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Waha Nui

Kaiser High junior Aaron Nee submitted one of the top three “paint the plane” designs in the current Alaska Airlines promotion, complete with state flower, voyaging canoe and the island chain. “He’s already won four round-trip tickets,” says proud mom Robin Connell. You can help him win the grand prize of a $5,000 scholarship and the honor of seeing his design painted on a Boeing 737 – if you vote online by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday (Dec. 18). Go to painttheplanehawaii.com NOW! …

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Scott Parker

Jefferson Elementary principal Scott Parker is still in school himself. The Kaimuki resident has won the local Phi Delta Kappa chap-ter’s Willis B. Coale Scholarship for Graduate Education, which he’s pursuing via USC … Kahala judge, wife, mother and author Leslie Hayashi has a new children’s book out, Dinosaurs, complete with a dinosaur baby luau, from Mutual Publishing (732-1709) … Sky Forges of Hawaii Kai has graduated from Army National Guard basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C …

Hurray for Kaimuki Library. Beginning this month, patrons have a sixth day to visit the branch on Koko Head Avenue. Thanks to restored staff funding, it’s now open from 1 to 5 p.m. Fridays (733-8422) … Longs Drugs has awarded $1,000 college scholarships to 36 Hawaii high school graduates who show interest and potential for business careers. Among the 2012 recipients are Jasmine Gante of Anuenue, Stephani Diep of Kaimuki, Jason Cisneros of Kaiser and Cameron

Nakasone of Kalani High … Busy Kahala actor Joji Yoshida recently was in L.A. filming with Matthew McConaughey for the film Dallas Buyer’s Club. You also can see him in Battleship, Hawaii Five-0, 50 First Dates and many more … Outstanding Educator Awards for 2011-2012 have gone out to two dozen Oahu high school teachers from Pizza Hut and Oceanic Time Warner Cable. Among them, we salute Gail Kamalani of Anuenue, Clyde Hayashida of Kaimuki, Todd Hamasaki of Kaiser and Laurence Muleh of Kalani … The Kahala has fresh-baked Christmas stolen to go – to eat or to give – for $18 plus tax, from the oven of chef Michael Moorhouse (739-8760)