Waha Nui
Kaiser grad Kawika Burgess, now a fluent Hawaiian speaker, has been appointed second in command (chief operating officer) for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Kawika has a strong background in land management from Kamehameha Schools and the Trust for Public Land … Windsurfer Wiley Daniel, 8, made history as the youngest competitor in the recent American Windsurfing Tour Aloha Classic on Maui. The Honolulu Waldorf third-grader likes to hone his skills after school at nearby Aina Haina Beach Park, riding his custom board with miniature sails …
Waialae Iki’s Savanna Rafto has been selected as the Paul Frank Role Model of 2013 “for reflecting the joyful and creative spirit of the Paul Frank brand.” You can see her in the November Teen Vogue. Savanna is studying at American University in Washington, D.C. … COPD Coalition executive director Valerie Chang of East Oahu is breathing easier now: Gov. Neil Abercrombie declared November as Hawaii Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Month, and Nov. 20 as COPD Day. Want to know more? Call her at 699-9839 …
Hurray for Carissa Moore, the Palolo girl is now the 2013 ASP Women’s World title holder at the Cascais Girls Pro surfing championships in Portugal … Hawaii Kai’s Kenneth “Sonny” Quon is United Chinese Society’s 2013 Model Chinese Father of the Year, which honors dads who, with their children, “show successful contributions to the community.” The retired businessman loves traveling and getting his kids (Kennydeen, Kristi, Kerri and Kendall) involved in their culture. Guess what? He’s currently on the UCS trip to China and the ancestral village …
Rene Mansho of Going Green reports that the Kaimuki High recycling drive last month was “the biggest and busiest ever” – people carrying their stuff in lines that went out into the street … Palolo Neighborhood Board saluted Bryant Pham at its October meeting for being Kaimuki High School’s first valedictorian from Palolo Valley Homes. He’s now a UH Manoa engineering student with a full Board of Regents scholarship … Jonathan Mito (Kalani 2009) has graduated from Army basic training at Fort Benning, Ga.
