This being Kamehameha Day it’s appropriate to mention several Hawaiians in today’s column. So I’m kicking off with Kahea Chock, 51, who portrays King Kamehameha in tomorrow’s floral parade. Like father like son well applies to Kahea and his dad, former UH football star Colin Chock, 76, who was king in a parade in the 1980s. On being named to be the king, Kahea, a Kamehameha ’76 grad, said, "I feel really honored, especially since dad was the king." Colin, a Kamehameha ’53 grad, added, "I told my son that being a Hawaiian and portraying the king is an esteemed honor." He added that in his parade, Hawaiians and Hawaiians-at-heart stood and some even bowed when the royal float was near them. "It grabbed my heart" …

SPEEDING ON: I was planning to see "Princess Kaiulani" but I wasn’t rushing it. However, after reading that Q’orianka Kilcher, who portrays the beloved princess, was arrested outside the White House where she was tied to the fence and was covered by a black liquid that was poured over her, I zoomed to Ward theaters to get a look at this young woman. In the role of the princess, Kilcher used her intelligence, charm and beauty in an attempt to get President Grover Cleveland to block annexation engineered by American businessmen. But in real life, Kilcher, 20, and her mother Saskia Kilcher, 41, used an in-your-face approach in Washington June 1 to protest an upcoming visit by Peru President Alan Garcia. The actress’ dad is a Peruvian Indian and she is said to be a supporter of indigenous people’s causes …

Eloise Kalanipua Wery Martin, the grandmother of Bronson De Rego, 14, who died of injuries June 3 after a golf cart accident May 31 in Waimea, was known as the "Voice of Aloha" for the Hawaii Visitors Bureau for 28 years. Eloise answered calls to the HVB with voice that was not only full of aloha but also gave the caller a touch of the charm and beauty of the islands as well. Her grandson’s organs were donated and made it possible for others to live. Bronson’s parents are Lamar and Shirley De Rego …

During "Voyager’s Night" — A Tribute to the Discovery of Hawaii" at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Big Island tomorrow, the screening of Herb Kane and Paul Csige’s collaboration, "Voyagers — The First Hawaiians" will be shown at 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Call 808-886-2197 …

On June 3, Puna Chillingworth walked by my table at Murphy’s during lunch and said, "We lost a great one today, Charlie Wedemeyer." He sure was right. Charlie, a standout athlete and football coach, couldn’t walk or speak for about half of his 64 years, but he stood tall, way above other men. After a great athletic career, he coached winning Las Gatos High football teams for many years by relaying signals through his devoted wife Lucy …

The YWCA is holding its 33rd annual Leader Luncheon next Friday, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in the Coral Ballroom of the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Being recognized for their achievements are: Nola Nahulu, executive and artistic director of the Hawaii Youth Opera; Violeta Arnobit, CEO of Ace Medical; Faye Kennedy, longtime civil rights advocate; Nanci Kriedman, leader of the Domestic Violence Action Center, and Leslie Wilcox, former TV anchor and now CEO of PBS-Hawaii. To register for the luncheon, go to www.ywcaoahu.org …

Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things Fridays. E-mail him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.