Waha Nui – 8/27/14

Wahiawa native Alyshia Shimizu won the title of 2015 Miss Ultimate Elite at a Scottdale, Ariz., pageant Aug. 3. Currently 19 years old and a Leeward Community College student, Alyshia first made headlines when she was 5 and contracted a virulent flesh-eating bacterial infection from a fall at her Wahiawa home. Following years of surgery, recovery and physical therapy, Alyshia has continued to win pageants that serve as her platform to end bullying, build her self-confidence and grow “comfortable in my own skin.” She also has served as a Patient Ambassador for Shriners Hospital, which saw her through much of her ordeal …

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Alyshia Shimizu

Prolific North Shore muralist Hilton Alves has just completed his third “perfect wave” project in Wailuku, Maui. The Brazilian native now has only 98 wave murals left to go all over the world … Winning $1,000 each this spring from the Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation (Hawaiian Host founders) were Leilehua’s Karam Yang, Mililani’s Sharyse Nadamoto, Waialua High’s William Blaser III and Hanalani’s Angusina Campbell

Winning in other ways this spring were these downtown Las Vegas slot players: Wahiawa’s Laila Acido $51,047, Waialua’s Juanita Sadoy $33,000, Wahiawa’s Allen Wakabayashi $20,000, Josephine Chargualaf $13,755 and Jane Oda $11,198; Mililani’s Myra Weisskopf $10,148, Wahiawa’s Harry Nakasone $10,000, and Mililani’s Richard Mori $10,000 … Jeffery Ramos (Mililani 2005) and Samuel Chong (Mililani 2012) have both graduated from Air National Guard basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas …

Paul Wescott (Leilehua 1994) has retired from the U.S. Air Force as a senior master sergeant after 20 years of service, much of that time he spent supervising the 65th Operations Support Squadron (“The Proud Bulls”) in Portugal … Hanalani Schools graduate Michael Sonson has earned a $1,000 scholarship from Honolulu Police Community Foundation & & & cchang@midweek.com