Waha Nui

Chef-instructor Grant Sato and KCC students launch a What’s Cooking Hawaii TV show at 7 tonight (Jan. 9) on KFVE, the first in a 13-episode series each Wednesday. The first two programs, filmed in the college’s Ohia auditorium, feature the culinary school’s new cookbook Splash of Aloha, and the Kahala Nui Healthy Kampachi Cooking Contest dishes (Jan. 16) … Speaking of Kahala Nui, it has hired Kevin Valera as housekeeping supervisor. Kevin has a hospitality degree from UH and extensive job experience from the Kahala to Disney’s Grand Floridian … East Oahu executive Ray Vara has entered Studer Group’s 2012 Fire Starter Hall of Fame.

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Kevin Valera

Don’t panic; it just means the Hawaii Pacific Health president is being honored as a “passionate, committed and influential health care leader” … Robert Chuck brought brains and heart to the Kuliouou-Kalani Iki Neighborhood Board as its chairman for a decade. Robert, 89, died Dec. 27 after a long career as an engineer for the state …

David Patterson is back in Hawaii Kai after three years in St. Louis coaching basketball and teaching communications at his alma mater, Principia College. The Emmy-award winning TV producer and marketing man will now take on the title of marketing manager for AlohaCare … Korianne Tom and her Kaimuki-based halau plan a fundraiser Jan. 20 on Bishop Museum’s Great Lawn to help get them to the Merrie Monarch Festival in April. From 4 to 9 p.m., there’s plenty of music, food, keiki activities, prizes and hula for $15 (224-9316) …

A warm and fuzzy Christmas present to Leahi Hospital patients from the folks at Hawaii State FCU: hundreds of pairs of fuzzy socks, plus some earnest caroling … Rustin Hee (Kaimuki 2009) has graduated from Air National Guard basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas, and Joshua Arellano of Hawaii Kai has graduated from Army basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C.