MidWeek » Windward Oahu Waha Nui

Oceanic Time Warner Cable saluted its 2012-2013 Outstanding Educators at a Willows luncheon last month, including Castle High guidance teacher Tiffanyrae Yango-Au, Kahuku High P.E. teacher Alvin Mariteragi, Kailua High science teacher JJ Feurer and Kalaheo High math teacher Steve Caruso …

Kailua musician Louise Taylor has a concert at 4 p.m. Sunday to benefit Voices United for Separation of Church and State. The event is at a private home and costs $50, $30 or $20, tax deductible. (202-466-3234) … Mainland scholars from last spring’s dean’s list: Kailua’s Kameko Karasaki at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, where she’s studying arts and sciences; Kailua’s Brittney Garrigan and Brittney Like, and Kaneohe’s Kalahikiola Aukai at Azusa Pacific University; Kaneohe freshman Nichole Adolpho at Loyola University Maryland; Kailua’s Trevor Owens and Kaneohe’s Kayla Sakamoto at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks; Kaneohe’s Gabrielle Pillert at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where she’s studying psychology; Kaneohe’s Bridget Schowalter and Kailua’s Alex Tom at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. …

Former Kaneohe lawmaker Pono Chong, now living in Salt Lake, has been promoted to vice president of business advocacy and development for Hawaii Chamber of Commerce, and Kailua’s Lori Abe has joined the chamber staff as vice president of communications and marketing, moving over from similar work with Anthology Marketing Group … Raymond Halualanihee (Kahuku 2011) has graduated from Army basic training at Fort Benning, Ga. …

Safeway Hawaii Foundation awarded $1,000 scholarships to Waimanalo’s Brittany Correa (UH Manoa) and Kahiau McKeague (Chaminade), and Kaneohe’s Gabriella Kuoha (Hawaii Tokai International) and Malia Ramiro (Kapiolani Community College) … Makani Feeney Jr. (Castle 2012) has graduated from Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB

Yavapai Junior College in Prescott, Ariz., named Jas-mine Solley (Castle 2012) Player of the Week recently. The honor roll student is doing a great job for the Roughrider volleyball team and also was ranked fifth in the NJCAA, as of last month … Happy 25th Birthday to Kailua’s Coconut Grove Music, Oahu’s third-oldest music store, which celebrated last week with a big instrument sale. Mark and Roxanne Scrufari run the store (262-9977) and host an open jam at Boardriders the last Sunday of each month …

Sad to hear of the passing of Maunawili tot Kelci Shigeta, 4, who died Aug. 31 after a two-year struggle with complications of mitochondrial disease. The Nakaoka/Shigeta ohana supported her in her very short life, and the community rallied around her just last fall with a fundraiser at Ben Parker school to help with medical costs …

Look for Kaneohe taro expert Daniel Anthony on Cooking Hawaiian Style this week on OC16 with the triumphant “Great Food Truck Race” winners, Lanai and Adam Tabura … Castle High biology and marine science teacher Roy Huff has donated copies of his two books to the school library: Everville: The First Pillar and Everville: The City of Worms …

Kaneohe professor Gordon Grau, an expert on coastal communities and director of UH Sea Grant College Program, now is wearing a new hat as interim director of Water Resources Research Center at UH … Kaneohe’s George Heaton has joined Hawaii State Federal Credit Union as a financial consultant to its members. A retired Army lieutenant colonel, George brings two decades of banking experience to the job …

Kudos to alumni parent Doreen Takebayashi, who was able to link up Castle High with Gentry Homes, which donated six fitness machines, two dumbbell racks, weights, shelves and cabinets to the athletic department … Along the same lines, Waimanalo Elementary School needs a coffee pot, and Olomana School needs a small two-shelf bookcase. Call Kathie Wells of Community Helping Schools at 225-2621 … On the Oregon State University summer term honor roll was Kailua’s Rion Wilson-Yue, a senior in pre-electrical and computer engineering

It’s no surprise that Waiahole School dedicated its 130th anniversary commemorative booklet to alumnus and nearly lifelong teacher at the school Tom Tsuha. Now 82, Tom was honored at the Sept. 28 celebration on the green and growing campus that he helped cultivate in partnership with generations of students …

The drama never ends in Liz Stone‘s Aikahi home. Liz plays Mrs. Montgomery in TAG’s The Heiress, on stage now through Nov. 3 at Dole Cannery theater (722-6941); while daughter Kira landed the title role in Sacred Hearts Academy’s Alice in Wonderland Jr., playing Nov. 7-17 at Mamiya Theatre (734-5058, ext. 232). Kailua’s Peggy Anne Siegmund directs The Heiress, which also features Kailua’s Claire Fallon …

Kaneohe Yacht Club rear commodore Tom Pochereva is excited about the lineup of high-tech Moth boats (aka Larry Ellison-style hydrofoiling marvels) in Kaneohe Bay this week for the International Moth World Championships. His club is hosting 80 yachts from 15 countries. They like the bay’s flat waters and consistent trade winds, he says … Award-winning Kaneohe photographer Kapulani Landgraf has a solo show, “Ponoiwi,” now through Nov. 24 at Honolulu Museum of Art. It examines sand removal from Maui dunes to Oahu beaches for restoration, golf courses and making concrete, despite the possible iwi contained within …

