Happy Camper for Monday, January 31, 2022
James Yamamoto, a volunteer with the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Sanctuary, said the word of the day Saturday was “octogenarian.”
Besides learning new words, a lot goes on at the sanctuary ocean count that took place at various shoreline locations around the island. Former Miss Kaua‘i Holly Wong (she’s got a Kaua‘i website that’s pretty good, too) had a carload of Uber riders checking out the octogenarians at Ahukini. Do you think an octogenarian could make it to the point to visit John Berger?
Happy birthday, Basilio “Bunga” Fuertes, who became an octogenarian Saturday. Janice Bond (she was in two places at the same time) said she and coach Bunga went to the same college, before rushing off to go congratulate Cyndi Ayonon (did Kelvin Moniz make the event, too?), who was installed as the president of the Kaua‘i Filipino Chamber of Commerce. MJ Akuna has a new hair look for her position as secretary, kudos to Jett Jasper on being the treasurer, and to Bradford Ka‘eo on being the vice president.
Besides being a who’s who of Kaua‘i, this was a good place to meet up with the candidates for lieutenant governor, as Sherry Menor-McNamara (she’s president and CEO for the Chamber of Commerce of Hawai‘i) was one of the featured speakers, state Rep. Nadine Nakamura was getting fellow state Rep. Sylvia Luke introduced to the island, and former City &County of Honolulu Council Chair Ikaika Anderson was trying to keep up with Dickie Chang, who even had Bruce Smalling with him. Janice said we missed Jill Tokuda at the Hawai‘i Government Employees Association Lihu‘e office (there was no parking!), but it’s all right because Jill will be back Thursday.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.