Two big events are coming up for former police chief Lee Donohue and his family. The first is Tuesday night at 9 when Lee and Lucy Donohue’s granddaughter Kim Williams, a 2002 Kamehameha and 2006 UH graduate, is featured on ABC’s "Extreme Weight Loss" program. The second is the former chief’s 13th annual Kick Start Karate fundraiser Sept. 6 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Hawaii Kai Towne Center.
Kim began a fashion line, Bella Beauty, after graduating from Parsons Fashion & Design School in New York in 2010. She started off as a cast member with Kristian Lei’s Broadway Babies after graduating from Parsons and later became costume director. She also worked on Kristian’s CD release concert as concert stylist and did her hair and makeup for the album cover.
Kim, at 5 feet 1, weighed 279 pounds a year ago when she wrote to Chris and Heidi Powell, trainers for "Extreme Weight Loss." She was given a goal to lose half her body weight. Kim is not allowed to reveal her current weight before Tuesday’s program. But in a phone conversation Monday from New York, she said that her weight loss has been "significant." Kim’s parents, Leanne and Jeff Williams, are divorced.
During their troubled relationship, Kim turned to her grandmother Lucy for support. "Grandma is my best friend," she said. During her yearlong transformation, Kim faced physical challenges and a fear of heights. It was an emotional journey that included a difficult breakup with a boyfriend. Tune in.
Leanne is a key figure in the annual Kick Start event that raises funds to provide alternative activities to combat juvenile delinquency and keep youngsters on the right path. The Sept. 6 event will have food served from Alan Wong’s, Roy’s, Tiki’s, Tanioka’s, Maile’s Thai Bistro and Kanak Attack. There will be seafood and sushi bars and beverages provided by Budweiser, Johnson Brothers and Pepsi. Music by Rory Souza’s group and Sean Na’auao and a silent auction are part of the program. Tickets are $200 and can be had by calling 286-8831 …
The family of Chuck and Mihana Souza begin the trip of a lifetime Sunday when they depart for Europe. The main reason for the trip is the wedding of their son Kamauliola, 29, to France native mademoiselle Sonia Hoksbergen in Cannes, France, on Sept. 5. Sonia is a general manager of Burberry at Ala Moana Center. Kamauliola graduated from Kamehameha in 2004 and owns Lucky Pool Service. The couple met in New York City three years ago when Sonia was a Cartier intern and Kamauliola was a Standard Hotel employee. They have been here a year.
About 30 Souza relatives and friends, including the groom’s brothers Kapono, Napali and Kalama Souza, will travel to the wedding. Chuck and Carlton Handley, both retired firefighters, will cook a local grinds feast for the groom’s dinner. After sightseeing in France, the Souzas will head for the Azores, Portugal, Sept. 18 where Chuck and his sister Kande Lopes have relatives. Kande was the travel organizer for the group. The Souzas will be in Portugal until Sept. 29, when they fly to San Diego to visit friends. Then it’s back home to Kailua in mid-October …
Hawaii’s Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota has pushed my beloved San Francisco 49ers out of my top TV National Football League viewing spot and put his Tennessee Titans in No. 1. I can’t wait to see how the Saint Louis School and U. of Oregon alum will do today against Kansas City.
It was heartening to see Marcus bounce back from an interception and fumble in his first NFL preseason game against Atlanta and lead his Titans to a score. His composure and solid play won the respect of his teammates. He has looked like a pro NFL quarterback, not a rookie, ever since, especially in his second game against St. Louis last weekend, taking his team to a 10-0 lead before leaving the game.
The score would have been higher had a receiver not dropped a Marcus pass that was in his hands in the end zone. Go Marcus! …
Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.