Ahuimanu volleyball ace Loxley Keala (Iolani ’13) can take a bow as one of two Univ. of Missouri freshmen from Hawaii to spur the MU Tigers women’s team to an 19-0 season, so far. Yea, Cuz! … Good news: Keolu Elementary first-graders have an aquarium. Bad news: It’s empty. They need fish, fish food, a strong pump and real grass to do it up right. Call Kathie Wells of Community Helping Schools at 225-2621 …

Flash! “Godzilla helps Makee Tano‘s digital media class.” Nautilus Productions, which filmed here recently for its take on the monster saga, gave $2,000 to the Castle High program … Kailua retired Marine Sgt. Maj. Allan Kellogg Jr., 69, was among Medal of Honor winners honored recently by the U.S. House – Hawaii’s only living honoree. (He threw himself on a live grenade in Vietnam to save his men)

Warning: There may be a run on blue paint this week. By the time you read this, Kahuku muralist Hilton Alves will be almost finished with his latest project: the “world’s largest surf art mural” at 1320 Kalani St. The Brazil native is brightening up a 5-story-high by 200-foot-wide wall in industrial Kalihi, and he estimates he’ll need about 150 gallons of paint to put the Bonzai Pipeline up there …

Speaking of supplies, Kalaheo High PE classes need footballs, basketballs, a pingpong table and ball pump. Call Kathie Wells of Community Helping Schools at 225-2621 … Another busy artist, Kristi Petosa-Sigel, illustrated Beth Greenway‘s new book The Twelve Days of Hula from BeachHouse Publishing of Kaneohe. It’s a counting book in the same verse as that famous Christmas song. Kristi also teaches art at Lanikai Elementary, and she and her husband are raising three artistic keiki …

Jean Watanabe Hee‘s latest cookbook has 150 “mouth-watering, delectable desserts” passed on from friends and family in Hawaii’s Best Local Desserts from Mutual Publishing. The Kaneohe author once taught kindergarten at Aikahi Elementary. Bet they had some tasty class parties … You absolutely cannot escape Halloween. Even Bailey, the smiling golden retriever/therapy dog of Ahuimanu Hills, has her costume ready to cheer up her fans. See more on her Facebook page …

Turtle Bay Resort “ambassador” Kai Lenny took top men’s honors Oct. 13 at the Stand Up World Series Finals held at the Kahuku resort, which also houses the Waterman League that sponsored the series. Winning is not new to Kai, and his triumphs have earned him a place among the top watermen in the world …

Laie’s Cody Mafatu Easterbrook is one of 50 finalists for Chief World Explorer – an online contest to see who has the “best job in the world.” With a degree in international culture studies and communications, Cody actually has two jobs: He emcees Polynesian Cultural Center’s luau and teaches second grade at Kahaluu Elementary. To help him to win the free, yearlong adventure trip, pay a visit to jauntaroo.com

The Filipino Community Center will salute Kailua’s Emme Tomimbang Nov. 9 at its annual benefit dinner in Waipahu. “We want to honor Emme, a highly esteemed veteran broadcast journalist, for her many contributions to the Filipino community and the community-at-large over the past several decades,” explains FilCom Center president (and Kaneohe resident) Ruth Churma. Looks like they’re in for a long night (680-0451) …

WCC’s former vice chancellor Richard Fulton co-edited the new book Oceania and the Victorian Imagination, a collection of essays on Oceania’s impact on Victorian culture (ashgate.com) … Kailua’s Drew Tsubota has graduated from Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas … From Kaneohe-based BeachHouse Publishing: Kaneohe artist Holly Braffet illustrates Keala Up a Tree, a new picture book by Patricia McLean out this month …

Kailua’s Diane Ako, former TV reporter and current public relations director for the Halekulani, has been named a Pacific Century Fellow, joining 31 others in a nine-month program of leadership development …

Kaneohe’s Sean Umetsu is now a financial consultant in investment services for Hawaii State Federal Credit Union. A certified financial planner, Sean previously worked in the same area for First Hawaiian Bank and Bank of Hawaii (CFP) … Kainalu Elementary first-graders need a 7-by-10-foot rug. Got rug? Call Kathie Wells of Community Helping Schools at 225-2621

Castle alumnus Bryan Clay, an inspiring Olympian and decathlon gold medalist, was in town Oct. 26 to help open Bryan Clay Outdoor Exercise Park near Kapiolani Community College, courtesy of Clark Hatch and Diamond Head State Monument Foundation … Kahaluu Elementary’s Dayna Hironaka - a nationally certified Early Childhood Generalist teacher who works with first-graders – won cash, instructional software and other classroom technology tools for being named 2014 Windward District Teacher of the Year …

