and sculptures at Tagami and Powell Gallery and Gardens in Kahaluu (754-7887 or 259-8453) ... Monthly tip from Capt. Terry Seelig at the Honolulu Fire Department: Consider putting up a fire-resistant artificial Christmas tree this year, use noncombustible materials to decorate it, approved lights and don’t overload your extension cords ...

Congratulations to kumu hula James Dela Cruz and Na Opio O Koolau. The Kaneohe troupe was honored for Overall Achievement (highest combined scores) at the recent World Invitational Hula Festival at the Waikiki Shell ... Though Castle High’s Marine JROTC cadets look forward to fall training camp on the Kaneohe Marine base, they don’t always rave about the grub. Cadet Sarah Bragg didn’t mince words with the Hawaii Marine regarding her cheese and veggie omelet. “It was disgusting,” she told a reporter. ” (The instructors) gave it to me, because they knew I wouldn’t complain about eating it. Now I can say I’ve eaten the worst MRE here” ...

Back on campus, grateful teachers heaped praise on Make a Difference Day volunteers who tidied up their weary classrooms at Castle High last month. Said Bobbye Yamamoto: “Even the class geckos looked like they’d been bathed and shampooed!” Said Dawn Cone of her music room: “The floor is so clean I want everyone to remove their shoes at the door” ... The forward-looking Polynesian Cultural Center has introduced an Aloha Elvis store and a Paniolo Burger featuring kalua pork on a Hawaiian sweet bun. Alo-HA ...

Nearby, Turtle Bay Resort plays host to the University of Idaho Vandals this week, where the players will prepare for their Saturday game against the UH Warriors far from the maddening crowd ... Windward Biofeedback Associates may have a peak performance tip or two for either team in the form of brain training. “A calm mind prevents athletes from becoming distracted and allows them to remain focused on their personal game,” explains WBA founder and president Peggy Hill. She says she and her staff in Kaneohe work with local athletes on this principle all the time (781-3007)

Waha Nui

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November 12, 2008 - MidWeek The Islander

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Holly Turl

Kaneohe resident Nancy McKee was scheduled to share the Big Island TV stage with Vanna White and Pat Sajak last Wednesday in our tropical version of Wheel of Fortune, filmed recently at Hilton Waikoloa Village. If you tune in this coming Friday, look for more of our ambitious and skillful neighbors: Kaniala Kekaulike of Kaneohe and Noi Strohlin of Kailua. Then on Nov. 19, it’s Kaneohe contestant Tiffany Teruya‘s turn to match wits and yuck it up with the game show hosts ...

The cupboard is “pretty much bare bones right now,” admits St. George Catholic Church secretary Eva DeMotta, “and we’re feeding 900 people per month.” That’s the state of yet another Windward Oahu community food pantry. If you have some non-perishable food to spare, bring it to the Waimanalo church office any weekday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. (259-7188) ...

James Farmer

Pro football players Ty Detmer, Vai Sikahema and Chad Lewis will speak at BYU-Hawaii’s annual international business conference, going on this week at the Laie campus (675-3780) ... Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties has announced its high-achieving agents for September, and maybe you’ve crossed paths with the Windward area winners. James Farmer is Top Listor (also for August), and Holly Turl is Top Salesperson and Top Producer ...

Renee May

While Malama 96744 had 70 volunteers turn out Nov. 1 for a “very successful” graffiti paint-out, taggers returned that same night to mark up the highway wall by Kaneohe District Park (which was painted out again). Be vigilant, folks, and report it as soon as you see it happening ... Annette Kaohelaulii has issued a Kolea Alert: Keep a keen eye on those Pacific Golden Plovers that have bands on their legs. Montana researcher Wally Johnson and crew installed the bands, and they’d be “ecstatic” to hear from you. “It’s important to record the exact sequence on each leg, and whether there is a color-band above or below the metal band,” Annette says. You can report directly to Wally at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call him at (406)585-3502 ...

Carissa Tourtelot

Have a spare hour or two during the day? Monique Takahashi could use your free help in the Castle High School cafeteria “anytime you can make it.” Call 233-5628 ... Renee May has joined Honolulu Theatre for Youth as its office manager, where she’ll be keeping an eye on the books. Renee retired as CFO of two California nonprofit organizations three years ago and came to Kaneohe to relax. We’ll see how that works out ...

Award-winning Windward Oahu marketing pro Carissa Tourtelot has been promoted to account supervisor for Communications Pacific. Carissa, a USC graduate, also assists in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life ... One thing not mentioned in last week’s story about Taylor Thompson and his father’s Eagle Scout project together at Kalaheo High - Dad Kimbal Thompson also earned his Eagle rank in an earlier era. I guess that makes him a double eagle now ...

A special moment at the KEY Project Ohana Festival last month was when Jerry Santos stepped on stage to dedicate his Ku’u Home O Kahalu’u song to KEY co-founder, the late Randy Kalahiki. Jerry was one of the first youths to benefit from the project’s programs, which officially began in 1968 ... Latest license plate sighting - think about this now, is: GA2SRF

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November 05, 2008 - MidWeek The Islander

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Christopher Rollins

Kailua’s Fred Hilliard played on the Syracuse Orangemen’s 1959 championship football team with Ernie Davis, the first black player to earn the Heisman Trophy. Apparently they also were next-door neighbors at one time. Fred, who’s lived with his wife Mary in Kailua for four decades, also made the trip back to Syracuse Sept. 12 for a special showing of the current film about Davis, The Express. “He liked the movie,” says Mary, “and he spotted a few Hollywood exaggerations” ...

