Happy Camper for Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

Nothing beats sign-waving in the Monday mist more than good food, as state Sen. Jill Tokuda, seated, now a candidate for the U.S. House seat representing rural O‘ahu and the Neighbor Islands, gets to meet chef Kristen Yanagawa, standing third from left, and the breakfast crew at the Puakea Grill at Puakea Golf Course in Lihu‘e Monday.

Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

Jayleen Labrador, the Rob’s Good Times Grill general manager, left, turns over $2,000 to the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i, representing the proceeds from the Rob’s Gives Back dining program for the month of April. Representing the Zonta Club are from the left next to Labrador members Rebecca Carnate, Lori Benkert, Diana Harvey, Cyndi Ayonon, Mary Kay Hertog, Jeanette Bonilla and Marge Akana.

Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

When Marlene Kalahiki Schimmelfennig reigned as Miss Hawai‘i, Eduardo Malapit was the mayor of Kaua‘i, she said Sunday at Lihu‘e Airport when returning home from the Miss Hawai‘i pageant on O‘ahu, where she was invited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her reign.

What? Got Miss Latina, but no Miss Kaua‘i?

Marlene Kalahiki Schimmelfennig was celebrating her 50th anniversary of being Miss Hawai‘i on O‘ahu, and was at Lihu‘e Airport at the same time Sunday when flights brought back the Kapa‘a High and Waimea High girls softball teams from the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association D2 tourney on Maui.

Marlene said her Miss Hawai‘i started with being Miss Kaua‘i during the time Eduardo Malapit was mayor. Congratulations, Lauren Teruya, on being crowned the 2022 Miss Hawai‘i, the 75th anniversary of the pageantry, on O‘ahu.

Tiffany Sagucio (she works with rock star Myrvie Buster at Garden Island Federal Credit Union) said she likes being Miss Kaua‘i Filipina (she became Miss Kaua‘i Filipina after the reigning queen Isabel Gampon was crowned Miss Hawai‘i Filipina) so much, the organizers let her reign for three years, the same length of time she’s been involved with the Back to School Bash (yes, it’s coming up real soon).

State Sen. Jill Tokuda, a candidate for the U.S. House seat representing rural O‘ahu and the Neighbor Islands, said there is nothing better than good food after waving signs in the morning mist Monday when she came to visit following her announcement of candidacy for the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele. Tokuda had been running for lieutenant governor until Kahele announced he is running for governor, so Tokuda decided to pivot and run for his seat.

Yes, Kahele is coming, too, as the guest speaker for the upcoming Memorial Day service presented by the Kaua‘i Veterans Council on Monday, May 30 starting at 10 a.m. at the newly expanded Kaua‘i Veterans Cemetery. Council Commander Mary Kay Hertog was among the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i members present when the latest Rob’s Good Times Grill Gives Back dining program check presentation happened at the Rice Shopping Center restaurant in Lihu‘e (who was having the salmon sandwich?), with Rob’s General Manager Jayleen Labrador doing the honors. She said they have a waiting list of vendors for the pop-up that coincides with the Saturday Downtown Lihu‘e Night Market.

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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.

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