Darlene Pahed‘s Victorian Tea Room in Kailua is not only a gathering spot for people who love to eat and drink good stuff, it also served Oct. 25 as a collection point for Toys for Tots, as guests enjoyed lemon curd, clotted cream, tea and scones, amidst an amazing array of holiday decorations (230-8832) … Congratulations to Kaneohe’s Sherry Goya, who’s marking the 20th year for her two companies: Real Estate Referral Center Inc. and Sherry A. Goya LLC …

Kailua couple Donald and Sandy Armstrong were honored Nov. 3 at the Jewish Community Services Dinner as Volunteers of the Year … Castle High School band performs with eight other bands Nov. 4 at the Oahu Marching Band Festival, starting at 5 p.m. at Pearl City High’s arts center – each getting their 10 minutes of fame (454-5655) …

Kailua’s Jade Summers, who says she’s a classical-crossover singer, has just released Vintage, her first album, serving up favorite melodies from 1917 to 1964. Find out more about this 20-something talent at jadesummersmusic.com … Kailua Intermediate School needs a shredder. To help them out, call Kathie Wells of Community Helping Schools at 225-2621 …

Quick fact: According to Pamela Chow of the UH Cooperative Extension Service, 20.7 percent of Kaneohe residents are 60-plus years old … It may not be too late to stop by Windward Clubhouse (46-016 Alaloa St.) from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Nov. 5 for its silent auction and plant sale, plus great dinner plates and entertainment. Call Jennifer Ing, 233-3778 … Or you’re invited to attend “The Spiritual Universe” at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 4 at Windward Unity Church in Kaneohe (262-6731)

The creator of the 1994 local comic book superhero Pineapple Man, Sam Campos (a Kahuku High alumnus and now Kaaawa artist) will share his new work Friday as well as screen a few episodes of his Dragonfly series, beginning at 7 p.m. at Coffee Talk in Kaimuki (255-8989) …

Among the 2013-14 Omidyar Fellows – the second group tapped for their achievements and leadership potential by Hawaii philanthropist Pierre Omidyar - are Kailua residents Giorgio Caldarone and Erika Lacro. Giorgio is with Kamehameha Schools’ Endowment, managing its residential, agriculture and conservation lands.

He has an environmental science degree from West Point and a master’s in business administration from UH Manoa. Erika is chancellor and CEO of Honolulu Community College, where she oversees a $33 million budget, a staff of 300 and close to 8,000 students … Turtle Bay Resort has promoted Mikilani Ikalani to catering sales manager where she oversee sales for a wide range of resort events. Mikilani also worked at Zippy’s for 15 years and has a marketing degree from UH Manoa …

Kailua executives in the food service industry, Judy McDonald and Wally Marciel, have been promoted. Judy is now president of Palama Holdings, and Wally vice president of sales and marketing for the company’s H&W Foodservice division … Kaneohe’s Sam Moku has been promoted to vice president of university relations at HPU. His boss, president Geoffrey Bannister calls him “a fountain of energetic optimism.” Sam’s also got broad experience as former city director of community services and executive director of Hawaiian Home Lands …

Kaneohe’s Patricia Eidsmore-Torres has won a $500 Life Enrichment college scholarship from the Royal Neighbors of America, a women-led life insurance company … Kailua High needs induction burners. To help them out, call Kathie Wells of Community Helping Schools at 225-2621

Two Kahuku High School seniors have placed in the top one percent of U.S. test-takers on their SAT exams, which puts Chenoa Yorgason and Cooper Schwartz in the running for National Merit Scholarships next February. Cooper, the youngest person in the U.S. to get certified as a computer voice stress analysis technician (handy for detective work), had a perfect 800 score on the writing portion and a total of 2300 out of 2400; while Chenoa, who ranks first in her class, racked up 2310 points. For good measure, she could probably take the tests in Mandarin Chinese and Hawaiian as well …

Kaneohe singer Mailani Makainai has released her Island Christmas CD, featuring several Windward Oahu musicians on guitar and vocals … Kailua’s favorite bluegrass band, Saloon Pilots, will play HPR’s Atherthon Studio in concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (955-8821) … Speaking of the band, the furiously fiddling Lesley Kline of Kailua Music School and the Saloon Pilots was seen in the Oct. 25 episode of Hawaii Five-O, playing away at O’Toole’s downtown pub … Kalaheo High got its ping pong table, thank you very much; now Kailua Elementary requests a small Lego set. To help them out, call Kathie Wells of Community Helping Schools at 225-2621 …

Hawaiian Airlines has appointed Kailua’s Bret Ranoa to senior director of customer service initiatives. Bret has 20 years in the industry, most of them at Hawaiian. Think of him when you use the new luggage tagging system … The latest lucky slot players in downtown Las Vegas: Brian Araki $27,860, Bernadette Makaula $9,306, and Ed Tawara $6,667, all of Kailua; Kaneohe’s George Higaki $5,423, and Waimanalo’s Elizabeth Daoang $4,000 … Kaneohe’s Jonathan Mito has graduated from Army basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., and Rusty Rivera (Castle 2007) has graduated from Army basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C

