By The Way

Plans for a momentous four-day Honolulu Centennial Family Festival at Magic Island were unveiled at a news conference last month by members of the Honolulu Centennial Celebration Commission, Mayor Mufi Hannemann, Honolulu City Council and event sponsors. The free-admission community event will be a blast from the past for those who remember the days when fairs were once held at Magic Island. The festival will feature timeless attractions alongside a few modern marvels. A major part of the City and County of Honolulu’s 100th birthday celebration, it will be held Thurs., March 30 through Sun., April 2.

AWARDS&ACCOLADES

One local, fast-footed keiki will score a touchdown as the “Official 2006 Pro Bowl Tee-Kid,” thanks to Kraft Foods, Times Super Markets and the NFL. The Tee-Kid’s job will be to run onto the field and retrieve the kicking tee after opening kick-off at the Pro Bowl on Feb. 12, 2006, at Aloha Stadium. Eighty-four of football’s biggest and brightest stars will take to the field as the AFC faces the NFC in the Pro Bowl. Offering picture-perfect playing conditions the 2006 Pro will kick off at 1 p.m.

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The John A. Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing, in collaboration with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), has awarded the 2005 Stand-Alone Baccalaureate Geriatric Course Award to the Hawaii Pacific University School of Nursing at a recent awards ceremony in Washington, D. C.

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Brock Little of Haleiwa is the sole Hawaiian surfer who was selected to surf in the 2006 Mavericks Surf Contest. Between now and March 31, 24 of the world’s most talented and courageous big-wave surfers from Hawaii, Brazil, California and South Africa will descend upon Half Moon Bay near San Francisco for the chance to ride “the most dangerous waves in the world.” Little may be best known around the world for his epic takeoff on a 30-footer in the 1990 Aikau contest.

GIFTS&GRANTS

Long-time Oahu newspaper columnist Eddie Sherman, who retired at the end of 2005, was honored with a luncheon attended by 82 people (one for each year of his life) held at Ruth’s Chris Steak House last month. Restaurant owner Randy Schoch donated the $2,000 in lunch receipts to the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific, Sherman favorite local charity.

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Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii today announced that the Kane S. Fernandez Perpetual Education Fund presented a $1,000 scholarship check to Josiah Kua, Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii’s Youth of the Year. The annual Youth of the Year Program offers exceptional Boys & Girls Club members between the ages of 14 and 17 the opportunity to compete for the title at statewide and national levels. Shown here, (from l. to. R.) are Executive Director David M. Nakada, Alliance Board (Junior Board) Darcie Yukimura, Director Sydney Fernandez-Fasi, awardee Josiah Kua, and Directors Michael A. Town and Mary Lou Lewis.

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Hawaii Pacific Federal Credit Union recently raised $2,558 for the American Red Cross, Hawaii State Chapter. The credit union collected donations from members, friends and their own employees. Most of the donations were from the sale of 245 “first aid” Red Cross teddy bears. All proceeds were directed to Hawaii’s Red Cross, which had created the bear fundraising program.

WORTHNOTING

The first of eight C-17 Globemaster III cargo jets, scheduled to arrive at Hickam AFB on Feb. 8 at 11 a.m. and will immediately enhance military capability in the Pacific region, the Air Force reported. The new squadron of C-17s will increase the military’s capability to rapidly deploy valuable assets to anywhere in the Pacific. In an unprecedented partnership with the Hawaii Air National Guard, the active duty 15th Airlift Wing will be prepared to employ the Air Force’s newest airlift weapon system to achieve success in all aspects of humanitarian and combat support.

“I’m confident that these new aircraft, along with the proud and professional Airmen of Pacific Air Forces and Hawaii Air National Guard, will help bring this vast and diverse region a bit closer together,” said Gen. Paul Hester, Pacific Air Forces commander.

Hickam’s first aircraft will be named Spirit of Hawaii, Ke Aloha.