BIG HEARTS: Candes Meijide Gentry opened her home Jan. 8 to more than 60 people to celebrate the launch of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women 10th anniversary. Go Red for Women is a movement that has changed how women think and act about heart disease, their No.1 killer.
Joining the celebration and festivities was Deena Nichols, Macy’s district VP in Hawaii. Macy’s has supported this movement since its inception. Artist Eva Makk also attended to unveil and sign her painting that will be included in the Feb. 22 Heart Ball live auction at the Sheraton Waikiki. The work pictures the opening night of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in 1927.
Designer Kensei Takeda gave Makk the inspiration for the fashions that were worn at the Heart opening. Takeda attended the Gentry gathering, as did Royal Hawaiian GM Kelly Hoen and the hotel’s head concierge, Wendy Nagaishi.
Candes’ mom, Nora Meijide Gentry, is teaming with Kimberly Miyazawa Frank to chair "Ignite the Room" at this year’s Heart Ball. Ignite the Room encourages philanthropic gifts to further the mission of the Heart Association. Hawai’i Gas will match the first $10,000 raised. This year’s Heart Ball is co-chaired by City Mill President and CEO Steven Ai and Kaiser Permanente President Janet Liang. Ball tables of eight and 10 range from $5,000 to $35,000. For more info call 457-4951 …
BLAZING ON: Hawaii’s sizzling Bruno Mars will be joined by the Red Hot Chili Peppers at his halftime Super Bowl show Feb. 2 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. … The Golden Globes Hollywood audience Sunday night was packed with many of the biggest names in showbiz, but the night belonged to co-hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. They were terrific …
LOSING A loved one is always difficult and is even tougher to take during the Christmas season. That’s what retired Marine Capt. Kenny Dias, 83, has been going through since his wife of 61 years, retired Realtor Caroline Dias, 82, died Dec. 18. Inurnment was held Thursday at Hawaiian Memorial Park.
Kenny and Caroline had quite a love affair: They were meant to be together.
They met in seventh grade at Robert Louis Stevenson Intermediate. "As soon as I saw her, she attracted my attention," Kenny said. But he didn’t take action until the next year.
"Francis Bierne and I were walking together in school, and we saw Caroline. Bernie yelled, ‘Hey, Caroline, Kenny wanna take you out.’ Caroline replied with authority, ‘Let him speak for himself.’" Kenny did.
They became a couple at Stevenson and throughout their years at Roosevelt High, class of ’49, where Kenny starred in football and track and also played basketball.
They kept in touch during his two years at Hartnell Junior College in Salinas, Calif., and while he was serving in the Korean War. They wed in 1953 after his return from Korea. Kenny remained in the Marines and fought in the Vietnam War.
Master Sgt. Dias was given a field commission and retired in 1971 as a captain. His last duty station was Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Caroline and their three children — Dayna, Carlotta and Kenneth Jr. — were in Cuba with him. Dayna Beamer is an immigration judge, Carlotta Amerino is an attorney and Kenny Jr. is a construction superintendent.
Caroline had been wracked with severe pain from shingles for the past seven years. She is now at peace …
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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.
