Waha Nui

Christopher Wu

The executive vice president of Kyoya Co. has at least two swank dinners to look forward to, all because he’s such a good guy. Leilehua alumnus Ernest Nishizaki will be honored April 5 with the Legacy of Tourism award by the UH School of Travel Industry Management. And April 13 the Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation bestows upon him the 2012 Kulia I Ka Nu’u Award. Both dinners are at the Sheraton Waikiki. Ernest says his time at Leilehua “helped to spark my imagination and fuel the passion for future accomplishments throughout my career” …

Sunset Beach Elementary third-grader Vivi Byrne, with the baking help of brother Vini and teacher-sponsor (her mom), made nearly $110 from a bake sale with the Animal Lovers Club in the fall. Proceeds (cash, not cookies) went to feed the dogs at the Hawaiian Humane Society … Jack Johnson sings about the joys of being plastic-free on YouTube for the Kokua Hawaii Foundation – and it all rhymes! …

Mililani High student Taylor Oyama, who also excels at tennis and marketing projects, has won a scholarship from the University of Oregon Alumni Association, Hawaii chapter …

Mililani resident Christopher Wu has joined Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties’ Leeward office as a Realtor associate. Christopher also runs a jewelry business and a restaurant, plays golf, tennis and walks a lot … Benjamin Casper (Leilehua 2009) has graduated from Air Force basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas …

New Schofield Barracks neighbors, Achatinella mustelina, are settling into their special gated community, safe from predators in the Waianae mountains – so don’t go try to greet them. Vince Costello and the team from the award-winning Oahu Army Natural Resource Program escorted some 300 kahuli tree snails to the fancy, fenced and wired enclosure by helicopter last month. Vince, a rare-snail conservation specialist, explained to Hawaii Army Weekly that some 300 kahuli tree snails were brought back “to either where they came from or where their ancestors came from.” Live long and prosper …

Seattle Pacific University lists two scholarly Mililani students on its fall semester dean’s list: Lauren Marie Buenaventura and Sarah Melissa Leong