Waha Nui – 12/31/14

Waiahole taro farmer Hanale Bishop of Home stead Poi has added a new crop to his produce booth at the Saturday market at Ben Parker Elementary. It’s his just-released Rainwork, a CD of 10 solo acoustic original songs from ‘Aumakua Records. As you munch on your fish and poi, listen to him online at itunes.apple.com/us/album/rainwork/id946994265 …

Kailua Sailboards and Kayaks did well at the recent Hawaii Ecotourism Association awards ceremony by winning Ecotour Guide of the Year for Oahu (Kai‘ulani Manuwai-Oiph) and earning HEA’s sustainable tourism certification. Kualoa Ranch also earned the certification, which recognizes responsible environmental operations … Former DOE administrator Ray “Frenchy” L‘Heureux of Kailua recently talked to kids at Hale Kula Elementary on Schofield Barracks about his time as pilot of Marine One, the presidential helicopter. In fact, he’s written a book about flying for George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

His message to the keiki? “Study hard” … Hawaiian Airlines has appointed Kaneohe’s Beau Tatsumura director of line maintenance to keep the airline’s entire fleet of 47 aircraft in top shape. Beau’s got the experience for it after two decades with Aloha Air Cargo and Aloha Airlines, plus an aeronautics degree …

You can find this good read, Mokapu: A Paradise on the Peninsula, at the Marine base website, covering this first half of the 20th century at Mokapu. Prepared by M.J. Tomonari-Tuggle and Tom Arakaki, it draws on many sources, including Windward historians Paul Brennan and Mahealani Cypher. Log onto mcbhawaii.marines.mil. Then click on departments, installations, environmental, and (finally!) cultural resources & & & cchang@midweek.com