Kehau Kato was on hand Saturday as part of the color guard for the Hawai‘i Air National Guard at the parade. How nice to see so many dignitaries take time to visit Kaua‘i to welcome home our boys and girls.
Kehau Kato was on hand Saturday as part of the color guard for the Hawai‘i Air National Guard at the parade. How nice to see so many dignitaries take time to visit Kaua‘i to welcome home our boys and girls. Dickie Chang had some moments when he was at a loss for words, but not so Ron Wiley, who enthusiastically waved, cheered and thanked all the participants in the parade. It was definitely a media event, as Tom Finnegan was out on Saturday, as was Terry Mohler, and, of course, Bruce Smalling, who figured out how to mount the American flag right on his camera. Tom Clements had the sideline seat, and Capt. Mark Darrah has a great trainer in Capt. Tom Connelly of the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility. One of the heroes of the day was Travis Fernandez, who came home from O‘ahu to help dedicate the new rubberized track, and, yes, Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste, Mel Nishihara and Maxine Correa deserved to be called down from the stands. They are the powers behind Saturday’s untying of the maile. Similar honors belong to Waimea High track coach Dave Walker, who says there are great coaches at all of the schools’ track programs. Bill Arakaki was out marching with the Waimea High School track team. How did Kolin Morikawa manage to do the track and still make it to Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation tennis? Mom Deedee Morikawa said she had to get back to Hanapepe so Kolin could catch the bus, make it back to Lihu‘e where Ken Morikawa was coaching a younger Kauai Soccer Association team, and, finally, back to Kiahuna Swim & Tennis Club for the tennis matches.
