UH Honors U.S. Sen Dan Inouye

It was such a lovely early morning drive down to Ke’e Beach last Saturday to shoot photos for this week’s cover story on Mark Hubbard – ample waterfalls flowing from Na Molokama, double rainbows, lush Limahuli gardens and thriving lo’i. Too bad our destination ended at a parking lot, where 100 percent of the cars parked there had been broken into, windows smashed in. My heart sank as I realized none of the violated cars had yet been discovered by the owners, who were likely still camping in Kalalau. And no, these weren’t rental cars – they were local cars, not that it makes it any less of a crime to target tourists. A small fire had been made in the public bathroom, too, likely by the same punks. It left me wondering, what on earth is happening to Kaua’i? …

The University of Hawai’i Board of Regents last week approved a package that names four UH programs or facilities in honor of late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, who inspired the university with his extraordinary vision and his resolve to build for the future. “Sen. