THERE IS NO LETUP in fundraising in Hawaii for Japan earthquake and tsunami victims. The latest big event is a dinner, Lokomaika‘i for Japan, next Friday at the Hawaii Prince Waikiki, with Prince Resorts’ chefs combining to whip up a feast. Even Prince President Donn Takahashi will don a chef’s hat and get cooking for this one. The chefs to showcase their signature dishes are: George Gomes Jr., executive chef of Mauna Kea Resort; Khamtan Tanhchaleun, exec chef at Prince Waikiki; Masami Shimoyama, of Prince Waikiki’s Hakone restaurant; and Peter Abarcar Jr., Hapuna Beach Hotel. Willie K, and Palolo with Troy Fernandez and Jon Basebase will entertain. The emcees are Hawaii News Now Sunrise anchor Steve Uyehara and Liz Chun, former KGMB sports director, now a Pali Momi exec. Included are a silent auction and a raffle giveaway of a trip for two to Las Vegas. A reception starts at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 6. Tickets start at $150 or $125 presale. Proceeds will go to the Japan-America Society of Hawaii for donation to the Japanese Red Cross Society. Call 944-4488 or email LokomaikaiForJapan@PrinceHawaii.com for reservations …
THE MAUNA KEA Beach Hotel on the Big Isle is ranked No. 1 in Hawaii and seventh worldwide in the 2011 listing of “Top 100 Tennis Resorts” by Tennis Resorts Online. That’s not all that is making the Mauna Kea proud. The hotel’s golf course has been rated No. 27 by Golf Digest magazine in its listing of “America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses.” Other Hawaii courses listed by the magazine in this month’s issue include: Kapalua’s Plantation course, No. 17; Prince at Princeville, 19; Challenge at Manele, 37; Wailea Gold 74; and Turtle Bay, 81 …
OAHU’S YWCA is honoring five women at its 34th annual Leader Luncheon fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 8 at Hilton Hawaiian Village. The honorees are: Vicky Cayetano, president & CEO of United Laundry Services and wife of former Gov. Ben Cayetano; Colleen Minami, vice president of Aloha Medical Mission; state Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland; Catherine Payne, retired principal of Farrington High; and Linda Rosario, owner-operator of Grelyn of Hawaii, the state’s largest McDonald’s franchise company. YWCA member Christine Camp, president and CEO of Avalon Group, and Gabe Lee, executive vice president of American Savings Bank, are co-chairs of the event that supports the YWCA and its programs. Tickets start at $125 for YWCA members and $175 for nonmembers … Elizabeth Misao Keith says she has the “dubious distinction of being the oldest Ph.D. recipient, at age 55, in our East Asian Languages and Literatures Department at the University of Hawaii.” Elizabeth received her doctorate at Saturday’s graduation ceremonies at Stan Sheriff Center. Her sponsor, Dr. Nobuko Ochner, placed the Ph.D.-hood on her. Elizabeth works with NHK, Japan Broadcasting Corp., when it covers news in Hawaii. She also has a freelance business interpreting for Japanese clients. With the Ph.D. in Japanese literature, she will be teaching at UH in the fall semester …
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Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things.
E-mail him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.
