A Bit Of Broadway Comes To Puhi
Laurel Petterson-McGraw. Photo courtesy KauaiCommunityPlayers.org
Craving a little slice of New York theater on our lovely but sometimes sleepy island, I am reminded of a funny scene in a cute movie filmed here in 1992 called Honeymoon in Vegas.
In it, a senile Chief Orman (Peter Boyle) sings his way through the score of South Pacific and declares his love for show tunes. He then asks Jack Singer (Nicolas Cage) whether he’s seen the musical Grand Hotel, and whether it will come to Kaua’i.
Perhaps it was in an effort to bring a taste of the Theater District to those with a similar yearning that Kaua’i Community Players’ director Laurel Petterson-McGraw brought The Language Archive to the Garden Isle after seeing it at the renowned Ashland Shakespeare Festival in Oregon.
A play about a linguist in search of the right words, and saving his career and marriage, The Language Archive debuted off-Broadway in 2010. All about the context of language and the struggle of two people hearing the same words but extracting different meanings, the play explores the fundamental need humans have for reciprocated understanding.
The cast of ‘The Language Archive’. Photo courtesy Kauai Community Players
Written by Julia Cho, a third-generation Korean American, the musical opens at 7 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Puhi Theatrical Warehouse for a four weekend run, with show times at 7 p.m. Fridays and 4 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 11. Cost is $20. For more information, call the KCP hotline 245-7700 or go to kauaicommunityplayers.org …
It is impressive to hear of on-island efforts to help Japan recover from the March quakes and tsunami, thanks to the innovation and coordination of entities such as Kaua’i Visitor’s Bureau, which set up an account with First Hawaiian Bank to gather donations. I’d also like to laud Marvin Terada, who launched a relief effort that resulted in raising $1,300 for Iwaki City, which suffered extensive damage from the tsunami, with residents having to evacuate because of radiation concerns from the Daiichi power plant. Scott Ashworth, director of golf at Kaua’i Lagoons Golf Club, says Terada and Ricky Brun played a critical role in fundraising for the Iwaki City relief effort and also the Aloha Section PGA Japan Relief fund.
Terada also deserves congratulations for his new position at Kaua’i Marriott, Ashworth says. The former outside guest supervisor was promoted to front desk manager Aug. 1 …
Marvin Terada. Photo courtesy Scott Ashworth
Speaking of Japan, I hear from Kaua’i Marathon consultant Robin Jumper that the number of Japanese entrants in the Sept. 4 race has increased this year, as 55 are expected. That’s nearly double the 28 participants in 2009 and significantly higher than last year’s 36. Way to keep on keeping on, Japan. Jumper says the number of wahine is up a little this year. Last year 58 percent of participants were female, and so far 62 percent of registrants are women. (Let’s get that number a little higher, ladies!)
Also interesting is that 47 states will be represented, with an international flair added with runners from Canada, Korea, Sweden, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Qatar and Kenya.
Jumper says 1,196 people are registered so far, and that the event is on pace to draw 1,600 runners. Not bad considering this is Kaua’i Marathon’s third year!
Nathan Rutledge. Photo courtesy Hugh A. Strom
Most noteworthy is this year’s race will include two 400th-time marathoners (what are the odds?): 77-year-old Robbie “Red Hat” Wilson, who started running a minimum of 12 marathons a year at age 48 (29 years in a row), and 49-year-old Yen Nguyen, who has been averaging two marathons a month since 1996, and has run marathons in all 50 states. Can’t wait to meet these energetic people! …
E komo mai to Nathan Rutledge, who was recently named project manager of Briant Construction, a mechanical, design and building construction management subsidiary of Kaua’i-based Aqua Engineers. Rutledge will oversee construction of the Lyman Road project at Schofield Barracks, which is expected to break ground this month. Vice president Brian Thornton says Rutledge’s construction management experience and goals fit with Aqua’s sustainability goals, which include converting upgrades and new technology.
A former estimator and manager of Clem’s Plumbing Inc. in KailuaKona, Rutledge also was general manager for Legacy Partners in Irvine, Calif., and a resident services manager at Archstone Smith in Marina Del Rey, Calif. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in communications from the University of Hawaii at Manoa …
Michael Yamane. Photo courtesy Anne Barnes
Congratulations to Michael Yamane, who was promoted to chief of operations for Kaua’i Island Utility Cooperative July 29. Yamane will be responsible for transmission and distribution, production, engineering, legislative and regulatory affairs and safety. He was hired by Kaua’i Electric (the predecessor of KIUC) in 1989 as an associate engineer and later became engineering manager. KIUC CEO and president David Bissell says Yamane has been an influential leader of KIUC’s management team for several years. “His vision and execution of progressively increasing responsibilities … made this an easy decision.” Yamane earned his bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and is a licensed engineer. He lives in Kapa’a with wife Valerie and sons Derek and Shawn …
So sorry to hear about a missing woman from Koloa. Kaua’i police are asking the public’s help in finding Roseanna Pontorno, 61, who was last seen July 26 at about 1 p.m. heading to the beach. Pontorno did not return home and has not made contact with her family since. Police located Pontorno’s vehicle in the Poipu area but have been unable to find her, and her family is concerned for her safety. She is 5-foot-4, of Caucasian descent, weighs roughly 140 pounds, has brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information about her disappearance is asked to call Detective Ledesma at 241-1687, KPD Dispatch at 2411711, or CrimeStoppers, 241-1887…
Roseanna Pontorno. Photo courtesy Kauai Police Department
Police also are cautioning those who open their doors to solicitors to do their research beforehand. Following several complaints, KPD has issued an alert that fraudulent residential alarm companies have been posing as legitimate alarm systems sales representatives.
Police are reminding residents to ask for identification before letting a stranger into the house, and to be wary of any verbal or contractual agreement that uses highpressure tactics, including offering free installation. Police also recommend researching door-to-door companies with the Better Business Bureau online at www.bbb.org, and to verify the status of the contractor’s license by calling the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs at (808) 587-3222, or online at www.businesscheck.hawaii.gov…
