From Obama, Japan, to Obama, the man

An exhibition connecting President Barack Obama with the Japanese city of the same name has opened through Dec. 2 at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii on Beretania Street, timed to coincide with the president’s hosting of this week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference.

University of Hawaii anthropology professor Christine Yano visited the town of Obama of 33,000 in the Fukui prefecture of Japan two years ago, returning in June with the mayor’s cooperation on the exhibit. Yano said about 30 people from the city with the moniker meaning "little beach," including the Obama Girls and Boys hula troupe, were on hand for the opening festivities this week.

On her UH website, Yano said the exhibit, "Obama no Obama: Politics, Celebrity and International Ties," includes goods ranging from "Obama in Da House" T-shirts, to depictions of Barack Obama as a tiki god, and Obama figure dolls, masks, chopsticks and manju from Japan. The exhibit is open from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

UH passing records fall to Houston quarterback

Timmy Chang is no longer the most productive passer in NCAA history, having been passed by Houston’s Case Keenam.

Keenam passed for 407 yards in Saturday’s 56-13 win over Alabama-Birmingham to overcome Chang’s record 17,072 yards passing at Hawaii from 2000 to 2004. Keenam needed only 267 to pass Chang’s total yards, and his total now stands at 17,212.

Former Warrior Colt Brennan remains atop the NCAA record book for tossing the pigskin during his three years at UH from 2005-07, throwing 58 touchdown passes in a season in 2006. His record of 131 touchdown passes during his UH days also now belongs to Keenam, who has thrown for a career high of 141 touchdowns for the Cougars, undefeated after nine games this season.