Bow wow! The most beloved employee at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children is none other than Tucker the therapy dog. The kids look forward to seeing the 7-year-old golden retriever, who was trained by Assistance Dogs of Hawaii for more than a year and donated to Kapiolani when he was 1½ years old. Tucker works Mondays through Fridays with pediatric patients, providing comfort, distraction and care to children with cancer, diabetes, physical injuries and other medical conditions. Children are given stuffed Tucker dolls and Tucker’s "baseball card" bearing his picture. Tucker has an active Facebook page where kids can see what he does on weekends and can post their own pictures of him (facebook.com/tucker.hirsch).
Tucker wears an assistance dog vest to work but dresses up for holidays. He is "Santa Paws" at Christmas, and for Halloween the kids choose his costume. A big birthday party is thrown for Tucker in the hospital every year in late October. He lives with his handler, Kapiolani child psychologist Wendi Hirsch. She and Tucker will be in the American Heart Association Heart Walk on Saturday at Kapiolani Park. Last month Tucker and Wendi took part in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life in Hilo. Families of patients and former patients created "Team Tucker" for the event as they do each year. …
FORMER Police Chief Lee Donohue has gathered his forces to present the 11th Kick Start Karate fundraiser Sept. 1, from 4 to 8 p.m., at Hawaii Kai Towne Center near Costco. Kick Start provides activities to combat juvenile delinquency and antisocial youth gang membership in a classroom setting and character development through the martial arts. Donohue is Kick Start president and a high-ranked karate expert. There is always delicious food and good music at these events. Pupu from Alan Wong’s, Roy’s, Tiki’s, Tanioka’s, Uncle Ricki’s and Maile’s Thai Bistro will be served throughout the evening. There will be seafood and sushi bars from Diamond Head Seafood and Superb Sushi, plus desserts and a silent auction. Music will be by Pineapple Jam and Par 5. Tickets are $200. Call 286-8831 or 753-5617 for tickets or more info. …
LAST CALL: Folks who hit Waikiki nightspots in earlier years, particularly the bar at the Top of Waikiki, will remember bartender Benedicto "Benny" Supnet, 85, who died July 17. Benny helped design the bar in the Top of Waikiki revolving restaurant when it opened in 1965. He worked there for 25 years until his retirement in 1990. Benny started as a waiter at Don the Beachcomber in the ’50s. Under owner DonnBeach‘s instruction, Benny learned the art of mixing tropical drinks, which became the foundation for his fame as a master mixologist. Benny went to Vegas in 1959 and was part of the staff that opened the Aku Aku Restaurant at the Stardust. Later he returned to Hawaii and worked for Bill Mau as he opened the Top of Waikiki. Condolences to Benny’s family. …
FILMMAKERS Rann and Gina Watumull send word that their movie, "You May Not Kiss the Bride," is playing this month on the Starz channel. …
———
Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.