Jonathan Townsley

The USTA Hawaii Advanced Junior Tennis team from Kailua made an impressive showing at the recent national championships in South Carolina, winning the Team Spirit Award. Coach Pam Nakaso was not surprised: “They’re incredibly friendly, making friends with every single team they played against,” she told USTA.com …

Castle High’s award-winning dance ensemble will entertain Kahala Mall crowds at 4 p.m. Saturday, followed by St. Anthony School’s choir at 4 p.m. Dec. 6, and St. Anthony pianists at noon Dec. 7 … It’s official: Kailua CPA Jonathan Town-sley is the new chief financial officer for the YWCA of Oahu, after being the interim CFO since March and a longtime volunteer … Teacher Bev Vierra says students from Gotemba Minami High School in Japan are visiting Castle High now and will shadow Knights Dec. 4 in three of their classes …

Speaking of Castle, freshman Sydney O’Neal and junior Robert Sigel earned October Artist of the Month awards from teacher Casilda Rippard for their attendance, participation, final project grade and citizenship in drawing and painting class … If you missed award-winning sculptor Kaili Chun‘s 8-foot-tall steel cages set up at Waimanalo Beach Park Nov. 30 of last year for “Veritas II,” you can see photos of them through Dec. 14 at Ii Gallery in Kakaako (343-0240) …

There may be a few trees left to sell at St. John Vianney School this Saturday, so you’re welcome to call Annie Chee at 261-4651 or stop by that day … Kalaheo High got its ping pong table; now Lanikai Elementary’s junior kindergarten needs a cassette-CD player, To help, call Kathie Wells of Community Helping Schools at 225-2621 …

Children’s Miracle Network champion for a year Ikaika Kaahanui, 9, had a great time in D.C., last month with the 49 other CMN champions. The Waimanalo boy visited President Barack Obama in the White House and met celebrities like Nick Cannon and Marie Osmond. In his new ambassadorial role, he also enjoyed DisneyWorld …

Kailua law firm Hartley & McGehee hopes to collect at least 1,200 pounds of donated food (like last year) for Hawaii Foodbank in its sixth annual food drive. Their doors are open right now at 40 Aulike St. #314, with the help of partners Systems Engineer, Doonwood, The Fix, Drake Properties and Kailua Professional Buildings 1 and 2. Call Eileen Tortuga at 263-6900

Kaneohe author Stuart Ball has updated his popular The Hikers Guide to Oahu, now in its third edition with 10 new hikes plus GPS coordinates. You can hike in to BookEnds in Kailua to pick it up … Martin Samuel got wind of the 2011 reunion of Kailua bands a little late, but writes that he sang and drummed for two of them: Sweet Fire and Bright Eye Band. “I was one of the musicians who kept teenage hearts pumping in the 1970s” – at Pinky’s Broiler, 23rd Step, 2nd Floor and more …

Kanaloa Bishop of Kaalaea and Sena Chung have joined Paepae o He’eia – the fishpond folks. Kanaloa will assist with education programs, and Sena is the new fiscal and human resources manager … Kalaheo’s student government needs a refrigerator and a microwave. To help them out, call Kathie Wells of Community Helping Schools at 225-2621 …

Thinking of making a gift of your blood during December? Hawaii Blood Bank will give you a bag of fruit bars in thanks, plus a chance to win a trip to Las Vegas (for those who donate between Dec. 23 and Jan. 4) … Kaneohe couple Tom Aki and Elizabeth Lee have created a book and a unique traveling show for keiki in Little Kahuna and Da Menehune. They recently did a school tour (including Heeia Elementary) with life-sized mascot characters to make sure the kids never forget the positive messages they shared …

Windward radio personality Davey D has joined Gregg and Shawnee Hammer on a new morning show at KRATER 96.3 – just a short walk up the hallway from his last gig at sister station KCCN FM 100 … Pebbles Cash (Kailua 2006) has graduated from Air National Guard basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas … Rehab we can live with: Cynthia Manley reports that Oahu Spine & Rehab folks recently treated “the entire Le Jardin faculty and staff” to chair massages, followed by pizza for lunch – all at no charge. Next patients in line? The Junior School

Cole Horibe

WCC graduate Dan Boland recently won a 2013 Creative Arts Emmy for Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Series (The Voice). A Castle graduate, Dan has had a great touring career as lighting tech to the stars, ranging from Tori Amos and Eminem to Blue Man Group, Shakira and Alicia Keys … Temple Valley Dental Group has a new CadCam machine that’s making fine, permanent crowns for patients’ teeth in one visit. “We’re pretty excited about it,” says a rejuvenated David Brown, who trained with fellow dentist Jason Revestir on the computerized procedure: 1) numb, 2) scan, 3) manufacture and 4) install. They also can easily restore cracked teeth …

