Magazine shares tragedies of 2 women with Hawaii ties

Tragedies are responsible for two women with Hawaii backgrounds, Kimberly “KJ” Morris, 37, and Anna Akana, 26, being featured in the June 27 issue of People magazine. Morris was a victim of the June 12 Orlando, Fla., mass shooting and Akana, whose sister Kristina committed suicide at 13 in 2007 because of bullying, is using her YouTube show to keep others from committing such an act. Akana is an actress, comedian and filmmaker most known for her weekly online show with 1.4 million subscribers. A photo of Morris is pictured on People’s cover with the killer’s 48 other victims and again inside in the five-page feature. Her photo wearing a basketball tank top bearing the number 28 with her arms outstretched is the largest picture on the pages …

Onward: Author Lisa Freeman, daughter of original “Hawaii Five-0” creator Leonard Freeman, made a quick trip to Hawaii from California to attend the private Mass for Jimmy Borges at Sts. Peter & Paul Church on June 10. Jimmy, who died May 30, just before his 81st birthday on June 1, appeared in more than a dozen original “Five-0” episodes. When Lisa came here for a signing for her book “Honey Girl” at Barnes & Noble in April 2015, Jimmy took part in the program, along with others who appeared in original and new “Five-0” shows, and he later stood in line to have Lisa sign a book. Good guy Jimmy would not buck the line.

Jimmy’s brothers Allan and Donald Borges also came from California for his services. Musicians and singers Deshannon Higa and wife Rocky Brown, Noel Okimoto, Rocky Holmes, Carole Kai and husband Eddie Onouye, and “Five-0” vet Al Harrington and Cal Lui, Jimmy’s close buddies, were there. The trio scheduled lunch once a month to talk story. Emme Tomimbang, also known as the “fourth Freeman sister” for her heavy TV coverage of “Five-0,” was also at the private Mass with her husband, retired Judge James Burns. The trio of Leslie Wilcox, Robert Clarke and Walter Dods, mainly responsible for establishing the Borges Musical Scholarships, attended. Jimmy’s wife, Vicki Borges, thanked the crowd for attending the Mass. Vicki has held up extremely well during the entire difficult ordeal leading up to and after Jimmy’s death. Tuesday it was not surprising that she said she has not recovered from it all …

Condolences to the family of marvelous bass player Steve Jones, who died of cancer Sunday. Besides being a standout musician, Steve was truly a nice and friendly guy. He was one of Borges’ backup musicians for many years. They worked together while both were suffering from cancer on Jimmy’s album “Jimmy Borges” that won four Na Hoku Hanohano awards this year. Steve received a standing ovation after he arrived in a wheelchair at the celebration of Jimmy’s life on June 12 at the Royal Hawaiian after Jimmy’s ashes were spread at sea. Honolulu Pops conductor Matt Catingub, who was also on Jimmy’s album and who had Jimmy headline pops concerts, flew in to speak at that event. Others speaking, performing or attending the celebration emceed by Tom Moffatt were: Gov. David Ige, Mayor Kirk Caldwell, Loretta Ables, Cha Thompson, Marlene Sai, former Police Chief Lee Donohue (Jimmy served as a police commissioner), Glenn Medeiros, Albert Maligmat, Robert Cazimero, John Henry Felix, Dan Del Negro, John Kolivas, Ginai and Melveen Leed. The celebration ended with a video of Jimmy singing “My Way” on the big screen. “Jimmy Borges: A Life Story” will be rerun at 9 p.m. Saturday by KGMB …

The number of people Jimmy touched during his rich lifetime is amazing. The response to my lengthy Wood Craft column that ran June 1 in the Borges tribute section was more than anything I have ever received for anything I have written in my 63-year newspaper career …

As tribute to Borges the July, August and September Mele at the Moana events — besides the main acts — will feature a segment with a music student from the University of Hawaii, where the Borges scholarships were recently established. Mele at the Moana is held at the Moana Surfrider Hotel Banyan Court on the last Friday of the month. Tonight’s event headlines guitarist Jeff Peterson and singer Nathan Aweau …

Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.