Stories by Dennis Fujimoto

Rum Rusher available on Kaua‘i

LIHU‘E — There were just five cans of the Rum Rusher Hawaiian Rum Cocktail remaining on the shelves of the Koloa Rum Company Store at the Kilohana estates on Friday.

Inouye’s Purple Heart comes home

LIHU‘E — When the families of Staff Sgt. Joseph T. Kuwada, Technician 4th Grade Haruyuki Ikemoto, Kazuyoshi (Tommy) Inouye, Wilfred M. Motokane and Masaru Sogi — all veterans of the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) — received Purple Heart medals from the U.S. Army during a special recognition ceremony on May 10 at Pearl Harbor, one family member, Sarah Date, was not able to attend and receive the medal for her uncle.

Happy Camper for Monday, May 20, 2024

Happy birthday to Sgt. Major Keith Castaneda, who was surprised with a fancy birthday cake on Saturday during the “big party (his words)” Saturday night Bingo (Thomas Nizo said he checked with Rebecca Like and did all the paperwork and guidelines to make it legal at the historic Waimea Theatre) fundraiser for the Waimea High School JROTC cadets, who are bound for France to participate in the 80th Anniversary of D-Day.

Warriors share in $90,000 scholarships

KAPA‘A — Forty-seven students celebrated the sharing of $90,000 in scholarships on Wednesday when the Kapa‘a High School Foundation celebrated its scholarship awards at the school’s cafeteria.

Partners distribute nearly 300 packages of food

PUHI — The rain from the passage of the Kona low on Saturday morning only slowed, not stop, the distribution of nearly 300 packages of food during the Malama Military campaign at Kaua‘i Community College.

Kapa‘a High School wins Division II state softball championship

LIHU‘E — Kapa‘a High School coaching assistant Micah Furtado did not realize the amount of bling created by the team’s parents and supporters on Saturday at the Lihu‘e Airport when the team members emerged through the security doors with the koa head trophy held high.

Happy Camper for Saturday, May 18, 2024

Congratulations to TJ Shigemoto of Hawai‘i Gas on getting his master’s degree in business after two years of work at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. His mom, April Shigemoto, who is retired from the Department of Education, said the degree also earned TJ a promotion in Hawai‘i Gas.

KVMH Auxiliary, HEPA award scholarships

WAIMEA — The Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital (KVMH) Auxiliary and Hawai‘i Emergency Physicians Association teamed to distribute $15,000 in scholarships for students who will continue their education in health care and other areas of study. The students were honored at a scholarship reception at the Waimea Chicken in A Barrel.

Five KIF athletes sign letters of intent

LIHU‘E — A sign the school year is nearing an end is the commitment high school seniors give to continue their athletic endeavors through participation at a school of higher learning.

Happy Camper for Friday, March 17, 2024

Mahalo, Pauline and EZ Street, and their two daughters who help keep the tradition alive! The Street ‘ohana have helped hundreds of Kaua‘i students through their generous contributions to all four of Kaua‘i’s high schools and the Kaua‘i Community College Nursing Department, where Maureen Tabura, the Nursing Department head, said a lot of the students would not be there without the help of the Street ‘ohana.

Wellness Day at Walmart on Saturday

LIHU‘E — The Walmart store in Lihu‘e will join the eight other Hawai‘i Walmart stores in hosting the Walmart Wellness Day on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

KIF athletes make individual marks at state meet

MILILANI — Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation athletes fared well during the 2024 Island Movers Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association Track and Field championship that wrapped up on Saturday at the Mililani High School track and field facility.

Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Day service held in Lihu‘e

LIHU‘E — Following the recitation of all of Hawai‘i’s fallen law enforcement personnel by members of the 100th Recruit Class at the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Day service on Wednesday, Kaua‘i Police Department Chief Todd Raybuck said, “We will never forget!”

Happy Camper for Wednesday, May 15, 2024

What other 4-year old can say they were backed by a full orchestra, said Sarah Tochiki as a stage full of keiki violin players, many in preschool, joined the Kaua‘i Community College Symphony Orchestra on Sunday at the KCC Performing Arts Center.

KIF tennis makes mark at state tourney

HONOLULU — Kaua‘i High School tennis coach Jennifer Hreljac said the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation was represented at the Island Insurance Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association 2024 Hawai‘i State Championships by nine players from Kaua‘i High School, three from Island School, one from Waimea High School and two players from Kapa‘a High School.

Kaua‘i Chorale to host spring concerts

LIHU‘E — “Seasons of Love” will fill the spacious Kaua‘i Philippine Cultural Center on Saturday and Sunday, when the Kaua‘i Chorale, under the direction of its new Artistic Director Joe Moore of Aliomanu, hosts its spring concerts.