A veteran of Castle Performing Arts Center, 24-7 Danceforce and TV’s So You Think You Can Dance, Cole Horibe is now set to star as Bruce Lee in David Henry Hwang‘s world premiere Broadway drama, Kung Fu. It opens in February at New York’s Pershing Square Signature Center. According to playbill.com, Cole’s “electrifying” martial arts and dance skills, raw acting talent and resemblance to the late icon made him an obvious choice …

Former Kaneohe theater couple Mark Lutwak and Y York have invited me via Facebook to their traditional Strudel Party Dec. 15 in Cincinnati. Maybe a virtual nibble is in my future … Each December, Pohai Nani lights up the Kaneohe hillside with its highrise sparkles. How many lights, you ask? New marketing and sales director Kelika Ishol says there are “more than 100,000″ lights on those long wires … If it’s not too late, you can catch pro entertainers Shari Lynn and Don Conover fill Pohai Nani’s renovated auditorium with music at 7 p.m. Dec. 9. And then May Shumway directs the Northshore Singers at 5 p.m. Dec. 10 at Kahuku Library …

Online fundraiser Kick-starter is helping launch a creative project by Kailua actress B.K. Cannon. Having been in front of the camera for a few years, the L.A.-based pro is producing a short film (Evelyn’s Wake), and her team needs $5,500 by Dec. 20 via kickstarter.com/projects/1025639554/evelyns-wake … Hilary Burns says Valley of the Temples Memorial Park’s recent candlelight vigil raised $5,235 for Typhoon Haiyan victims … A seventh-grade English class at King needs a wireless keyboard. To help them out, call Kathie Wells of Community Helping Schools at 225-2621

Award-winning Kailua Realtor Rachel Barnette stars in HGTV’s hit series House Hunters at 11 p.m. Dec. 24 (check updates) helping client Sergio buy his first condo. The Prudential Advantage agent says their good relationship makes the show. “We had a lot of fun together, and it shows,” she says of the episode, which delivers laughs and realistic challenges …

Walt Keale‘s Windward YMCA ukulele class is caroling at 6:30 tonight (Dec. 18) in Kailua town, starting by Longs Drugs. Proud student Bonnie De Freitas says they’re having a great time. Plus: “We can sing, play and stand up at the same time!” – thanks to kumu Walt’s patient, expert teaching … Pohai Nani human resources director Billie Yugawa completed her 10th Honolulu Marathon last week in 6 hours, and the whole office is proud of her …

Windward Ahupua’a Alliance has a $500 stipend for a social media expert who will help promote World Wetlands Day Feb. 8-9 in Kailua. Call Shannon Wood at 224-4496 … Kahuku teen brothers Keanu and Kawika Akina have an online service for fellow basketball players who want good shoes at a good price. They post real reviews from real players. “I don’t know how many times I’ve gone to the store, bought a pair of $200 shoes, and then got on the court only to find they didn’t have enough support or grip!” declares Kawika. Go to kickssource.com for your feet’s sake …

Kailua’s Cyndia Pilkington and Kaneohe’s Tarlok “Sodhi” Singh have joined Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties’ Windward office as Realtor associates. Both are married with children. Sodhi, meanwhile, can describe your dream house in English, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu … Kailua Music School’s keiki rock band, the Random Weirdos, plays at 4 p.m. Saturday at Kahala Mall

James Brewbaker

Kailua scientist James Brewbaker, also known as Hawaii’s father of sweet corn, has given $1 million to UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to start an endowment for fellowships in plant breeding at the campus from which he’s spent a half century improving local crops, seeds and food sources around the world. “The 2 billion people this world held when I was born in 1926 have sadly grown to more than 7 billion, of whom 1 billion go to bed hungry,” Brewbaker says. Noting his effort and outstanding contributions to international crop science, the Crop Science Society of America named him its Presidential Award winner Nov. 27 in Florida …

As federal, state and county officials beef up security for the Obama ohana, Kailuana Place neighbor and retiree Doug Miller has been doing his part to beat off the redbrown paper wasps that swarmed a bit recently by his house and also by the marsh. “I’ve killed about 80 with my badminton racket,” he says, adding that at one point Hardware Hawaii ran out of its five kinds of hornet spray. And, no, the insects are not spy drones in disguise. “I’ve smashed them; they have no electronic parts.” If you notice a wasp problem, call state DOH official Peter Oshiro at 586-8020 …

Kalaheo’s student gov’t. needs a microwave, and Olomana School needs new rubber slippers (to swat wasps?), adult sizes 8-13. To help them out, call Kathie Wells of Community Helping Schools at 225-2621 … Kaneohe writers Sebastian and Shaley DeGiorgio - aka “S DeGiorgio” – have a new keiki book, Yo Ho Ho and a Very Merry Christmas!, and are finishing the science fiction Orion Connection. Join their adventures at amazon.com …

Lanikai artist Michael Ives has created a 5-minute Vimeo as a gift to his community “for all the beauty it has given my wife and me over the years” (vimeo.com/80301248) … Ka’ohu Cazinha has a big mahalo for the crowds at the Kaneohe parade and Keiki Christmas Hoolaulea who helped her halau collect more than 100 gifts for Toys For Tots …