Ryan Jones of Kailua made the 2008 spring semester dean’s list at Babson College in Massachusetts ... Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, has awarded a Regent Scholarship to Andrew Johnson, a Kaneohe resident who is currently in his freshman year at the four-year, liberal arts school ... The Mendonca courtyard will have sweet music along with sweet fudge from The Cottage in Kailua during First Friday in Chinatown - 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. this Friday. The building venue, owned by Lanikai’s Ernie and JoDee Hunt, also plans music by Otis Schaper, with art by Lena Larkin and Maurice Hutchinson (262-5930) ...

Christopher Rollins of Kaneohe has graduated with honors from Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas ... Doing their best to reverse the economy are the following slot machine maestros who got a break in downtown Las Vegas recently: from Kailua, Yvonne McDermott won $8,338; from Kaneohe, Barbara Yee won $8,000, Lorraine Chow won $5,600, Spencer Kukihara won $4,400 and Arthur Teruya won $4,000 ... Maybe they’d like to spread the wealth around by stopping in at the semi-annual sale Saturday at Pohai Nani’s thrift shop (see calendar). Volunteer Beatrice Jost says they have a Technics organ for $300 or best offer ...

Cinnamon’s Restaurant has an informal “I am thankful for ...” essay contest going on, with a holiday meal and three of its gift certificates as prizes. Pick up entry forms and turn in up to 100 magical words (“neat and legible”) by Nov. 30 at the restaurant for a possible gastronomic reward ... Well, the election has come down to the wire in the hotly contested race for Windward Oahu’s 47th House District. Digging through my treasures, I pause to consider: Should I vote Nov. 4 for incumbent Colleen Meyer (who sent me a sponge) or challenger Jessica Wooley (who sent me a pot holder)? Plus, I still have some fly-swatters and rice scoops from past campaigns by Kaneohe attorney Terrance Tom, now vying for the state Board of Education, and old recipe booklets from Clayton Hee, Charlie Toguchi and Donovan Dela Cruz ...

Kailua resident Teddi McEwen (261-1778) has become a certified nutrition consultant for Symmetry, a direct-sales company that distributes an infused juice product promoting health. The three-month course she took covers herbal supplements and basic concepts of nutrition ... Speaking of nutrition, it’s time for Haleiwa Joe’s Charity Fishing Tournament, set for Nov. 14-16 off of Oahu. Entries should be postmarked by Nov. 10, or walk-ins by Nov. 14. Call Tim York for details at 382-7506, or ask him about it at the Haiku Road restaurant ... If you’re looking for an imu for your Thanksgiving turkey, you may be out of luck. The usual Windward sources sell out fast. They are Castle High (Colby Kagawa at 233-5600), Kailua High (Todd Hendricks at 729-7389) and KEY Project (239-5777) ...

Kaneohe soprano Dianne Brookins and Kailua baritone Andrew Norris both will perform with the Honolulu Symphony Chorus in a Thanksgiving concert at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 26 at Blaisdell Concert Hall. The free show, titled Ho’omaika’i - A Celebration, also introduces the chorus’s new artistic director Esther Yoo (524-0815, ext. 257) ... Joy Quiva (Castle 1992) has graduated from Army National Guard basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. ... Madison Eror of Kailua will play the role of Taylor in Army Community Theatre’s production of High School Musical 3, opening Nov. 20 at Fort Shafter’s Richardson Theatre (438-4480) ... Koolau Baptist Academy was able to ship 25 boxes of school supplies weighing about 12 pounds each to Iraqi children on Oct. 23 in cooperation with the Kaneohe Marines and a whole bunch of student fundraisers. They also made island-themed greeting cards for the keiki. “We wanted them to experience a taste of Hawaiian culture,” principal John Goodale told the Hawaii Marine

Waha Nui

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October 29, 2008 - MidWeek The Islander

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Kailua psychiatrist Benjamin Young, along with Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell, will receive the Pa’a Mo’olelo award from the Hawaiian Historical Society Thursday for their lifetime of contributions to preserve and perpetuate Hawaii’s history. Ben, who was one of only a few Native Hawaiian psychiatrists prior to 1975, became a premier historian of Hawaiian medicine and medical education and is co-founder of the Polynesian Voyaging Society ...

Kailua’s Eugene Mukai is helping classmates plan a special reunion for the University of Hawaii Class of 1958. The Nov. 19 event will honor those who attend as Golden Scholars of an era when gasoline cost 30 cents per gallon and the block-buster movie was South Pacific. Eugene and pals plan a brunch buffet at Sinclair Library, campus tour and special gifts. Reservations ($35) are due by Oct. 31. Call 956-0993 ... My apologies to Kaneohe author Robert Whitebrook, who just published a new novel, Toshi American. I gave him the wrong last name in last week’s column ...

Congratulations to former Kalaheo and UH basketball standout Alika Smith, who has joined the Academy of the Pacific as head basketball coach ... Don’t forget that Habilitat is taking orders for its 34th annual Christmas tree and wreath sale. One delivery point is Kalaheo High School. For prices and pick-up details, call George Playdon at 235-3691 ...

Ginny