Keeping The Pirates In Stitches

Baseball players, parents, coaches and fans have something new to be excited about in Hanapepe

Magenta of Magenta Designs had a busy week keeping the cast of Pirates of the Caribbean in stitches. They needed two pirate shirts practically overnight, and then Penelope Cruz‘s assistant called wanting nine pair of surf shorts …

Welcome home to Kaua’i filmmakers Terri Tico and Lauren Calhoun following their journey to Fiji to shoot Tico’s latest movie, Miss South Pacific. The winner of the 2009 beauty pageant was Miss Fiji, and there begins this film, which is really about climate change, which was the pageant theme, and contestants gave speeches on the topic as the South Pacific islands are threatened by rising waters caused by climate change. Tico already has two films under her belt on the topic …

Look soon for two new batting cages and four safety nets in the Hanapepe Youth Baseball Association’s inventory, thanks to a $6,500 matching grant received through the county’s Ho’olokahi Program. HYBA president Nalani Shigematsu expressed her gratitude and Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. called it a great example of what the Ho’olokahi Program was designed for. And how cool is this? Justin Ganaden and EltonMontemayor, HYBA members as kids, are now volunteer coaches for the program …

The Kaua’i High School Performing Arts Center, under the direction of Dennis McGraw, is one of eight high schools in the state that received a $5,000 matching grant issued by Hawaii Arts Alliance. The center did its part, matched it and received a follow-up $5,000 from HAA. The HAA funding came from an anonymous donor, intended to enhance opportunities in peer sharing and arts-education program support …

Congratulations to Scott Ashworth, director of golf at Kaua’i Lagoons Golf Club in Lihue. He’s been named Golf Professional of the Year by Marriott Golf, which manages 59 golf courses at 43 locations in 12 countries. The award recognizes an individual who consistently performs and exceeds in areas of sales and profit, leadership in personnel development, innovative program development and affinity programs …

(from left) Linda Smith, Kauai High principal; Aaron Martin, Kauai Performing Arts Center; Dennis McGraw, KPAC director; Maggie Cox, member, DOE Board of Education and Carol Yotsuda, Hawaii Arts Alliance board member

It’s early days yet, but Kim Steutermann Rogers suggests you spark your muse to participate in the online literary journal, KauaiBackstory.com’s fifth annual creative competition – Sept. 30 deadline. The theme is “Refuge.”

The Garden Island Arts Council will sponsor cash awards for winners …

Maka Herrod, director of the Kaua’i Mokihana Festival, advises composers to have their application and fees in by Aug. 6 to be considered for the event that started the festival 26 years ago, the Composers Contest and Concert, scheduled for Sept. 21. The festival has grown from its one signature event to a week of cultural events. Big mahalo to Uncle Nathan Kalama, who started it all with two dear friends …

Be a master planner – sort of. The state Department of Transportation is preparing a statewide pedestrian master plan to identify key routes for pedestrian safety improvements. Log on to surveymonkey.com/s/hiped-survey and identify the places you like to walk, run, skateboard, use your wheel-chair and more. Those routes will be considered in prior-itizing key areas of concern for pedestrian safety improvements …

“Where’s the Beach?” The Poipu Beach Resort Association and nonprofit Poipu Beach Foundation are working with the county on a long-term solution for beach nourishment. The county asked the foundation to raise $50,000. The Eric A. Knudsen Trust and Knudsen family have pledged $25,000 under the condition that the PBF raise the additional $25,000, and more is coming in from local businesses. Purchase a few grains with your donation by calling or e-mailing Kathy Leonard at 742-7444 or kath@poipubeach.org …

In addition to a July 17 gig at 2 p.m. at Princeville Library, The Purple Striped Honu Theatre for Kids will make three more appearances at the library this year. Its current show is a 15-minute opus titled, Where’s Mom? about a Hawaiian monk seal pup looking for its mom. Purple Honu founder Richard Porto reports that William Arakaki – DOE Kauai Complex Area superintendent – wants to introduce the troupe to Kaua’i schools via letter …

Correction: MidWeek-Kaua’i regrets the July 7 issue incorrectly stated acupuncturist Bard Widmer’s telephone number. He may be reached at 652-9897. kauaibard@gmail.com or kauaibard.com …