Waha Nui
You never know where a somersault and cartwheel lesson might lead you. National champion gymnast Kiralee Hayashi of Kailua was stunt double for Kristen Stewart in the Twilight: Breaking Dawn films. She has leaped over many buildings, been shot, and fallen from great heights in other films, TV shows and commercials as well. Still more irons in the fire for the 30-something Kiralee, who got her start by training with the Kokokahi Gymnastics Team … Communications Pacific has hired Laie native Erin Kealoha Fale as a senior account executive.
A political science major at USC, Erin has served as chief of staff for Oahu lawmaker Aaron Johanson and in numerous political staff positions here and in California … Aikahi resident Aaron Kellogg is now a sergeant training with the Bulgarian army, stationed with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vicenza, Italy …
St. John Vianney Parish School held a surprise reception earlier this month for its retiring music teacher, Bernadine Zimbra. The Kahaluu woman has lifted up the voices and instruments of SJV students and parishioners for 27 years. Bernadine also helps out at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Plus, she taught piano to my three kids. No small feat … Kailua’s Bryce Sadarananda sings in the Viking Chorus at St. Olaf College, and he raised his voice at the college’s Christmas Festival in Northfield, Minn. …
Speaking of raising things up, Kailua Library’s roof repairs are completed and the busy branch reopened to local bookworms on Nov. 29 … If you didn’t see contractor Rick Towill around his usual haunts in Kahaluu earlier this year, it might be because he’s been on Palmyra Atoll. The Nature Conservancy recently extended “a very special mahalo” to him. Rick spent two months at the national marine monument helping refurbish the runway to accommodate TNC’s new research station there …
Waimanalo’s Christmas Parade Dec. 8 honored Eric Bunyan as grand marshal. Eric retired recently after decades of service running Waimanalo District Park programs
