waha nui

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November 02, 2005 - MidWeek The Islander

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Kahaluu photographer Steven Springel does more than push the shutter on his camera. Like most artists, he keeps his day job - as assistant manager for Willie’s Transmission Service. Steven figures he’s fixed up to 300 transmissions during his 27 years at Willie and Judy Cayaban‘s Kahuhipa Street shop. The Kekaha couple opened Willie’s in 1971. Now their 35-year-old son Junior is helping run things, and keep your things running ...

Speaking of driving, Castle High drivers ed teacher Cary Izuka pleads for a kinder, gentler reception for his fledgling students out on the local roads with that yellow sign on top. True, he admits, teens sometimes make erratic movements and don’t sense changes in speed by cars in front. But to honk, pass carelessly or test them with a stop-and-go tease doesn’t help them learn ... Kilin Reece of the Squirrel Hunters will sit in on mandolin and guitar for the Eleven Gallon Hat band’s CD release party Nov. 11 at HPR’s Atherton studio (988-7814). A Kailua stained-glass artist in his day job, Kilin and the bluegrass Squirrel Hunters closed down the house Oct. 22 at KEY Project’s sold-out Koolau Ohana Festival ... The tales of the South Pacific go on and on. Too long for Clarke Bright, conductor for Paliku’s current musical, which has been extended through this weekend. Clarke had a prior commitment for this Saturday, so he tossed his baton to dad Ron. As the play’s director, Ron is used to juggled roles. Actor John Bryan, for example, replaces Larry Bialock as “Luther Billis,” and Allan Lau takes over John’s role as “Stewpot.” Pop quiz next week ...

James Kaonohi IV

James Kaonohi IV (Kailua ‘00) has graduated from basic training with the Air National Guard at Lackland AFB, Texas ... Meanwhile, in Baghdad with the Hawaii Army National Guard, Vinnie Gonzales (Castle ‘96) has been patrolling the perimeter of Camp Victory where it’s been “real busy with the elections and Ramadan.” But some things have cooled down, he writes: Now it’s 50 degrees instead of 100 ... Phyllis Wood is amazed by how fast and skilled her new painter friends are. On Oct. 13, led by Cpl. Rich Mattingly (just back from Afghanistan) and armed with state-government issue brushes and paint instead of guns, Marines and Sailors rendered the outside of Kailua Library a lovely dark beige accented in off-white. Phyllis coordinated the work day for the Friends of Kailua Library, which served up food, drink and plenty of mahalos.

“Not only does it feel good to help someone else out,” Iraq veteran Staff Sgt. Alan Jefferson said for Rich’s report, “but it lets everyone know we’re not just about killing and fighting wars. We’re here for helping, too” ... Speaking of kokua, the state’s Career Kokua office is 25 years old now, and looking younger all the time since it’s gone online (careerkokua.org) to help you decide what you want to be when you grow up. Supervisor is Phyllis Dayao of Kaneohe ... Works by Kailua artist

Warren Stenberg

Warren Stenberg are up at Borders Ward Centre this month, and Arthur Nelander and Jeanne Nichols are at First Friday (Nov. 4) in the Mendonca courtyard ... Hawaii State Hospital chaplain Dave Edwards helped host more than 600 of his colleagues, convening here last week from around the nation. Among the chaplains’ guided tours: Byodo-In Temple and the HSH patients’ garden where “culturally sensitive biopsycho-social rehabilitation” takes place. Not to mention great salads ... Kaneohe’s own Lina Girl emcees Macy’s plus-sized fashion show at 1 p.m. Saturday at Ala Moana, benefiting the American Heart Association ... Jack McKeague and the St. John Vianney halau are also doing the town. They entertain at 7 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Ho’i Ka Hula Piko hula competition in Waikiki Shell; at 2 p.m. Nov. 12 on the Ala Moana Center stage; and at 9 a.m. Nov. 19 at the mayor’s craft fair at Blaisdell Center