You have until Dec. 30 to view the annual Frog and Critter Art Show at Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden gallery. Winners on the recycling theme are Nicole Popp‘s Friendly Mice (made from dryer lint), Anne Waters‘ Puffer Fish Ensnared in Net (marine debris) and Susan Scott‘s Giant Frogfish (beach and plastic debris). Call 233-7323

Longtime Kailua imu king Todd Hendricks reports a recent loss of steam – from the imu itself, when a lumber weight punctured the plastic cover and created a “small blowout.” Otherwise the ongoing “underground” fundraisers are in good shape, Todd says, via the leadership of Victor Nobrega-Olivera, his committee and help from KHS athletic director Ramona Takahashi. Which means Todd can fade through the smoke into retirement … Veteran nursing administrator in California Lynette Landry will become HPU’s dean of nursing in January on the Windward campus …

New teacher Christian Santomauro‘s classroom and Castle High’s library each got a bonus of multiple books and titles, donated from local authors Chris McKinney (Tattoo) and Bennett Hymer (Honolulu Stories) … Jeffrey Ingels is the new Kailua branch manager for Central Pacific Bank, bringing nearly two decades of banking and finance experience to the job. Plus he lives in Kailua, too … Among the 20 high school graduates winning $1,000 scholarships (plus one year’s tuition) to UH from Fun Factory this year are Kailua High’s Christopher Campos and Kalaheo’s Ashley LaComette …

Kaneohe’s Belinda Barnes won the Aloha ‘Aina Award for high ethical standards and going above and beyond in service to her Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties clients. Another award-winning Realtor is Kaneohe’s Donna Tomita, a Castle alumna who has joined Coldwell’s Leeward office … The new lightweight propane cylinders are at Yamashiro‘s Building Supply in Kaneohe. It’s also see-through so you know when you’re out of fuel … Kailua’s Ka’ala Souza (3minutemessage.com) has a series of 3-minute, gospel-inspired videos for today’s busy pilgrim. “Think of it as your spiritual protein shake,” he says

Alison Croyle

Laie native Ken Niumatalolo is in the inaugural class of inductees to the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. A former UH player and now head coach for Navy, Ken will be inducted with his colleagues in a Jan. 23 enshrinement ceremony at Hawaii Convention Center … Start the new year with a bang from Kevin Chang (Castle 1990, Univ. Oregon 1995, UO law school 1999) of the Kupa’aina band. He’s released some new solo recordings with veteran Kaneohe producer Tracy (“Dr. Trey”) Terada - via mrchangmusic.com. The new website also includes a walk down memory lane from the Kahaluu-based band’s first album …

Kailua’s Alison Croyle is now director of external communications for Hawaiian Airlines, having recently done similar work with TripAdvisor, JetBlue and several others … Speaking of aircraft, even Kawainui model airplane field was not immune to the Presidential holiday visit. It was closed for the duration of the Obama ohana’s Windward stay … Ahuimanu Elementary School second-graders need a 50-inch cable line for their classroom TV set, plus an adult to install it. To help them out, call Kathie Wells of Community Helping Schools at 225-2621 …

Longtime health advocate and teacher Marie Riley of Kailua is an inspiration herself, but now she has an Angela Lansbury video as well. The actress, dancer and TV murder sleuth, now 88, can be viewed leading her own exercise program, Positive Moves, during Marie’s first WCC class of 2014 (see Calendar) … Life after school lunch: Uncle Mel Murata, Keiki Palaka Band’s creator and mentor, plays from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Fridays at Fatboy’s Fairway Bistro at Pali Golf Course, this time with three adults – all in palaka plaid, of course. It’s good fun, and Mel’s wife Lynn is volunteer hostess. The Kaneohe couple are both retired DOE cafeteria managers …

St. John Vianney’s Bishop’s Breakfast Jan. 19 (see Calendar) will have celebrities flipping pancakes to help the school: Chai Chaowasaree, Duke Aiona, Ikaika Anderson, Frank De Lima, Miss Hawaii Crystal Lee, Aaron Mahi, Rev. Gary Secor and Sweetie Pacarro … This just in: Oregon’s Pacific University dean’s list from last spring includes Kailua’s Caitlin Hooker and Drew Oyama, Kaneohe’s Kerry Daimon and Katherine Sakumoto, and Kahuku’s Andrina Ramos

While he’s always looking for volunteers who love working with native plants at Na Pohaku O Hauwahine (263-8008), Kaimi Scudder arrived too late to sign up Barack and Michelle, who took their famous 15-minute trek through the site to the Kawainui overlook Jan. 4. “The Secret Service came early and swept the place,” he says. I don’t think he means with a broom either. But maybe they could weed next time …

Charlie Wedemeyer‘s widow Lucy is in town to speak at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Philippine consulate, sponsored by the Kailua-based ALS Ohana of Hawaii (256-3932). The occasion is the ohana’s first caregiver support group meeting … Kaio Chang (Kahuku 1991, BYUH 2010) has yet another graduation behind him: Air National Guard basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas …

Windward residents Kekoa Beaupre and Shelley Ellwin have joined the board of directors for the nonprofit Network Enterprises Inc., which provides strategic governance for staffing of other nonprofits. New treasurer Kekoa is a CPA with experience in both businesses and nonprofits. New secretary Shelley is controller at Mid Pac Petroleum …

Castle High School library needs a 32-cup coffee maker. To help them out, call Kathie Wells of Community Helping Schools at 225-2621 … Kaaawa resident and veteran journalist Crystal Kua has joined First Wind as its director of external affairs for Hawaii and will be working with the community on the goals of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative … Kaneohe’s Ian Roessler has graduated from Navy Officer Nuclear Power School in Goose Creek., S.C. – a rigorous six-month immersion course in designing, operating and maintaining nuclear propulsion ships and submarines …

The Associa company Hawaii First cheered clients of Family Promise Dec. 18 with a full gourmet turkey dinner, and presented a 42-inch flat screen TV set to Koolau Clubhouse for its adult members, who have learning disabilities. In all, food, gift cards and keiki presents were distributed at the Pacific Club to 140 families, reaching a total of 1,400 people … Hauula’s Richard Wassman has graduated from Army basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C.

Retired Kailua electrician and Elks Lodge member Herb Weatherwax, 96, now generates interest in Pearl Harbor among the Arizona Memorial’s youngest visitors. The WWII veteran volunteers there weekly, and you can buy his autobiography on site … Services were held Jan. 17 for Kailua’s Faith Evans, 76, who represented Kaneohe and Kailua for eight years in the State House, chaired Kailua Neighborhood Board and was named the nation’s first female U.S. marshal in 1982. Faith died Jan. 9 at Castle hospital after a long illness …

Hawaiian Airlines has appointed Kailua’s Lisa Parker to direct shared services, training and development. Lisa brings years of similar work experience from Prospect Education and Argosy University, including a Ph.D. from Argosy in business administration … Hauula Elementary fourth-graders need a large area rug and a paper shredder. To help them out, call Kathie Wells of Community Helping Schools at 225-2621 …

Castle High alumnus Gary Shiroma has digitalized the Knights’ yearbooks from 1968 to 1971. Want a copy? Email him at gkshiroma@hotmail.com … A video taken of my granddaughter Aria Wells in her car seat more than a year ago is attracting a new audience on several websites, including Huffington Post and YouTube (645,255 hits as of Jan. 16). And it’s also boosting sales of her daddy’s song, Beautiful Girl. You can google “Tyrone Wells Beautiful Girl” to see what all the fuss is about, thank you very much …

Windward resident Cindy Fujioka‘s new job is human resource specialist for McDonald’s of Hawaii, where she will enroll staff in orientations plus wellness and benefits programs … Kaneohe’s Lori Pobuk (accounting) and Kailua’s Kayleigh Roberts (communication disorders) made the fall dean’s list at Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C. …

Waimanalo’s Kayelynn Kohatsu graduated in winter ceremonies at Azusa Pacific U., and Kaneohe’s Christopher Lancaster completed Army Reserve basic training at Fort Benning, Ga.

Windward Choral Society and its artistic director Susan Duprey will sing Sunday with Japan’s Chorus Without Borders in a concert to benefit that nation’s 2011 tsunami victims. The show starts at 5 p.m. at Hawaii Theatre with 200 musicians on stage performing Beet-hoven’s 9th symphony and much more. The concert is free but donations are welcome (261-9879) … Kaaawa Elementary’s special education class needs a croquet set. To help them out, call Kathie Wells of Community Helping Schools at 225-2621 … Congratulations to (relatively) new Eagle Scout Kawika Macy. The Laie teen organized a paving project last summer to secure the fire hydrant on his street (Moana), making the private hydrant more accessible. Plenty of digging and clearing were required by Kawika and Troop 7 volunteers, says scoutmaster Eric Hammond … High-five also to Kaneohe’s Amanda Jones, Castle High alumna and summa cum laude graduate of the UH law school. She just made partner in the Cades Schutte law firm — after an earlier career as a TV news reporter in Biloxi, Miss. … Hawaiian Airlines has hired Kaneohe’s Chris Radovich to director of IT operations and service management. Chris previously worked for First Insurance and the state DOE … Kailua’s Brandee Goo made the fall dean’s list at University of Evansville, where she’s majoring in neuroscience … Kapunahala and Castle (2011) alumnus Mitchell Fong visits his elementary school this Friday with author Lisa Arakaki to read from her An Astronaut’s Legacy: The Story of Ellison S.

Onizuka. Now studying graphic design at UH, Mitchell did the vivid illustrations in the children’s book. The pair will also autograph copies. On Jan. 26 they attended ceremonies at Onizuka Space Center on Hawaii island to commemorate the space shuttle Challenger tragedy of 28 years ago, when Onizuka perished ❑❑❑ cchang@midweek.com

Kailua Historical Society will examine its next topic, “Thirsty Crops: Who Gets the Water?,” at 7 p.m. Feb. 6 at Trinity Presby-terian Church.

