Waha Nui
Maunawili Elementary enrichment student Maya Arakaki met her teacher’s Legacy Project challenge by raising $2,500 in one month by writing a grant and numerous letters to school ohana, neighbors and a church. The goal? An automated external defibrillator (AED) for the school. Teacher Dee Takeno says the AED was ordered just before Maya’s sixth-grade graduation in May. “I’ve been teaching for over 20 years,” Dee says, “and Maya is just one of those students I will always remember!” …
Kalaheo’s Tiana Grant won a $3,000 HMSA Kaimana OIA student athlete grant for her outstanding scholarship and performance in paddling and soccer. She graduated summa cum laude and aims for a nursing career via HPU … Disney has bought the rights to use Brand New, a song written and recorded by Erin Elina Wells (aka Erin Chang, Castle 1996), to promote its Grand Floridian resort. And to think I was there when she first worked on the lyrics! …
A cafeteria full of friends and church members celebrated Bob Nakata‘s retirement from Kahaluu United Methodist Church June 29 at Kahaluu school, where the quiet-but-effective minister and social activist promised that he’s not slowing down. Does that mean 70 is the new 50? Good luck, Bob … Former Windward state Rep. Ernest “Juggie” Heen Jr. died June 30 at age 82 after a long battle with cancer. Juggie has been lauded as a “tireless advocate” for endof-life choice, aid-in-dying decisions, pain treatment and hospice care by Compassion & Choices Hawaii …
Kailua’s Daniel Lyons is Hawaiian Airlines new senior director of performance engineering and operations, which means improving all ground and flight operations of HA’s 400-plus aircraft. A decorated war veteran with a commercial pilot’s license, Daniel also works with the Boy Scouts’ Young Eagles at Dillingham Airfield …
Kailua kumu hula Mapuana de Silva and Halau Mohala ‘Ilima will open the afternoon segment of the annual Prince Lot Hula Festival July 20 at Moanalua Gardens, offering a variety of special mele and Kahiko dances (839-5334) … Kailua’s Kathleen Manuzak made the spring dean’s list at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa
