Waha Nui – 3/4/15

Darnell Souza

Three key staff at Wahiawa Middle School have been bitten by the big R (retirement) bug, and all have departed already: principal Gayle Yamaguchi, vice principal Tim Bollinger and school secretary Jewel Young … Honolulu HomeLoans bestowed its first-ever Imua Award on Haleiwa’s Darnell Souza at a recent company appreciation luncheon. A Waialua High alumna, Darnell is vice president and loan manager, and the award honors her “perseverance and ability to thrive in the face of an ever-changing market.” Mililani’s Daniel Costigan received the Affiliate Company Top Producer award, as vice president and loan manager of Honolulu Mortgage Alliance

… The state Senate has confirmed Randy Iwase to head the state Public Utilities Commission. The retired Mililani attorney will have a lot on his plate with the HECO/NextEra sale looming, and he announced a need to double the commission staff. Randy also served Central Oahu in the state Senate and on the City Council … Penelope Neri, Mililani’s queen of romance novels — she published more than 30 of them — died of cancer Feb 6 at age 63. A native of England, where she met her U.S. Air Force husband, Harvey, she also wrote children’s books in her adopted tropical home, and once lived on a Haleiwa farm, caring for dozens of stray dogs. Donations can be sent in her name to Hawaiian Humane Society

… Associa Hawaii has hired Wahiawa’s Angie Lamug as director of client accounting. She comes with 20 years of industry experience and a UH-Manoa degree in business management … The gelato machine has arrived from Italy, and Dirk Koeppenkastrop announced Feb. 24 that his IL Gelato Cafe at North Shore Marketplace is now “on the grid” for fans of the cool, tasty treat & & & cchang@midweek.com