ProjectFocus Hawai‘i, the small nonprofit run by photographers Laurie Callies and Lisa Uesugi, usually conducts annual photo internships for at-risk kids. This year it tried a new concept by working with residents ages 45 to 100 from The Care Center of Honolulu at 1900 Bachelot St., a residential facility that serves those in medically fragile states, including ventilator-dependent patients. The private opening reception at the facility Saturday was so moving it brought some in attendance to tears.
Singer-musicians Mihana Souza, Kanoe Cazimero and Rodger Tsukamoto, a care center supporter, volunteered their time to serenade participants and guests. The special musical guest of the evening was one of the ProjectFocus photo subjects, Sheldon Kalaikai, a 45-year-old quadriplegic who recently learned to play the harmonica. He brought the house down with three numbers and many people sang along on his third song. Souza and Cazimero later roamed the halls of the facility serenading and dancing hula for those unable to attend the party. The black-and-white canvas portraits can be seen at the care center through May 6 …
UKULELE STAR Taimane Gardner, accompanied by guitarist Jasmine Skurtu, performed for an appreciative crowd at the official opening of the new Tori Richard store at Ala Moana Center April 2. The talented young woman was wearing the Jolie dress in Tori Richard’s Vanuatu print from the spring 2014 line.
Her dad and manager, Jack Gardner, a former Punahou teacher, was on hand. Tori Richard owner Josh Feldman and wife Lori were students at Punahou when Gardner taught there. The husband-and-wife team of chef Wade Ueoka and pastry chef Michelle Karr-Ueoka of MW Restaurant prepared the food.
Sales were brisk at the event and a portion of proceeds went to Honolulu Museum of Art’s After School Residencies program for public school children and the Warriors’ Eyes on Art program for returning soldiers. Nice move …
The next night a party was held in the store for Junior League of Honolulu members. Tori Richard is the sponsor of their 90th anniversary celebration so the company hosted the ladies as part of that partnership. No Taimane but more good MW food …
How about this shirt tale: At the April 2 Tori Richard event, a man claimed to own 152 Tori Richard shirts (153 before saying good night) and flashed pictures of them on his cellphone …
WITH BASEBALL season underway, diamond fans in Hawaii will once again honor the "Father of Modern Baseball," Alexander J. Cartwright, at his Nuuanu Cemetery gravesite on his birthday Thursday at 11 a.m. Hall of Famer Cartwright moved to Hawaii from New York in 1850 after laying out the basics of the game: 90 feet between bases, the batting order and several other rules still in effect. The public is invited to the gathering. Guest speakers will include Don Robbs, Lyle Nelson, Jack Sullivan, Korky Gallagher, Bob Corboy and Hervy Kurisu. Bring a glove and a tale! …
IHOP Hawaii donated $14,225 March 14 to Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children, the state’s Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. The money was raised through donations from customers on March 4, National Pancake Day, as part of IHOP’s annual campaign, giving away free pancakes to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. This year, 12,015 short stacks of buttermilk pancakes were served from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at all isle IHOP locations …
Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.
