TERRY PLUNKETT, 78, has been sort of a fixture at Kamehameha Schools as a student and football player, class of ’51, and as a coach on and off for three decades. About 70 former football players gathered at the campus home of Kamehameha President Mike Chun, a former gridder, on July 23 to pay tribute to Terry.
Some were classmates or teammates, others were players he coached and some were athletes from other schools. Terry, a guest actor in 15 episodes of the original “Hawaii Five-0,” said, “It was a most memorable evening atop Kapalama, thanks to Bobby Schmidt and Dr. Michael Chun and many others.”
Among the Kamehameha crowd were former school CEO Hamilton McCubbin, who came all the way from Wisconsin, Kahu David Kaupu, Kahu William Kaina, Colin Chock, George Montgomery, Alex Kane, Kenney Chan, Terry’s son Scott Plunkett, Boyd Yap, Dexter Gomes, Simeon Alo and Steven Burke.
From other schools came George Naukana and Buzzy Hong, two Roosevelt athletes who coached at Kamehameha, Scott Chan, Al Torco, Tupu Tupua and Ben Ronquillio.
The event was organized by retired HPD officer Schmidt, Kamehameha ’58 and a standout athlete … .
KICKING ON: Talented Willie K heads entertainment for the ninth Taste of Kick Start Karate fundraiser Sept. 4, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Bayer Estate.
Former HPD Chief Lee Donohue’s annual event always has excellent food and drinks from the “usual suspects”: Alan Wong’s, Roy’s, Sam Choy’s, Tanioka’s, Uncle Bo’s, Pacific Seafood, Yatai Sushi, Better Brands and Pepsi. A silent auction
is scheduled. Kick Start is a nonprofit program that combats juvenile delinquency and youth gangs. Call 753-5617 for $150 tickets … .
ETHEL KUKEA, Nainoa Thompson, Aileen Soule and Peter Cole will be inducted in the Hawai‘i Waterman Hall of Fame Sunday. Doors open
for the dinner party on Hilton Village’s Great Lawn at 5 p.m. Festivities start at 5:45 p.m. Music will be by Maunalua and the Brothers Cazimero. Danny Kaleikini is emcee. Co-chairs are Tim Guard, Malia Kamisugi and Henry Perez. Honorary chair is Hilton boss Jerry Gibson. Call organizer Melissa Blake for $95 tickets. They will also be sold at the entrance … .
KAIMUKI’S Kalani Kazuo Ahmad, 24, performed freestyle basketball on “America’s Got Talent!” last week. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it to the next level … J Salon, an upscale Hawaii salon for women and men that is owned by Joe Randazzo, has been named one of Elle Magazine’s Top 100 Salons in America for the third straight year in this month’s issue.
Joe’s thrilled … .
Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.