The story of Mazie Hirono, an immigrant from Japan who grew up to be a Democratic U.S. senator from Hawaii, was added July 2 to MAKERS.com.The website includes video stories from nearly 200 of America’s most accomplished and best-known women along with some who are not nationally known but who have made a mark. The Makers include Hillary Clinton, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Condoleezza Rice, Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres. Joining the famous are pioneers such as Katherine Switzer, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as a numbered entry in 1967, five years before women were officially allowed to compete in the event, and Brenda Berkman, who filed the lawsuit that resulted in the first women being hired by New York City’s Fire Department in 1982. Hirono shares her story of immigrating to Hawaii with her single mother from Japan, learning English and eventually becoming the first Asian-American woman elected to the U.S. Senate. MAKERS.com is a PBS initiative. …
PRO SURFER Bethany Hamilton, 23, who lost her left arm to a tiger shark off Kauai in 2003, tried on wedding gowns Monday in Manhattan. The 5-foot-11 blonde plans to marry Adam Dirks, 25, a Christian youth minister, later this summer. Her book "Soul Surfer" became a 2011 movie starring Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt and AnnaSophia Robb. … Melveen Leed will celebrate her 70th birthday July 20 during her regular Saturday gig on the International Market Place stage in Waikiki, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Melveen won this year’s Na Hoku Hanohano award for best jazz album for "I Wish You Love." This wahine can sing any type of music well. … Two former University of Hawaii head football coaches, June Jones and Dick Tomey, were spotted having lunch together at Murphy’s on July 5. … Hawaii U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is featured in this month’s Vogue magazine. … The National Conference of State Liquor Administrators held its annual conference at the Sheraton Waikiki June 24-28. The Honolulu Liquor Commission was host. Danny Kaleikini, Tihati’s Polynesian Spectacular, Royal Hawaiian Band and HPD took part. …
HAWAIIAN Airlines flight attendant Lei Beeck celebrated her 25th birthday at a dinner party at Hy’s on June 27. Attending were Lei’s sister Kealoha Beeck, dad Charlie Beeck and mom Ka‘ula Kamahele Beeck, Merrie Monarch Miss Aloha Hula of 1980. Ka‘ula danced hula with Peter Moon‘s band in earlier years. A table of a dozen visitors from Japan helped Lei celebrate by joining in on singing "Happy Birthday" to her. Hy’s singer-guitarist Audie Kimura was up close. …
FORMER Star-Bulletin reporter Mary Adamski sends word that the Hawaii Catholic Herald received five awards from the Catholic Press Association, including one for her "View from the Pew" column, at the group’s annual convention last month in Denver. Herald Editor Patrick Downes, who has long written comic Frank De Lima‘s colorful, clever song lyrics,won awards for stories on missionaries and coverage of events for young people, and for a special edition on the sainthood of Mother Marianne Cope, who served Kalaupapa, Molokai, patients until her death in 1918.Reporter-photographer Darlene Dela Cruz was honored for a story on tiny St. Joseph Parish in Kaupo, Maui, and a photo of the Mother Marianne celebration in Kalaupapa. … Adamski reports that Monday was De Lima’s birthday, and she was at noon Mass at Our Lady of Peace Cathedral when he slipped in and sat behind a pillar. But the Rev. Gordon Combs didn’t let him escape unnoticed. Hementioned it was De Lima’s birthday, and the Mass ended with a joyous version of "Happy Birthday." …
CONDOLENCES to the families of former Democratic state Rep. Ernest "Juggie" Heen Jr., 82, who died June 30; Edna Farden Bekeart, 95, who died June 17; and Derek Haugen, 42, who died June 2. …
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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.
