Falling tree injures nobody but many hit hard by its loss

• By Ben Wood
• Sept. 16, 2016

Thirty-five former Halekulani employees and a few current staffers held their annual get-together at the Garden Room of the hotel last month. Read more

Onouye aids flood victims and finds generous teen

• Sept. 2, 2016

Carole Kai Onouye, an entertainer and super fundraiser for Hawaii charities through the Great Aloha Run, was among people who went to the Hale Umi apartment complex to help residents after the first-floor units were inundated by Tropical Storm Darby and the overflowing Kalihi Stream on July 31. Read more

Death of longtime friend stirs childhood memories

• By Ben Wood
• Aug. 19, 2016

The death of former Honolulu resident Mark Auerbach, 83, brought back a flood of memories, mostly of when we lived on Piikoi Street in Makiki back in 1930s and early ’40s. Read more

Ex-opera singer, honorary Italian consul marks 100th

• By Ben Wood
• Aug. 5, 2016

Guido Salmaggi, one of Hawaii’s best known and favorite Italians in his prime, turned 100 July 22. Read more

Emmy-nominated actress Schumer pops in at Kailua tearoom

• July 22, 2016

Amy Schumer caused a whirl of excitement at A Cup of Tea in Kailua on Saturday. Read more

Well-loved restaurateur retiring after 40-plus years

• By Ben Wood
• July 8, 2016

Celebrations have been taking place recently for two well-known Honolulu women, both of whom I have worked with for decades. Read more

Magazine shares tragedies of 2 women with Hawaii ties

• By Ben Wood Special to the Star-Advertiser
• June 24, 2016

Tragedies are responsible for two women with Hawaii backgrounds, Kimberly “KJ” Morris, 37, and Anna Akana, 26, beingfeatured in the June 27 issue of People magazine. Read more

Miss Hawaii USA’s response counters unseemly question

• By Ben Wood
• June 10, 2016

Count me among the many people who felt the question thrown at Miss Hawaii USA Chelsea Hardin asking who she would vote for in this presidential election was totally out of line. Read more

Vocalist was a terrific friend as well as an A-list entertainer

• By Ben Wood Special to the Star-Advertiser
• June 1, 2016

Jimmy Borges, who died of cancer Monday, was one of my best friends and one of the nicest guys I ever met in show business. Read more

Honoring a hula luminary, touring Obama’s environs

• By Ben Wood
• May 27, 2016

Hula dancer Milton I, 83, was honored with an I Ola Mau Ka Hula award on May 18 at a Hula Grill Waikiki luncheon. Read more

Borges’ wife, daughter plan to attend Na Hoku Awards

• By Ben Wood
• May 13, 2016

Hello, everybody. It’s great to be back with Wood Craft in my favorite spot after a four-month break … Read more

Borges wears his UH honor with genuine Warriors pride

• By Ben Wood
• Jan. 15, 2016

Singer Jimmy Borges was looking good and standing taller than any player on the court as he was named an honorary member of the University of Hawaii basketball team and given Warriors jersey No. 1 on Jan. 6 at the Stan Sheriff Center. Read more

2015 wraps up with football, fashion shows, movie stars

• By Ben Wood
• Jan. 1, 2016

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hope you all had a Merry Christmas. Santa arrived about 4:30 p.m. Dec. 24 on Grey’s Beach fronting the Halekulani Hotel to make the crowd happy. Read more

Friends of former anchor perform to aid cancer fight

• By Ben Wood
• Dec. 18, 2015

Singer Jimmy Borges was not well enough to sing with the Count Basie Sextet at the Halekulani Tuesday night and some of Hawaii’s top entertainers and broadcasters performed at a fundraiser for retired KHON-TV anchor Kirk Matthews Sunday at HASR Bistro. Read more

Ailing Borges sounds ready in expressing a final aloha

• By Ben Wood bwood@staradvertiser.com
• Dec. 7, 2015

Jimmy Borges’ liver cancer returned about a year ago and spread to his lungs. He said his cancer doctor told him late last month that patients with cancer similar to his are largely beyond treatment. Read more

‘Spotlight’ is a great movie about uncovering the truth

• By Ben Wood
• Dec. 4, 2015

Foy belts out Broadway hits at Koa‘e Kea’s retiree bash

• By Ben Wood
• Nov. 20, 2015

Film fest and French star brighten up birthday week

• By Ben Wood
• Nov. 6, 2015