Waha Nui

Del.icio.us

For a relatively new school, Mililani Ike Elementary is producing its share of outstanding teachers. Recently in the news were Lizabeth Horii, who teaches grades 2-3, and Phyllis Nakama-Kawamoto, who teaches grades K and 2. Phyllis was named Hawaii’s 2006 “American Star of Teaching,” a U.S. Department of Education award for her use of innovative strategies to foster student achievement. Lizabeth is the Central School District’s choice for 2006 Teacher of the Year. The statewide winner (out of seven district nominees) will be announced on Oct. 19 during the state Board of Education’s meeting at Pearl City High School ... According to outreach specialist Rachel Neville, the Oahu Invasive Species Committee is making a hop, skip and a jump of progress in its campaign against Wahiawa’s noisy coqui frogs: “Before spraying started two seasons ago,” Rachel explains, “survey crews were hearing over 100 calling frogs.

Now, we are hearing less than four” ... As Honolulu City Councilmembers go, Donovan Dela Cruz had an easy primary election (with no opponent). But that didn’t dissuade him from mailing out booklets of his favorite recipes, including one with the intriguing title “Walking Tostitos.” (It’s a bean dip, not a strolling Mariachi band) ... Devon Joy Hillyer of Mililani received a bachelor of science in business administration during summer commencement ceremonies at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas ... Tune in to ‘Olelo cable channel 56 at 5 p.m. Tuesdays, 4 p.m. Thursdays and 9 a.m. Saturdays in October for Hawaii Student Digital Showcase. Why? Among the worthy school productions on view each of those days is Waialua Elementary School’s project, How to Make an Angel Pin ... Shelby Rita took home $1,300 plus the All-Around Champion trophy saddle from the All-Girls Rodeo held Sept. 23 at the New Town & Country Stables in Waimanalo. Noelle Carroll won the Reserve Champion silver buckle. Both ace cowgirls are from Haleiwa. Keeping it in the family, Shelby’s dad Robert won the Mixed Barrels. (They let the men in for a few events) ... Kevin Matsumoto, a crisis nurse at Queen’s Medical Center, has won the hospital’s nursing excellence award for education. The Mililani RN trains new nurses and nursing students in Code Blue procedures ... Speaking of excellence, the University of Hawaii Regents have awarded North Shore resident Denise Antolini their 2006 Excellence in Teaching Medal for her outstanding work in environmental law. Denise is a professor at the UH law school and also has experience in high-profile public interest litigation ... Speaking of regents, attorney Darrolyn Lendio - Waialua born, raised and educated - has moved even further up the legal ladder and is now vice president for legal affairs and general counsel to the University of Hawaii system. The UH Board of Regents appointed her to a three-year term on Sept. 1 ... Michael Eide of Mililani has entered six weeks of basic cadet training at the U.S. Air Force Academy, preparing him for his freshman year there ... Erica Salvador (Mililani ‘02) has completed the Army ROTC leadership training course at Fort Lewis, Washington.

She is enrolled as an upperclassman at the University of Hawaii-Manoa ... Then there’s Malia Delapenia, who is busy right here in Hawaii with some very unmilitary endeavors. The Mililani Mauka resident publishes Hawaii Belly Dancer magazine and also teaches the ancient art at two locations on Oahu ... Central Oahu residents bellied up to the slot machines and must have danced for joy on recent trips to downtown Las Vegas: James Fulgoni of Mililani made $20,000; Mitchell Chung of Mililani made $6,000; Bienbinindo Valion of Waialua made $4,950; and Juanita Sadoy of Waialua won $4,000. Mililani’s Deanna Ishii won her first jackpot of $3,000 ... B.C. Cowling,devoted advocate of box car racing, is keeping busy in the Kunia Park-and-Ride lot, which is just across the street from the Kunia Times Supermarket. His American Box Car Racing International Box Car Track is open every weekend and has special hours during the Oct. 4-6 school holiday period (947-3393)