Police gala honors Moon, Thompson

Retired Hawaii Chief Justice Ronald Moon and Cha Thompson, founder of Tihati Productions, will be honored at the Hono­lulu Police Community Foundation’s 2011 gala event.

The theme is “Hono­lulu’s Finest.” Moon is being recognized for his involvement with the youth program Kick Start Karate. He chairs the education committee and supervises the scholarship program. Thompson is a former chairwoman of the Hono­lulu Police Commission, of which she was a member for several years.

The gala takes place 5:30 p.m. May 20, at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel’s Kauai and Maui ballrooms. Reservations for tables and tickets can be made at 942-3873. Visit www.hono­lulu­police­com­mu­nity­foun­da­tion.org.

Trump doubts Obama’s isle birth

Count Donald Trump among the legion of “birthers” who continue to question whether President Ba­rack Obama was born in Hawaii.

In an interview today with ABC’s “Good Morning America,” the developer, reality TV star and maybe Republican presidential hopeful said he doubts Obama was born in the United States.

“Everybody that even gives a hint of being a birther … even a little bit of a hint, like, gee, you know, maybe, just maybe this much of a chance, they label them as an idiot. Let me tell you, I’m a really smart guy,” Trump told the show.

“He grew up and nobody knew him. You know? When you interview people, if ever I got the nomination, if I ever decide to run, you may go back and interview people from my kindergarten. They’ll remember me,” he continued. “Nobody ever comes forward. Nobody knows who he his until later in his life. It’s very strange. The whole thing is very strange.”

Obama was born Aug. 4, 1961, in Hono­lulu, and notices of his birth appeared in both the Hono­lulu Star-Bulletin and The Hono­lulu Advertiser about 10 days later.

Abercrombie, Carlisle entice visitors

Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Hono­lulu Mayor Peter Carlisle are telling Hawaii residents and tourists that Japan’s nuclear emergency poses no danger to the islands.

Abercrombie said in a statement yesterday that state and county monitoring systems haven’t detected any increase in radiation levels. He says Hawaii remains “open for business” as the world’s paradise.

Carlisle said, “Hawaii is safe, and we encourage anyone planning to visit to please come and enjoy the islands. Our Emergency Serv­ices Department and the Department of Emergency Management have been working closely with state and federal agencies to monitor the situation.”

Phone-light vigil tonight at UH

A University of Hawaii student-organized candlelight vigil, “Aloha for Japan,” will be held from 7 to 8:30 tonight on the Bachman Hall lawn on the Manoa campus, marking the week since Japan’s earthquake triggered tsunami devastation and the current nuclear crisis.

A vigil will utilize the lights from cell phones instead of candles. There will be remarks from faculty members and students, including students from Japan, then a moment of silence at 7:46 p.m., the approximate Hawaii time that the earthquake struck Japan last week.

Students will oversee the folding of 1,000 origami cranes and writing of messages of support, with these symbolic gestures of good will to be shared with the consul general of Japan in Hono­lulu. Donations will be relayed to the Hawaii chapter of the American Red Cross.

Red Cross helps Molokai victims

Red Cross officials are providing food and clothing to Molokai residents whose homes were damaged in last week’s tsunami.

Molokai police say the tsunami hit at least eight homes on the island, including one that was lifted off of its concrete slab and moved 10 feet.

Police said the damage occurred on the east end of Molokai. Many ancient fishponds were also damaged.

Japan-America Society accepts aid

The Japan-America Society of Hawaii has become a go-to point for numerous Hawaii residents and businesses wanting to help with disaster relief in Japan.

JASH has accepted $25,000 from Servco Pacific Inc., and an as-yet undetermined amount from First Insurance Co. of Hawaii, its employees and the First Insurance Charitable Foundation, in a matching fund program. DFS Hawaii has donated $5,000.

All funds collected by the JASH “Japan Earthquake Relief Fund” will be given to Japa­nese relief organizations to provide humanitarian aid. First Hawaiian Bank has established a $100,000 relief fund and will accept additional donations to the Japan-America Society of Hawaii’s Japanese Red Cross benefit fund through March 31.

Marukai is also collecting donations in all stores for the statewide Aloha for Japan Fund through April 30.

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