Birthday is extra special for Kalani sophomore
Carly Kakuda of Palolo enjoyed her first-birthday baby luau when she was 4. And this year she’ll celebrate her “Sweet 16” even though it’s really only her fourth birthday.
How you figure? Two words: leap year.
The Kalani High School sophomore was born on Feb. 29. Carly usually celebrates her birthday on March 1, says her mother, LeeAnn Kakuda. Although this year’s calendar includes Feb. 29, the leapling has a school tennis match Wednesday and will have to wait until spring break for her party because of sports and other commitments in her busy teenage life.
“She appreciates the specialness (of being born on Feb. 29). If we were cruel we would do it once every four years,” joked her mom. The chances of a leap birthday have been calculated at 1 in 1,461. About 200,000 Americans share Carly’s Feb. 29 birthday, according to the Census Bureau.
Well-known leaplings include jazz clarinetist and big-band leader Jimmy Dorsey (1904), singer and actress Dinah Shore (1916), NFL Pro Bowler Bryce Eric Paup (1968), rapper Ja Rule (1976) and actors Antonio Sabato Jr. (1972) and Dennis Farina (1944). — Christie Wilson
Young’s Market mixologist whips up cocktail with complex flavors
Feb. 29 is such an uncommon day, it deserves its own cocktail, don’t you think?
In fact, Harry Craddock, author of “The Savoy Cocktail Book,” concocted a libation in 1928 — a leap year — at London’s Savoy Hotel that has survived the intervening 21 leap years.
| Leap Year is a year in which one extra day is added to the end of February, making the month 29 days long. The great Julius Caesar is said to have created the extra day, added every fourth year, to keep the seasons and the calendar in sync. It falls in February because that was the last month of the year in Roman times. |
Craddock’s classic mix of gin, vermouth and orange liquer offers just the right buzz and chemistry to make your heart leap. It’s said to have been responsible for more marriage proposals than any other mixed alcoholic drink.
We asked master mixologist Joey Gottesman of Young’s Market to use his knowledge of spirits to whip up a classic Leap Year Cocktail and a more modern version that is not as sweet.
Simple as it may seem, the Leap Year Cocktail is a complex drink, Gottesman said. It’s a dry cocktail with bitter, peppery, honey and citrus notes and an amber tone. With every sip you get a different flavor profile, he said.
The ingredients are available at Tamura’s Fine Wine & Liquors, Fujioka’s Wine Times, Kadota’s Liquor in Hilo and other stores with a large liquor selection. Or, enjoy a Leap Year Cocktail at Azure at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, where it will be added to the drink menu starting Wednesday so you won’t have to wait another four years to try it. — Nina Wu
CLASSIC LEAP YEAR COCKTAIL
2 oz. gin
1/2 oz. sweet vermouth
1/2 oz. Grand Marnier orange liqueur
1/4 oz. fresh lemon juice
Pour ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice. Stir and strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon twist.
JOEY GOTTESMAN’S LEAP YEAR COCKTAIL
2 oz. Bombay Sapphire gin
1/2 oz. Antica Carpana sweet vermouth
1/4 oz. Cointreau orange liqueur
1/4 oz. Rémy Martin Cognac VSOP
1/4 oz. fresh lemon juice
Pour ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice. Stir and strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon twist.
Women get day to turn tables on proposals
If it’s leap year, it’s ladies’ choice, according to tradition.
In fifth-century Ireland, St. Bridget supposedly complained to St. Patrick about women having to wait so long for a man to propose. St. Patrick’s solution was to allow women to propose once every four years on Feb. 29.
During the Middle Ages, Queen Margaret of Scotland made the tradition a law, and any man who declined a woman’s leap year marriage proposal had to pay a fine ranging from a kiss to payment for a silk gown or gloves.
So take advantage of the day to pop the question to your beau.
Who knows?
He may feel relieved he doesn’t have to plan his own elaborate proposal, or maybe he’s too busy or simply a procrastinator when it comes to sealing the deal.
But getting down on one knee and presenting a ring to your guy may be awkward, since men generally don’t wear engagement rings.
So instead, find some other meaningful token, like a timeless wristwatch, bracelet or pendant. "Money clips are popular with local guys, too," said Doreen Mortimer, owner of Silver Rhino jewelry store at Ala Moana Center.
Sterling-silver cufflinks and other tasteful accessories can be found at Tiffany & Co. and similar luxury stores.
Wedding experts suggest a low-key proposal at a sporting event or his favorite restaurant. Or go high tech, says TheKnot.com, by uploading a video proposal on YouTube and emailing him the link with a note saying he just has to watch "this hilarious home movie." Send him on a text-message scavenger hunt that leads to a secret proposal spot, or create a podcast proposal and sneak it onto his iPod.
Whatever the scenario, the proposal should be personal and resonate with important elements of the relationship, said Karin Knudsen, general manager of the Wedding Ring Shop on Kapiolani Boulevard. She suggests going back to the place you first met or mirroring a special shared experience.
When the time comes to pick out wedding bands, intricate designs for men are a growing trend. "Brides are insisting that it’s important not to get just a plain old band," Knudsen said. "There’s no reason that men should be left behind in fashion." — Nancy Arcayna
Jump for joy, health or plain fun and get into the spirit of leap day
Take a literal approach to Feb. 29 with a big leap — out of an airplane.
“We have people do it on Valentine’s Day and all the time to show their love,” says Frank Hinshaw of Skydive Hawaii at Dillingham Airfield in Waialua. “And every four years (during a leap year), people do it to leap for joy.”
For $225 you can do a tandem jump with a SkyDive Hawaii instructor from an altitude of 10,000 to 14,000 feet.
In honor of leap year, Hinshaw said he’ll knock $75 off the price for walk-ins if you bring in a copy of this article between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. ($100 discount for military personnel).
No experience is required, but you must be at least 18 years old. Call 637-9700.
If you prefer to take your leaps closer to the ground, here are some options:
>> Kids and kids-at-heart can jump to their heart’s content in an inflatable party bouncer rented from Ohana Bounce (www.ohanabounce.com; 366-5342). Rental rates start at $120, says owner Daniel Bosse, who offers traditional castle bouncers and inflatables with Disney Princesses, SpongeBob, Hello Kitty and other character themes.
>> Add jumping rope to your fitness routine and burn about 12 calories a minute. Hawaiian Island Skippers, the state’s only competitive jump rope squad, sponsors free classes Wednesdays at 3 p.m. at Mililani Recreation Center No. 3. Christy Fritts says the sessions draw jumpers from age 3 up to folks in their 50s. Jump ropes are provided, and you can buy one there for $5. — Christie Wilson
