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As promised, I am reviewing this year’s key Wood Craft items before launching my monthly revamped Wood Craft column, which will have a new look, on Oct. 26 …
The year got off to a roaring start for local boy Bruno Mars as he won the pop vocal album Grammy for "Unorthodox Jukebox" on Jan. 26 in L.A. and put on a fabulous halftime show in the Super Bowl on Feb. 2 in New Jersey. At the Grammys, Bruno said he loved his late mom, Bernadette, and he also recognized his dad, Peter Hernandez. A record 115.3 million TV viewers watched Bruno’s Super Bowl show. As for the game, not so super as Seattle ripped Denver, 43-8. The Roosevelt High graduate sold out three shows April 18, 19 and 21 at Blaisdell Arena. Bruno turns 29 on Wednesday …
BACKTRACKING a bit, Sandwich Isle Realty Prez Carl Smigielski and his wife, Jim, held their annual Hangover lunch on New Year’s Day at their condo. Among the guests were trumpet player Herb Alpert of Tijuana Brass fame and his wife, singer Lani Hall. She also sang the theme song to the 1983 James Bond film "Never Say Never Again." Lani and Jimmy Borges sang portions of a couple of their favorite songs at the bash … The Kahala Hotel & Resort is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with various events. Gov. Neil Abercrombie proclaimed Jan. 22, the day The Kahala opened in 1964, as The Kahala Hotel & Resort Golden Jubilee Day …
RETIRED U.S. SEN. Dan Akaka, 89, attended the Alfred Apaka 95th-birthday music celebration March 16 at Hilton Hawaiian Village. Alfred’s 93-year-old sister, Frances Mahelona, also attended. The Apaka and Akaka families lived in Pauoa Valley in the old days. Alfred’s son, Jeff, organized the musicfest … Actor Jason Momoa was in town in March and had lunch twice at Zippy’s on South King with Takeo Kobayashi, Eric Chandler and Yu Shing Ting … Hermes is known for its high-quality goods, and it can also throw a super party. It did that March 28 by taking over the Royal Hawaiian Hotel’s Monarch Room to present its Silk Ball … Ukulele artist Taimane Gardner, accompanied by guitarist Jasmine Skurtu, performed at the opening of the Tori Richard store at its new location at Ala Moana Center on April 2 …
INDIA’S ambassador to the U.S., Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and his entourage were in town in April, spurring Hawaii’s Honorary India Consul Sheila Watumull to action. She arranged for the group to have lunch April 7 at the Chief’s Hut, a gazebo fronting the Honolulu Zoo’s elephant exhibit. The gazebo was donated by Sheila in honor of her late husband, David Watumull, a key figure involving the elephant exhibit. David was called "Chief." The luncheon was followed by three days of filming for "Jurassic World" (the fourth "Jurassic Park" movie) at the elephant exhibit. The elephant keepers were used in the filming. The picture will be released next year … Hawaii’s music industry suffered a major loss when singer, musician and composer Dennis Kamakahi, 61, died of cancer April 28 …
IT WAS AN incomparable honor for me to receive a 2014 Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts Na Hoku Hanohano Lifetime Achievement Award for my coverage of island entertainers for more than 45 years. The awards were presented May 3 at the Ala Moana Hotel. Others honored with lifetime awards were Cyril Pahinui, the late Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole, the late ‘Iwalani Kahalewai, brothers Gary and the late Sam ‘Aiko, and the Polynesian Cultural Center, which marked its 50th year. After awardees were called up to the stage by emcee Kimo Kahoano, Marlene Sai presented each with a Hawaii Senate document, signed by senators, in recognition of the award. After I spoke, Jimmy Borges sang "Fly Me to the Moon" for me. Mahalo to everyone, including Nina Kealiiwahamana and Mahi Beamer, who made it possible for me to receive this incredible award, and to Hoku officials Harry B. Soria Jr., Bryson Ramos and Hailama Farden, with whom I worked in preparation for the ceremony. Pali Ka‘aihue presided over the Lifetime Awards board of governors. We lifetimers were also saluted in the sold-out Na Hoku Hanohano Awards on May 24 at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Some 1,450 people attended. HARA Secretary Lea Uehara and Bryson helped big with this event. Janet Maduli was heavily involved in producing the terrific evening. Billy V emceed the program, which was packed with top entertainers. Receiving the Hoku Lifetime Achievement Award was the honor of my lifetime …
I’LL WIND UP key 2014 Wood Craft items next week, then move to Sunday starting Oct. 26 …
Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.
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