History, protest an uneasy mix

Ceremony and civil protest both have their place, but they clashed a bit at the La Hoihoi Ea (Restoration Day) observances Wednesday at Thomas Square.

The rites of lowering the Union Jack and raising the Hawaiian flag have become a yearly event, celebrated especially by Hawaiian sovereignty advocates. The occasion marks the day and rough location of the spot where Rear Adm. Richard Thomas officially represented the British in restoring sovereignty to the Hawaiian kingdom months after it was seized in 1843.

Some attending were unhappy the city had just ousted squatters from the fringes of the park — again. But this particular green was Hawaii’s first true public park. Its official opening in 1887 drew huge crowds, historians say, and the Royal Hawaiian Band played.

There’s no record that campouts there were ever OK.

Poncie played his part for diversity

The late "Poncie" Ponce was one of the artists helping to boost diversity in TV entertainment, which was practically nonexistent when "Hawaiian Eye" premiered in 1959.

Ponce, who died July 19 in L.A., was born Ponciano Hernandez on Maui. And his little piece of TV history shows how unaccustomed the industry was at the time to spotlighting Asian actors:

The comedic cabbie he played was called Kazuo Kim.

Say, what? How many ethnicities were rolled up into this one dude?

Ah, well, The show helped put Hawaii on the television map, and Poncie played his part.