Japan tragedy brought out the best in island residents

WE WIND UP looking back on events receiving ink in Wood Craft in 2011 by taking in happenings from the first half of the year. One of the biggest news stories was Japan’s horrendous March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The goodness and generosity of Hawaii’s people, entertainers and businesses were clearly shown as they kept participating for months in fundraising efforts for victims …

EMMA VEARY at age 81 showed she still has the golden voice that made her one of Hawaii’s biggest stars as Hawaii PBS screened “Hawaiian Airlines Presents Na Mele: Emma Veary at the Halekulani” June 5 … Justin Bieber, on Maui with girlfriend Selena Gomez, had dinner at Kimo’s Lahaina oceanfront restaurant

May 26 … “Hawaii Five-0” was renewed for a second season in May … Things were hopping at C.S. Wo & Sons May 21 as the Year of the Rabbit was celebrated. Welcoming and mingling with guests were Betty and Robert Wo Sr. and their sons Robert “Bub” Jr., Wendell, Scott, Bennet and Mike … Some in the large Wo crowd attended the Hawaii wedding reception of Jany Cataldo and Charles Davenport the same night at the Kahala home of Bill Cataldo, Jany’s ex. Their kids, Anthony and Elizabeth Cataldo, flew in from California as did the newlyweds, who were married March 28 in L.A. How’s that for all in the family …

JIM NABORS, Jimmy Borges, Monica Mancini, Afatia, Augie T and the Matt Catingub orchestra performed at Mayor Peter Carlisle’s Mayoral Celebration at the Hilton April 19. Al Waterson emceed. Tickets ranged from $150 to $1,000 and the 1,100 attendees laid out $300,000 … “Soul Surfer” hit theaters. The story of Kauai’s Bethany Hamilton, who lost her left arm to a shark in 2003 when she was 13, and her rough road back and becoming a pro surfer, was extremely well done …

THE THEME for the March 18 Kamehameha Schools Song Contest at Blaisdell Arena was “Aunty Irmgard Farden Aluli: A Musical Journey” … A musical tribute to the late Alfred Apaka was held March 19 at Hilton Village on what would have been the singer’s 92nd birthday … Lynne Waters, was named associate veep for external affairs and university relations for the UH system …

WOLFGANG’S Steakhouse in the Royal Hawaiian Center was Pro Bowl Trophy Host Jan. 25 to 29. Owner Wolfgang Zwiener of New York delivered the trophy, made by Tiffany, to the Waikiki steakhouse accompanied by Pro Bowl cheerleaders. Wolfgang’s will repeat Jan. 24 to 28 as official host for this year’s Pro Bowl to be held at Aloha Stadium Jan. 29 … Christian Okoye, La’Roi Glover and John Olenchalk, who made good in the NFL, were in town for the Pro Bowl and served as guest bartenders at Ruth’s Chris Steak House on Waikiki Beach Walk

Jan. 29. It was a benefit for the Christian Okoye Foundation, which helps keep youngsters on the right path … JAMES MacARTHUR, Danno in the original “Hawaii Five-0,” was remembered in song and hula in a celebration of his life Jan. 30 at the Hawaii Theatre. His wife, H.B., Jimmy Borges, Mary Gutzi, Jordan Segundo, Al Harrington and Michael Pili Pang’s halau Ka No‘eau took part. MacArthur died Oct. 28, 2010, at age 72 in Florida …