Congratulations to accomplished Hawaiian hala lei-maker Roy Benham, who turned 90 on April 19. A surprise birthday party was held for him at Native Books/Na Mea Hawai‘i in Ward Warehouse, where he is known as "Uncle Roy." Hawaiian music and food, hula and stories about Uncle Roy were part of the party. Roy’s pals Oz Stender, Mike Chun and Bruce Keppler were among the guests. Roy can often be seen at his lei-making table fronting Native Books. He has no schedule but shop owner Maile Meyer said they are happy to have him there whenever he feels like it …
MRS. EAST OAHU Keikilani Ho was crowned Mrs. Hawaii International 2013 at the Kaimuki High School auditorium April 13. Keikilani, 27, is the wife of Ikaika Ho, and mother of Jordan, 9, Jeighany-Page, 5, and Jeanzye-Rush, 2. First runner-up was Mrs. Oahu Grace Schonhardt, second was Mrs. Honolulu Paige Shimamoto and third was Mrs. Central Oahu Danielle Brandon. Ho wrote the children’s book "The Little Big Miracle" in 2011 about her journey with Jordan, who was born 15 weeks premature and suffered various health challenges as a result, including partial blindness.After he was bullied at school, Ho decided she wanted to help not only Jordan but all keiki who suffer bullying and other challenges because of disability …
GIRL TIME: Cheri Schoch, wife of Randy Schoch, flew into Maui with four gal pals for a few days before joining Randy, who arrived in Honolulu Wednesday to check his restaurants. Included in Cheri’s group were Sandi Kostis and Diane McCord, whose respective husbands, Peter Kostis and Gary McCord, are CBS golf commentators. Randy, based in Scottsdale, Ariz., has the Ruth’s Chris Steak House and Romano’s Macaroni Grill franchises in Hawaii. The women dined at Wailea’s Ruth’s Chris Monday …
PHILIPPINES-BORN Rumelia Velasco, 88, was a pioneer for women in Hawaii’s radio and TV industry. She died April 8 in Gilbert, Ariz., while visiting daughter Adelaida Severson and her family. Services were held here this week. Rumelia, a singer-pianist, is remembered as the "Filipina Songbird" from when she had her own radio show, "Kayumanggi Program," in the 1960s on KPOA in Honolulu and KIPA in Hilo. She became guest host for"Filipino Fiesta" on KHON-TV from the late ’60s through the ’70s. Her listeners were mostly the Filipino migrants who worked in the plantation fields. Rumelia received her master’s degree at the conservatory of music at the University of the Philippines. She came to the U.S. in the 1950s via a scholarship to the National Academy of Broadcasting in Washington, D.C., the only woman in her class. Her husband was Zebra Room owner Tony Velasco, who tended bar at Waikiki’s legendary Palm Tree Inn for 31 years before buying the Zebra Room. He died in 2001 …
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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.
