Waha Nui

Kaneohe’s Lydia Kumasaka is the new director of nursing for Queen’s Medical Center-West, after managing the Pain and Palliative Care Department at the Honolulu hospital. An award-winning RN active in her profession, Lydia has an MS in nursing (oncology) from UH and her BSN from Seattle University …

Lydia Kumasaka

Kaneohe stunt pilot and Kaimana Aviation owner Hank Bruckner got to help a Kentucky teen’s dreams come true recently, via Hawaii Make-a-Wish. The pair did rolls, loops and a hammerhead turn in Hank’s plane, with the boy in control much of the time…

Le Jardin freshman Maddison Matthews placed first for grades 9-10 in the Board of Water Supply’s 2013 conservation week poetry contest. Her entry will be on view with others June 17-28 at Windward Mall …

Kaneohe’s David Choo and Kalsie Aquino were honored at Hickam May 17 as divisional Employees of the Year by Naval Facilities Engineering Command for contributions to the mission. An architect, David was cited for exceptional community service as a youth sports coach; Kalsie is manager of the year for cultivating a positive work environment and team productivity as a support specialist in management services …

Christin Reynolds

Christin Reynolds has joined Bio-Logical Capital as manager of project engineering and spatial planning. The Kailua woman has extensive experience in water and land use issues from working here and in American Samoa. Her new boss and company are collaborating with Oprah Winfrey at her Maui farm, which is harvesting some huge, healthy vegetables…

New books out by area authors: I’ll Fly to Hawaii: A Century of Aviation by Burl Burlingame of Kailua now the curator at Pacific Aviation Museum) and The Telephone Killer by Paul Stam of Kaneohe …

Kailua’s Damon Pescaia graduated from the Naval Academy last month where he shook hands with President Obama …

Laie’s Malo Matau tied for second with Waialua’s Mikaele Oloa in the World Fireknife Competition senior division last month at PCC. Laie’s Achilles Tafiti took first for ages 12-17, and Laie’s Aaliyah Ava and Chandae Ava were second and third, respectively, for ages 6-11.