Waha Nui
Kailua’s Nadia Busekrus has won a 2013 Junior Travel Award ($3,000-plus) for her skills and high scores on the National Spanish Examination. A junior at Sacred Hearts Academy, Nadia will join 11 other winners for a July visit to Costa Rica … Two WCC students, Tanti Septianti and Anyah Albert, have won the Central Oahu Soroptimists Women’s Opportunity Award for achievements and triumphs over domestic violence. The cash awards support their goal of educating teens about domestic abuse …
Alas, artist David Friedman now lives in Honolulu, despite labelling him a Kailua resident in the March 20 Waha Nui, but some of his paintings are at Island Treasures … Butterfly update: Kaori Brown reports that Huakailani School has rescued another 40 caterpillars at its Kailua crown-flower garden and is running out of leaves (263-2020) …
Le Jardin Academy eighth-grader Hayley Dietrich earned the No. 2 spot in the State Spelling Bee March 23 in a tense spell-off with Kauai winner Akira Takabayashi. Well done, Hayley … Kathie Wells of Community Helping Schools says Kailua High’s food science class needs measuring cups and spoons, pots, pans and bowls. Call 263-6703 or go to communityhelpingschools.org. …
Kailua’s Gary Asato has been named to head marketing and sales for Hawaii Dental Service, the state’s largest dental benefits provider. Gary has two decades of experience with health plans, including United Healthcare and Kaiser Permanente, and degrees from University of Washington and Chaminade … Kailua’s Victoria Kapuni, a former Philadelphia debutante and attorney, has published The Kahuna and I: A Remarkable True Hawaiian Story, recounting her spiritual connection and marriage to the late Bill Kapuni, a native artist and descendant of Kamehameha III, “in the autumn of my life.” Visit thekahunaandi.com …
Thumbs up for Castle High’s Erin Kanda (first in biotechnology) and Troy Peiler (first in sports medicine) and four colleagues in the school’s HOSA club, whose performance at the state level qualifies them to go in June to the nationals in Tennessee. HOSA stands for Health Occupations Students of America
