Waha Nui
Niu Valley’s Wes Wada won the grand prize, and Kaimuki’s Laurens Laudowicz was a finalist in Hawaii Energy’s 2013 Energy Success Story contest. Wes related how he went all out at home to conserve: LED lights, special house fan, pool pump and heat pump; upgraded ceiling fans and appliances, no more bottled water. By saving more than $200 on his monthly HECO bill, he was able to buy two electric cars …
As the new operations and finances VP for Arancino Restaurants, Hawaii Kai’s Aya Inamura is busy opening the firm’s new Italian eatery this summer, Arancino at The Kahala, and overseeing two others … Sacred Hearts sixth-grade teacher Griffith Jurgens got a solar backpack as a public winner of RevoluSun’s Earth Day Challenge. Griffith taught a sustainability lesson on Earth Day that drew the most likes on Facebook …
Hawaii Kai resident and Kaiser grad Paige Altonn is the new chief of staff for Rep. Gene Ward. Paige also has advanced degrees in criminology and justice administration and is a founder of Independence Day at Maunalua Bay … Niu Valley’s Jon Tsukamoto (a VP with Morgan Stanley) and Diamond Head’s Rika Hirata (a VP with First Hawaiian Bank) will be honored Saturday as Outstanding Members of 2013 at the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce banquet in Waikiki …
East Oahu actor Joji Yoshida has been cast as police chief Daniels in the film Calista House, a horror film starring Glen Plummer … Native Hawaiians Gaye and Skye Kaupiko invite everyone to their reinvented and renamed Kahala Mall shop, Halia Boutique (formerly Kahala Kids), featuring all locally made fashions …
Kaiser High alum Bailey Miller graduated from the Naval Academy in May and got a handshake from President Obama … The City Council honored Hanauma Bay volunteers Jean Carr and Hawaii Kai’s Larry Winnik June 5 for 20 years of dedicated service to the nature preserve. (Help still needed: Call 394-1374)
