The Mayor Meets A Moon Man
Sarah Blane, Beth Tokioka, Cathy Simao, Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr., Mary Daubert, Buzz Aldrin, Cyndi Ayonon, Sean Texeira and Kaui Tanaka. Photo courtesy the Mayor’s Office
The Garden Isle has been drawing some big names as of late no, I’m not referring to Jennifer Lopez and her backup singer Casper Smart, but to the buzz that paparazzi were on the hunt for Demi Moore, though she was hidden away in Hana. Kaua’i was part of a different kind of buzz altogether: that of Buzz Aldrin the astronaut, who was on the first manned lunar landing in history. Aldrin took a few moments from his vacation to pose for a photo with Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr. and his staff members last week …
It’s hard to believe the year 2012 is right around the corner 2011 flew by. This month does mark a year’s time that I’ve been with MidWeek. So to all the readers out there and advertisers who have been keeping us not only viable but thriving, mahalo nui! …
The soundtrack CD for the George Clooney film The Descendants is out 18 tracks of traditional (and beautiful nahenahe) Hawaiian music and includes the Gabby Pahinui classic Kaua’i Beauty. The film was partially filmed here …
The soundtrack from ‘The Descendants’ is out
Speaking of wrapping up the year, Waimea Higashi Hongwanji will host a Naikan Meditation Dec. 31 reflecting on the past year, Rev. Noriaki Fujimori tells me. Naikan is a therapy developed by Yoshimoto Ishin (19161988), a devout Buddhist with the Jodo Shinshu Buddhists in Japan, and is a structured method of self-reflection, or “seeing oneself with the mind’s eye.” Fujimori says the structure is such that it encourages focusing on specific people who have supported you during the past year, making a list of things you’ve received without compensation or consideration, thinking of someone with whom you’ve had trouble, discord or stress, or reflecting on ways in which you’ve spoken critically or inappropriately about others. It also encourages participants to forgive themselves for not reaching any of their goals and to reaffirm focus in the new year. “We can toast the kindness others have shown to us, get drunk on the love we have received and make this practice as personal to our own experiences as we like,” Fujimori says.
To learn more, call 3381847 …
In recognition of the 70th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, seven Habitat for Humanity affiliates, including Kaua’i, are joining with Lowe’s for “Hammers for Heroes,” a statewide project in partnership with volunteers, veterans and active-duty homeowners aimed at building and revitalizing 21 homes. Kaua’i Habitat for Humanity will launch a new Repair and Renovation program by installing a complete new roof on the home of JQ Smith, a twice-wounded veteran of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Recently honored on Kaua’i as one of the grand marshals of the Veteran’s Day parade, 85-year-old Smith is still Marine-trim, and an active part of the veteran community. Executive director Stephen Spears says assisting Smith was a sincere pleasure, adding that he is grateful to Lowe’s, which “provided the seed money and the impetus for us to seek out veterans and active-duty military in our community who could use a helping hand.” Construction on Smith’s roof begins this week. Kaua’i Habitat will make improvements to other homes on the island as well. Anyone interested in volunteering for projects can call Robin Mazor at 335-0296, ext. 152, or go to kauaihabitat/org to sign up …
Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity development director Anne Dimock and WWII vet JQ Smith. Photo courtesy Anne Dimock
It’s so fascinating to learn about cause and effect, especially in regard to honeybees and the role they play as pollinators for an estimated one-third of the world’s food supply. Kaua’i Beekeepers Association will host a free video presentation of Nicotine Bees, a documentary by Kevin Hansen, Saturday at 4 p.m., at Kaua’i Community College’s Electronic and Technology Building, Room 114. Released in 2010, the hourlong film is about the worldwide disappearance of honeybees and explores the link between a new class of nicotinebased pesticides and colony collapse disorder. A discussion of local apiary issues will follow the screening. Audience members are asked to bring a nonperishable food donation. For more information, contact Jimmy Trujillo at 346-7725 or jtrujill@hawaii.edu or go tokauaibuzz.com …
You may have heard her at the Ki ho’alu Festival, but if you didn’t, now is your chance. Millicent Cummings will release a new CD, Compassionate Heart, in sync with the Winter Solstice Dec. 22. The CD is available online at CD Baby, Amazon, iTunes and www.millicentcummings.com, as well as at her upcoming performances: 7-10 p.m. Dec. 17 at Church of the Pacific in Princeville with John Dumas, Darby Slick and Randy Carnevali, and 710 p.m. Dec. 22 at the new Small Town Coffee Co. in Kapa’a with Emcee Stan the Man …
This year’s annual Mokihana Christmas Party Luncheon, a benefit to help nursing students, will take place Dec. 17 at 11 a.m. at Kaua’i Beach Resort as part of Mokihana Women’s Club‘s mission to promote civic, cultural and social experiences. With the theme “Christmas in Hawai’i,” mu’umu’u and aloha shirts are suggested attire, and entertainment includes Halau O Lei Mokihana O Leinaala, Larry Rivera and the Kapa’a Middle School Choir. Marit McHugh Growing Greens will provide the centerpieces and will offer poinsettias and other Christmas plants for sale. Tickets cost $45 per person and help provide door prizes and funding for the Nursing School Students Scholarship Fund. To purchase tickets, call Gini Stoddart at 8223348. Annual donations for the YWCA’s Women’s shelter also will be accepted. Mokihana Women’s Club meets at 10 a.m. the first Wednesday of each month at Lihu’e United Church …
