THE BIG STARS of "Wood Craft 2012" include five local boys and a sensational wahine volleyball player from California with Hawaiian roots. The five are: President Barack Obama, U.S. Sens. Dan Inouye and Daniel Akaka, Manti Te’o and Bruno Mars. Misty May-Treanor, 35, is a three-time Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball. Obama was re-elected to America’s top office, keeping his seat in the Oval Office as well as filling that empty chair Clint Eastwood was talking to at the GOP National Convention. Inouye, 88, died Dec. 17. 
He was a great man, a World War II hero and Medal of Honor recipient, the Senate’s most senior member and third in the line for the U.S. presidency. His death was a huge loss for Hawaii … Akaka, 88, is one of Hawaii’s most-loved politicians. You never hear anyone "talk stink" about Akaka. That’s rare for a politician. He retired from the Senate Thursday … Singer Mars, 27, is enjoying a fabulous career. He recently hosted "Saturday Night Live" and sang on the televised Victoria’s Secret fashion show … Notre Dame senior All-American linebacker Te’o is the heart and soul of the Fighting Irish football team. He was one of three finalists for the Heisman Trophy and is adored on campus and by ND fans. Another Hawaii gridder who received national praise in 2012 was Oregon freshman quarterback Marcus Mariota, 19 …
MOVING ON: Don and Marion Murphy celebrated the 25th anniversary of their Murphy’s Bar & Grill Nov. 16 … Kristian Lei was in New York to work on her upcoming album when superstorm Sandy hit Oct. 29. The little singer was almost blown away when she stepped outside a relative’s home in Queens to feel the storm’s power … Koa‘e Kea (High Flying Bird), the original Hawaiian Airlines DC-3 hostesses organization, their family and friends, flew to the moon with pop-jazz artist Jimmy Borges at the Garden Lanai of the Ala Moana Hotel Nov. 10 … Deborah and James Gandolfini had their first child, a girl named Liliana Ruth Gandolfini, Oct. 10, in Los Angeles. Deborah is from Hawaii … The EuroCinema team and Moana Surfrider Hotel management and staff put on a swell awards gala under the stars on the hotel’s Diamond Head lawn on Oct. 19 …
A REUNION of Kahala Hilton employees who served between 1964 and ’95, when it was a Hilton International hotel, drew 130 people to what is now called the Kahala Hotel & Resort on Sept. 22. Organizer was Adam Suapaia, who was manager of the hotel’s Hala Terrace when Danny Kaleikini packed ’em in there. Danny was reunion emcee and also sang. Imaikalani Young brought his band to play … Former Police Chief Lee Donohue, a karate expert, was inducted into the national Masters Hall of Fame in Martial Arts, based in Costa Mesa, Calif., at the awards dinner Aug. 11 … May-Treanor, a part-Hawaiian athlete, was pictured in action on Wheaties boxes in August. On Nov. 27 she appeared on the NBC sit-com "Go On," starring Matthew Perry, inviting his character to play volleyball with some of her girlfriends to help him get back into the dating game …
THE PREMIERE of Hawaii Film Partners’ "You May Not Kiss the Bride," a romantic adventure comedy filmed in Hawaii, took place Aug. 31 at Ward’s Consolidated Theatres. The film opened nationally Sept. 21. Hawaii Film Partners’ Rann and Gina Watumull and David and Shauna Jackson are producers. Writer-director is Rob Hedden. Hawaii’s Tia Carrere and Willie K have acting roles. Willie also performs. Other Hawaii entertainers providing music include Ben Vegas & Maila Gibson, Tiffany Thurston, Afatia Thompson, Kapono Beamer and Imua Garza.The pic includes a song co-written and performed by leading lady Katharine McPhee of NBC’s "Smash." Other stars include Academy Award-winner Kathy Bates, Rob Schneider, Dave Annable and Mena Suvari …
THE OTHER half of "Wood Craft 2012" will run next Friday …
Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.