The public discussion is planned in conjunction with World Wetlands Day Feb. 8, also in Kailua. (See separate article on Page 1.)

On the agenda will be past agricultural practices in the Kailua ahupua‘a and the 1895 Supreme Court case, Wong Leong et al vs. W.G. Irwin. KHS president Paul Brennan will summarize the testimony of the 30-plus witnesses before the court, and also engage contemporary farmers in a dialogue about today’s water issues.

Farming has largely disappeared from Kailua, Brennan said, and there are only two farmers left in Maunawili. Where soils were once planted with crops, “they have now been planted with residential lawns, or allowed to grow wild,” he noted. “Consumer needs have shifted the focus from production to consumption.”

The church is on Auloa Road at the entrance to Maunawili. For more information, call 262-7316.

Paintings by three Windward artists — Arna Johnson, Peg-gy Krantz and Meala Bishop — are hanging in the newly renovated wings of Kaiser’s Moanalua Medical Center, selected for conveying “healing and respect for culture and diversity.” Meala happened to be visiting there recently and ran into one of her paintings along the Intensive Care corridor: “So nice to see it in a healing place,” she reports … Kailua Realtor Alison Wisnom will be featured on HGTV’s Feb. 9 broadcast of Hawaii Life, helping a military family buy a place in West Oahu. And as a Le Jardin parent, Alison also is co-chairing the academy’s April 20 Moonlight Gala … Kahuku Elementary needs an abacus for counting. To help them out, call Kathie Wells of Community Helping Schools at 225-2621 … Congratulations to Hauula couple Kendal and Ellen Matsuda, who are retiring this month after four decades of running the NAPA Auto Parts store in Laie Shopping Center … Kailua’s Shirley Hasenyager is Windward coordinator for the annual Convention Center elementary school art competition, and the entry deadline is March 15. Teachers should email her at shirleyinhi@aol.com for details …

Kailua’s Taj’a Ku‘uleialohanani Kam Lin Wong was named second princess at the 2014 Narcissus Queen Pageant Jan. 11, and last weekend’s coronation ball made it official. Taj’a, who’s working on her master’s in business administration at Argosy University, wins a round-trip ticket to China, college scholarships, a year of martial arts classes and more. She sang Michael Buble‘s Feeling Good … “At our school, they learn many genres and styles of dance — ballet, modern, jazz — but what they love is Broadway tap,” says Castle Performing Arts director Karen Meyer. In fact, tap dancing has become a good way for students to earn money for the CPAC trip to Scotland’s Fringe Festival this summer. At a recent First Friday gig in Chinatown, for example, Karen says they made nearly $300 in two hours. “Tap dancing is SUCH an attention getter!” There will be plenty of tap in their Fringe play, too: George and Ira Gershwin‘s musical Crazy for You ❑ ❑ ❑ cchang@midweek.com

Now in its fundraising and development stage, the film project I Am Haloa will feature Kaneohe kalo activist Daniel Anthony leading three Kamehameha seniors on a journey to explore their ancestral link to the first Hawaiian, Haloa, (and they’ll eat plenty of kalo along the way). Kickstarter deadline is Feb. 14 to raise $77,000 for the feature-length documentary. For details, visit iamhaloa.org …

Tips from Kailua’s Hannah Marquez for Valentine’s Day couples: “Order takeout. We let go of our expectations for a romantic restaurant scene and instead ordered takeout. On the sandy shores of Haleiwa, our dinner was accompanied by sunset and soft candlelight. It was the most romantic night we’d ever experienced” …

Adam Cazimero (Kahuku 2003) has graduated from Air National Guard basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas … “He will be forever missed and remembered as a hero in our hearts and minds,” says Kalaheo football coach Darrell Poole about Hawaii Army National Guard Sgt. Drew Scobie. A former Mustang, Kailua resident, husband and father, Drew died Jan. 10 when his surveillance plane crashed in Afghanistan … Directed by Hirotaka Arai, Hakuoh University’s handbell choir can ring seven octaves and is in demand all over the world. The choir plays Feb. 18 at Paliku (see calendar) …

Le Jardin eighth-grader Justin Shuman prevailed over a field of 21 players to win the Pearl Harbor Jr. Open tennis tourney last month (boys 14 singles) and claim a trophy … Kailua High’s athletic department needs a 20-cup rice cooker, a large electric roaster and a large crock pot. To help them out, call Kathie Wells of Community Helping Schools at 225-2621 …

Kailua resident Burl Burlingame, now curator for Pacific Aviation Museum, will discuss “The Hawaiian Air Force: Defending the Wild Blue Yonder” at noon Thursday in the old Archives Building by Iolani Palace as part of the “Experts at the Palace” lecture series (522-0822) … Cheyne Hansen (Kalaheo 2004) has graduated with distinction from Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas … Honolulu’s American Institute of Architects installed Kailua retired architect Geoffrey Paterson onto its 2014 board

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