So Many Reasons To Be Proud
Tyler Jumper of the Green Dragons. Photo from Robin Jumper
As a new mom about to celebrate her son’s first birthday, I’d like to give a proverbial shout out to all the proud parents out there, and let readers know I specifically sought out some proud-parent content for this week’s column, though not to worry, it’s not exclusively dedicated to that … But to all those proud Kaua’i moms and dads out there: Feel free to send in tidbits of those memorable accomplishments …
That said, I’d like to commend Tyler Jumper and Eijah and Aiden Ibbs for the goals they scored Sept. 17 for their soccer team, the Green Dragons of Kalaheo. The team is made up of energetic 6to 8-year-olds coached by Brad Rockwell and assistant coach Garrett Lau. Well done also to Asher Griffith, Zander Lau, Bryce Fernandez, Kamilo Ramirez, Calvin Rockwell and Kanawai Perreira-Hose for a great game overall …
Congratulations to Mike Tresler and Christiane Nakea-Tresler, the proud parents of Alexis Kalehuamakanoe Nakea Tresler, who weighed 7.06 pounds and measured 20 inches when she was born at 7:28 p.m. Aug. 19. Older sibling Lindsey Nakea Tresler looked proud to be holding her new baby sister with that sweet little cherubic face …
Lindsey Tresler with baby sister Alexis. Photo from Christiane Nakea-Tresler
Mahalo to Kapena Cummings, the Kaua’i Beach Resort employee who saved a 2-year-old boy from drowning in a hotel pool. Cummings was recognized Sept. 21 by the mayor and the toddler’s mother for his heroic effort …
Congratulations to Glenn Sato, who was recently named the county’s sustainability manager, a newly created position reporting directly to Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr. Armed with a broad expanse of experience, including heading up an aquaculture operation and papaya farm in Kilauea that ran on power from a micro-hydroelectric plant, and prepping environmental impact statements and assessments, as sustainability manager Sato will aim to improve the county’s energy efficiency, use of renewable energy, recycling and transportation, as well as tie in aspects of land use, agricultural lands and affordable housing. The 23-year county employee which includes directing the Office of Economic Development for two years also served as the department’s energy coordinator, where his grant-writing skill helped the county take steps toward better sustainability.
Perhaps taking cues from Ni’ihau, where he managed photovoltaic projects, Sato wrote proposals for six charging stations and five electric vehicles for the county fleet, and a photovoltaic system for the Pi’ikoi Civic Center building.
Sato launched the county’s first public bus system in 1988 with a state grant, where he helped promote ridership with ice cream and coffee, which he served himself. Sato also started the first used-oil collection and recycling program. A graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Sato moved to Kaua’i in 1978. He and wife Diane have two children, Scott and Kristi (Moises) …
Glenn Sato is the island’s new sustainability director. Photo from Maary Daubert
Back when news assignments put me in the courtroom several days a week, there was something about attorney Teresa Tico I intrinsically liked. Though not originally from here, the former per diem judge and president of the Kaua’i Bar Association has had a keen dedication to the ‘aina, ocean and environment in general, so it didn’t surprise me to learn she had made a sweet little award-winning film, Miss South Pacific: Beauty and the Sea. Move over, An Inconvenient Truth, as Tico’s film delves into the scientific estimation that entire islands in the South Pacific will disappear from climate changeinduced water levels rising more than 3 feet higher by the end of this century.
Told through the voices of the Miss South Pacific Pageant contestants who represent 13 island nations, the film has been accepted into 18 film festivals so far, including one in Hamburg, Germany, and also has won seven awards, among them the Film Festival of Colorado Audience and Jury Awards for Best Environmental Film, the Los Angeles Movie Awards
Excellence and Best Special Effects, and the Metropolitan Film Festival of New York Special Mention Award, and it was first runner up in the Short
Documentary Category at the Woods Hole Film Festival (Massachusetts). It will be screened at the 2011 Hawaii International Film Festival Oct. 13-23 at Regal Dole Cannery Stadium …
It doesn’t take much more than knowing my favorite kachi kachi band of all times, Los Kauaianos, led by Wally Rita, is playing at an event to get me to commit with excitement and anticipation and knowing there will be a lot of dancing simply sweetens the deal. The 2011 Hoedown for Hope, which benefits the American Cancer Society, promises to be the place to be from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Oct. 1, at Kaua’i Marriott Resort & Beach Club. It will not only feature the kind of music that shakes loose one’s inner Latino, but will also headline Melveen Leed and Nohelani Cypriano. Kaua’i’s favorite news anchor, Keahi Tucker, who has a personal connection to the event’s cause, will serve as emcee. (See the cover story for more details.) Silent auction items so far include a five-course tasting for two from Hukilau Lanai and two rounds of chasing that little white ball around Poipu Bay Golf Course. Cost is $125 per person or $1,500 per table. Those attending will help attain the nonprofit’s goal of raising $65,000 to help fund cancer-related programs. So, in the paniolo spirit of what legendary cowboy John Wayne said, that “courage is being scared … and saddling up anyway,” I hope to see you there, honoring those who are putting up a good fight …
