Photographer Michi Moore has helped out many Hawaii entertainers with photos, and now they are stepping up to help the uterine cancer survivor with her medical bills. Singers Cathy Foy-Mahi and Jimmy Borges, a liver cancer survivor, have organized a fundraiser for Michi featuring some of Hawaii’s finest Wednesday, 5 to 10 p.m. or later, at Pearl Ultralounge. Get a load of the talent lineup so far: Besides Cathy and Jimmy, stars include Amy Hanaiali‘i, Henry Kapono, Melveen Leed, Kristian Lei, Raiatea Helm, Shari Lynn, Starr Kalahiki, Danny Couch, Rocky Brown, Mary Gutzi, Ginai, Keahi Conjugacion, Jeff Rasmussen, Puamana, Sunway, Touch of Gold and Son Caribe. Singers will be backed by Steve Jones‘ All-Star Band, made up of Steve, Dan Del Negro, Darryl Pellegrini, DeShannon Higa and Reggie Padilla. Tickets are $40 at the door …
ATTENTION, all you singles out there. Il Lupino Trattoria & Wine Bar in Waikiki’s Royal Hawaiian Center is holding two singles mixers for adults ages 21 and over on Feb. 7, a week before Valentine’s Day. "I created this event because every year I hear my single friends complain about Valentine’s Day — how much they hate it," said Mona Wood-Sword (no relation). Mona is Il Lupino’s PR and marketing boss."I am keeping my fingers crossed that some connections will be made, but in the end I don’t want anyone to feel any pressure and just hope everyone has a great time and makes some friends." The first session will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m., and the late-nighter from 11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Call 922-3400 for more info …
THE Dale Takanishi family, from the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii — Spalding Clubhouse, won the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s annual Triple Play Fit Family Challenge in Venice Beach, Calif., Jan. 12. Others in the family are Dale’s wife, Stacey, and daughters Kylee, 11, and Lauren, 9. The challenge is a fitness and healthy-living program. In the finale, five families participated in an obstacle course, competed in a nutrition quiz show and took part in a family talent show that reflected the principles they learned during the challenge. Boys & Girls Club alumna Jackie Joyner Kersee, a three-time Olympic medal winner in the long jump and heptathlon, joined in the activities and cheered on the competitors. For their victory, the Takanishis won a family vacation to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. …
JUST LAST WEEK Kristin Stone was helping schoolchildren at Koko Head Elementary take the stage for a miniversion of Gilbert and Sullivan’s "The Mikado." This week she shifts from behind-the-curtain work to center stage. Stone, Hawaii Opera Theatre’s education staff specialist — and a talented soprano — is rehearsing for a major role in HOT’s upcoming "Dialogues of the Carmelites." Going from the comedy with kids to perform in the dramatic opera story of martyrdom during the French Revolution is quite a mood shift, but Stone makes the leap with ease. She portrays Sister Constance in "Dialogues." HOT presents the opera Feb. 15, 17 and 19 at Blaisdell Concert Hall. For tickets call 596-7858 …
HONOLULU’S Aaron Nee, 16, winner of Alaska Airlines’ "Spirit of the Islands" Paint-the-Plane contest, will take his family to visit relatives in New York thanks to one of his prizes: a trip for four to any of the airline’s destinations. He hopes to see snow for the first time in the Big Apple. The Kaiser High junior with top grades also was awarded a $5,000 college scholarship. Aaron’s artwork will be on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-800, honoring the culture of the Aloha State. His winning design displays a voyaging canoe, a bright yellow hibiscus (the state flower), the island chain and the phrase "Spirit of the Islands" …
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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.
