Filipino Grads Earn Scholarships

June is always abloom with celebrations of one sort or another – birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and graduations. And this June, five lucky Filipino high school grads are each $1,000 ahead in the education game, thanks to scholarships received from the Kaua`i Filipino Chamber of Commerce. Students’ scholastic and academic achievements, community service and financial needs were strong considerations in decision making. Congrats go out to the following: Alana Agcaoili, Kapa`a High, planning to attend the Art Institute of Las Vegas, where she’ll major in fashion design; Rouben Buyat, Waimea High, planning to attend the University of Washington, where he’ll major in architecture; Jade Cano, another Waimea High grad, who will attend Kaua`i Community College, majoring in nursing; Daisy Liberato, Kaua`i High, planning to attend Creighton University in Omaha, where she’ll major in biomedical engineering; and James Pena, Kaua`i High, who will attend George Fox University in Oregon, majoring in business management. Good luck to them and to all of our island grads who should be flying high this month now that they have 12 years of education under their belts …

And speaking of flying high, Birds in Paradise has a 20th anniversary special going on. For $20 during July weekends only, owner Gerry Charlebois will take residents for short flights, leaving from the company’s “Whirled” headquarters at the Port Allen Airport in Hanapepe. Twenty years and about 17,000 flight hours later, Charlebois still gets a thrill sharing his love of flying with others …

MidWeek-Kaua`i …

Joel Guy, North Shore resident and young dad, also has a new engagement. He’s signed on to be a member of the Kaua`i County Charter Review Commission that will soon hold open sessions around the island …

Neil Brosnahan and Jan Pascua are initiating a teaching and community garden at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center. All the best to them for their commitment to helping Kaua`i grow in the best way possible – green! …

The recent Gulf of Mexico oil spill leaves all of us who love the ocean and its critters sick at heart. Surfrider Foundation is taking a stand, literally, and the Kaua`i chapter wants you join them at Hanalei and Lydgate beaches on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. It’s a national call to bear witness to people saying NO to more offshore drilling and YES to clean energy. Look for Surfriders Diana LaBedz, Fred Voigtel and Rebecca Harrelson and link “Hands across the Sand,” as the gathering is called …

Orange Grove, a self-serve frozen yogurt franchise with wowza flavors such as taro, pomegranate and watermelon in addition to the usual flavors, plus all the trimmings, opened the doors on its newest Hawai`i location this month – the food court at Kukui Grove. This is a mere month after Orange Grove store manager Patty Stanfield opened her family-owned East Side Village, a Chinese eatery in Kapa`a where you can eat like a Chinese emperor. Congratulations and best wishes to this entrepreneur. How refreshing to see doors opening rather than closing in these times. If you must look before you leap and lap it up, go to www.orangi-yo.com …

On the subject of groves, Kukui Grove works hard to keep the center a lively spot despite the economy and provides many attractions. Center manager Jonell Kaohelaulii says, “As we continue with plans for upcoming summer events and promotions, shoppers can check in to Kukui Grove online by following Kukui Grove Center on Twitter and Facebook.” …

The stunning Po`ipu Beach that’s won numerous accolades adds one more, according to HVCB Kaua`i Chapter executive director Sue Kanoho, who informed us by e-mail. In Trip Advisor/Travelers’ Choice Destinations 2010, Po`ipu took the No. 3 spot. Way to go, South Shore! …

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