Waha Nui
Kaneohe 11-year-old Emily Stone was among 30 finalists in the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest, which flew her to Japan for the awards ceremony Aug. 28; plus she met with the auto company’s president Akio Toyoda and executive vp Yukitoshi Funo in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. Emily’s design was the only entry picked from Hawaii (first place for ages 10-12) and the only winner from America. She says she was inspired by the work of the late Herb Kane …
Castle graduate Lydia U‘ilani Kuie‘e is queen of the 2012 Aloha Festivals Royal Court, alongside her husband, king Aldo Kuie‘e, who doubles as a sheriff with the Department of Public Safety. (Does that mean he can be his own bodyguard?) Investiture is Thursday in Waikiki, and they’ll appear at Pearlridge Center’s ho‘olaulea Saturday, among many other duties through next summer … Kaneohe’s Michael Fitzgerald has begun classes at Leeward Community College, aiming for an electrical engineering degree at UH Manoa, thanks to Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard’s Apprentice to Engineer program, which pays all tuition, books, lab fees, etc. for qualified Shipyard employees … Kalaheo High’s highest scorers on advanced placement exams — five tests!: Jana and Shannon Purington and Kathy Yuen … New hires at Waikiki Aquarium: Maunawili’s Heather Down to manage its new monk seal program and Lanikai’s Charles Laidley to be curator of live exhibits. Heather’s worked with bottlenose dolphins, sea otters and sea lions in Oregon, Alaska and California.
Charles has three decades of research behind him in aquatic sciences, including directing the finfish department at Oceanic Institute … Windward United Church of Christ greets its new music director, Christine Eilers, at 9 a.m. Sunday. She directed Christ Lutheran’s choral group in Mililani for 25 years and has been active in several island choirs … Good news: Calvin and Charlene Hoe & sons have extended Waiahole Poi Factory’s eating hours to 11 a.m.-6 p.m. daily (239-2222)
