Happy New Year! We’re winding up 2013 by following last week’s "Wood Craft" with items from the second half of the year.
SINGERS Kristian Lei and Gavin Vinta welcomed their daughter, Diamond Saige Liza-Jo Ku‘uleipuanani Hegwood Vinta, Aug. 9 at Queen’s … Former Police Chief Lee Donohue‘s Kick Start Karate program, which keeps youngsters on the right path, raised between $45,000 and $50,000 in September’s fundraiser at Hawaii Kai Towne Center … "Short Term 12," a drama written and directed by Maui’s Destin Daniel Cretton, opened at the Kahala 8 theaters in September. The film about troubled teens in a foster-care facility received high praise nationally, as did its star, Brie Larson, 23 … Hula dancer Kanoe Miller returned to Halekulani’s House Without a Key in early October. Kanoe had been sidelined for five months after it was discovered she had a third lung that was removed by surgery …
Roosevelt High’s Class of 1958 held its 55th reunion Oct. 2-6 in multiple locations, and the focus was on Lincoln Elementary, where many class members started school. Lincoln is now Honolulu Museum of Art’s Linekona Art School. An 80-photo historical exhibit of Lincoln and its 500 students from 1946 to 1952 — including each class — was displayed at Linekona, class member Cecilia Ching Doo said. During the three years the class of ’58 was at Roosevelt, the football teams coached by Ticky Vasconcellos won the high school championship each year. In those days, public and private schools were in the same league, making the titles even more impressive. Years later, team member Bert T. Kobayashi Jr. led the renovation of Roosevelt’s football stadium, still hosting high school games today …
CHARGING ON: Danny Kaleikini, another Roosevelt grad (class of ’55), gave Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis a ti leaf lei and sang the national anthem at an Oct. 6 game in Cincinnati in which the Bengals knocked off the previously undefeated New England Patriots, 13-6. The theme from "Hawaii Five-0" also was performed, as former Gov. Ben Cayetano and wife Vicky, Saint Louis School President Walter Kirimitsu and wife, Mae, Dr. Edison Miyawaki, a minority owner of the Bengals, and Linda Wong (lugging ti leaves) were in the stands … Harry Shum Jr. of "Glee" received the 2013 Rising Star Award at the EuroCinema gala Oct. 18 at Moana Surfrider … Former Hawaiian Airlines’ hostesses remembered World War II days and the USO at the Koa‘e Kea dinner-dance Nov. 2 at the Ala Moana Hotel. Cathy Foy Mahi and her Liberty Belles sang. Hale Ka‘ohu Rowland proudly wore the dog tags of her dad, Master Sgt. Levi Ka‘ohu Jr., who served in World War I, World War II and the Korean War …
CHEERS: Murphy’s Bar & Grill celebrated its 26th year Nov. 15 with a street festival at Merchant and Nuuanu … The book "Judge Sam King: A Memoir," was released Nov. 22 … C.S. Wo & Sons kicked off the Christmas season Nov. 23 with its "Home for the Holidays" party featuring fabulous displays throughout the furniture store. The Diamond Head Shooting Stars shined brightly … Roosevelt grad Bruno Mars was named Billboard’s Artist of the Year in its December issue … Alec Baldwin dined at Ocean House Dec. 8. He took pictures of the sunset and ate arugula salad and Kona kampachi. Manager Colleen Bui said he is a very nice guy …
DEATHS: Edna Pualani Farden Bekeart, 95, an educator and important figure in Hawaiian music, died June 17 … Bartender Benedicto "Benny" Supnet, 85, died July 17 … Former Honolulu Star-Bulletin sports editor Jim "Hack" Hackleman, 86, died Sept. 10 in Grover Beach, Calif. … Former East-West Center President Victor Hao Li, 72, died Sept. 18 in Oakland, Calif. Survivors include his wife, former Star-Bulletin publisher Arlene Lum … Artist Tom Sellers, 71, died Oct. 14 in San Diego … Andy Mohan, 81, a tailor and owner of a men’s clothing store bearing his name, died Nov. 13 … Actor Paul Walker, 40, died Nov. 30 in a car crash. He made frequent visits to Hawaii because his daughter, Meadow Walker, 15, has lived most of her life in Honolulu with her mom, Rebecca McBrain … Harmon Lum, 84, who sold newspapers for years at Bishop and Hotel streets, died Dec. 1 …
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Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.
