• The aloha spirit • Mahalo to those who made Veterans Day special • Christmas comes early The aloha spirit My husband Eddie and I work for CBS Television in Los Angeles. It’s been 62 years. We put our children
• The aloha spirit • Mahalo to those who made Veterans Day special • Christmas comes early
The aloha spirit
My husband Eddie and I work for CBS Television in Los Angeles. It’s been 62 years. We put our children through university, and spent our first vacation in Kaua‘i. We visited the sites including Po‘ipu Beach, where we met Myles. We have returned several times. We tell our friends in Los Angeles to fly to Kaua‘i and visit Myles because we know he will welcome them as he did us.
Myles is much more than a charismatic personality. Our respect for Myles and his work on Po‘ipu Beach is immeasurable. He’s able to keep a sharp eye on one-and-all, in-and-out of the water. His experience shows when he administers help, efficiently, quickly and calmly, to those who sustain injuries. He has patience for the numbers of people that approach him all day/every day, with questions and/or concerns.
Clearly there are the experienced elder lifeguards and there are the younger lifeguards. How wonderful that Kaua‘i recognizes, values and invests in lifeguards like Myles who have made this their lifelong work, who are an integral part of Kaua‘i’s returning visitor trade, which ironically contributes to keeping Kaua‘i’s economy alive and well. We hope that Kaua‘i continues to support these traditionalists who are so unique to Kaua‘i. In my high-rise office in Hollywood I think of Myles at Po‘ipu Beach.
I think to myself — what a special person it takes to do his job. I probably get paid much more with benefits and I don’t have to risk my life for others. I don’t work out to keep in shape — to save other peoples lives. We learned, on our first visit to Kaua‘i, what the meaning of the “aloha” spirit is. That’s Myles. He brings it to the beach with him every day and shares it with all. We’re looking forward to seeing him again and again.
With thanks,
Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Takata
Los Angeles, Calif.
Mahalo to those who made Veterans Day special
We, the Kaua‘i Veterans Council would like to thank everyone who helped make this years Veterans Day Parade and the Veterans Day Ceremony a great success. Special thanks to Miss Jackie Taylor, our newly appointed Miss Kaua‘i Veteran for 2012–13, and to our announcers, Ron Wiley and Joe Munechika. For their support thank you to Kaua‘i Coffee, Granny Feel Good Kettle corn, Island School, Paul Curtis and Ford Sueoka along with the Boy Scouts of America, Kaua‘i district.
Mahalo to Rhoda Libre and Daryl Low for an excellent job with the entertainment, the combined efforts of the Marine Corp League, all the businesses who contributed to the Marine Corp Birthday Bash, all the craft vendors, all the parade participants from the County Government to the high school bands and JR. ROTC teams, and especially those who cheered alongside of the parade, you were all awesome.
To our major sponsors: Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, Kaua‘i County, the Kapa‘a Business Assoc., Matson Navigation Company, King Auto Center and Midpac Auto Center. We are grateful for your support and to the “Da Sound Man,” Raymond Duarte, thank you.
From all of the veterans and its organizations of the Kaua‘i Veterans Council to all of the friends, family and community who supported us for this annual event, we are humbled and we salute you. Stay tuned for more coming events from the Kaua‘i Veterans Center.
Staff Members Kaua‘i Veterans Center
Christmas comes early
If you haven’t felt the holiday spirit yet, you need only to go this weekend’s final performance of Hawai‘i Children’s Theatre’s “Scrooge, The Musical,” because Christmas has come early to the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall — sort of.
Director Ed Eaton of Island School had a challenging task of taking a story so well known by so many and makes it fresh and captivating all over again. Jeff Demma as Ebenezer Scrooge is compelling, believable, and successfully captures the cold-hearted, miserly nature of everyone’s favorite holiday Grinch. FM97’s Ron Wood is scarier than Halloween’s Michael Myers, as I watched the kids in the audience climb onto their parent’s comforting laps with his rendition of Jacob Marley’s Ghost. He tells Scrooge that out of pity he came to warn his partner that if he doesn’t want to end up like him, he must change his ways and focus on helping mankind instead of worshipping money.
Nestor Figueroa is a pleasure to watch with his passionate rendition of Scrooge’s dutiful employee, Bob Cratchit throughout the presentation. The rest of the Cratchit family — Jessica Silver as Mrs. Ethel Cratchit, Neva Burkhart as Kathy Cratchit, Isaac Dubey as Peter Cratchit, Julie Goldberg as Belinda Cratchit, Callie Yavinsky as Martha Cratchit, and of course, Tiny Tim played by Island School 3rd grader, Caleb Plowman, all doing a great job of playing the hard life, but blessed family of Bob Cratchit. I have to single out 7-year-old Caleb as Tiny Tim in his lovely song, “The Beautiful Day.” He pulls your heartstrings with his charming smile and beautiful, young falsetto male voice. Nurtured by voice teacher Dolly Kanekuni, it’s pure, moving and such a pleasure to hear.
The Ghosts of Christmas — Past, by Raina Silver, with her angelic voice, Present, played by Bruce Fehring and Christmas Yet-to-come by Ernie Blachowiak — all bring forward astounding and enjoyable performances. Bruce Fehring is electrifying in his role as Christmas Present. His energy, character driven movements, gestures, facial expressions and overall presentation provide a thoroughly exciting experience to watch.
I can go on and on but you’ll just have to see for yourselves.
Wayne Delos Santos
Lihu‘e
