Waha Nui

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September 26, 2007 - MidWeek The Islander

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Brittney Mendez Dombrigues

Yes, it’s true. Windward kids can swing a shovel with the best of them. The Pa’u unit of Niihau’s pooper scooper gang won the “most aloha spirit” award in the 2007 Aloha Festivals parade. All students at either Kahuku High & Intermediate or at Kaaawa Elementary, they are Maiki Gunderson, Christie Cooper, Mary Shea, and Isaiah, Kamalani and Shandalei Hawkins ...

Long-distance runner Kailua’s Julie Doheney proved herself a worthy competitor Sept. 16 in the Maui Marathon, coming in first place for the women with a time of 3:18:39. She won $1,500 along with the pride ...

Kaneohe Bay Shopping Center marketing specialist Sherry Goya shares a story about the merchants’ recent Back-to-School prize drawing, where Brittney Mendez Dombrigues was among five keiki who won a $100 Longs gift certificate. Sherry says Brittney “paid it forward” by using her prize to buy about $30 worth of school supplies for needy students at Kaneohe Elementary, her former school. Recalls KES principal Mitch Otani: “Brittney was a quiet and sweet girl who really demonstrated the qualities of the school’s 5 Rs (respect, responsibility, resourcefulness, relationship and resilience)” ...

Joyce Fujimori

When it comes to her 6-year-old son Jason, who has Down syndrome, Linda Elento is a resourceful Kaneohe mom. (They were also on KHON’s Action Line with Gina Mangieri Sept. 17.) Turned down for her choice of the ideal DOE classroom for him, Linda has found a city park tiny tots class, a city park swimming class, and a parent-participation preschool - Keiki O Ka ‘Aina - at King Intermediate. Incidentally, the preschool’s director, Theresa “Momi” Akana, will be on TV also, with the season premiere of ABC’s Extreme Home Makeover on Sept. 30. Momi’s home and project headquarters is in Kalihi Valley, where local news also covered the hundreds of volunteers who helped rebuild the place ...

Island Insurance has promoted two area women to assistant vice president positions: Joyce Fujimori of Kaneohe will handle large accounts, and Tricia Miyashiro of Kailua (and a Kalaheo graduate) will be surety manager for the state’s largest locally owned insurance carrier ...

Another Miyashiro in the news: Windward Mall IHOPhas earned a rave review from St. Francis School student Erin Miyashiro. Reporting to her peers in the school’s Ke Alaka’i, Erin concluded: “So, if you are feeling very hungry, and your wallet isn’t overflowing with cash, you should hop on over to IHOP” ... If it’s not too late, you can catch Rev. Mike Young‘s “Story As Tool” lecture at 4 p.m. Sept. 25 at WCC’s Hale Akoakoa 105 - the first program of the year on the Common Book Ishmael by Daniel Quinn (236-9224) ...

Tricia Miyashiro

Kailua High School math teacher Suzanne Cummings is the 2007 Windward District Teacher of the Year, selected for her “superior ability to inspire love of learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities” - among other things. Suzanne will be honored by the Board of Education Oct. 18 along with the six other outstanding district TOYs. One of them will represent the state at the national competition ...

Kailua’s Shari Lynn, who will be playing Golda in ACT’s Fiddler on the Roof, still needs a few good men around her, since they don’t seem to be showing up for auditions. Gentlemen, here’s your chance for stardom: Final tryout for men is 7 to 8 p.m. Monday (Sept. 24) at Richardson Theatre (438-4480)