India’s ambassador to the U.S. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and his entourage were in town last month, prompting Hawaii’s honorary India consul general Sheila Watumull to spring into action. She arranged for the group to have lunch April 7 at the Chief’s Hut, a gazebo fronting the Honolulu Zoo’s elephant exhibit. The gazebo was donated by Watumull in honor of her late husband, David Watumull, a key figure involving the elephant exhibit. David was called "Chief."

Zoo director Jeffrey Wilkinson and assistant director Baird Fleming greeted the entourage. David Lassner, interim University of Hawaii president, attended. The luncheon was followed by three days of filming for "Jurassic World" ("Jurassic Park 4") at the elephant exhibit; the zookeepers there were used in the filming. The picture will be released next year.

WATUMULL TOOK the ambassador and his entourage to dinner April 9 at Yanagi Sushi. Yanagi was chosen because the envoy’s wife, Kyoko, is Japanese. Patrick Crowley, a "Jurassic" producer, was in the group … Whenever I see or hear the name Yanagi, I always think about the late, great Hawaii comedian Rap Reiplinger‘s hilarious laugh-out-loud song about "Fate Yanagi" and "Mits Funai" …

KUPUNA TIME: Halekulani has started Kupuna Tuesday, a lunch offer available on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Local residents ages 60 and over who have lunch at House Without a Key will receive a 20 percent discount on the total check. After lunch, they have the option to join Halekulani’s historic walking tour. The tour, regularly offered to hotel guests, is an opportunity to rediscover Halekulani’s legacy and learn about the property’s significance in Waikiki’s history. Hi‘inani Papapa-Blakesley leads the tour …

FORMER ORIGINAL "Hawaii Five-0" casting assistant Charlotte Soares Simmons, who also worked for Hawaii Public Television and KGMB-TV, is undergoing treatment for stage four non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system … Pupukahi I Ke Alo o Na Pua from Mid-Pacific Institute, under the direction of kumu hula Michael Casupang, celebrates its 25th anniversary Sunday in a 5 p.m. Hawaii Theatre concert titled "A Silver Celebration." The audience is asked to wear something silver — attire or jewelry …

HAWAII’S MUSIC industry suffered a major loss when singer, musician and composer the Rev. Dennis Kamakahi, 61, died Monday at the Queen’s Medical Center. He was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer while getting treatment for pneumonia in March … Another outstanding Hawaiian singer, Ida Keli‘i Chun, 91, died March 17. She had a long career, going back far enough to start cutting records on 78 RPM platters. Both Kamakahi and Chun received lifetime achievement awards from the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts. They will be remembered Saturday along with lifetimer Edna Farden Bekeart, who died at age 95 last June, when this year’s lifetime awards recipients are honored at a luncheon banquet in the Ala Moana Hotel’s Hibiscus Ballroom. Doors open at 10 a.m. when music and a silent auction get underway. Call 593-9424 for tickets …

Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.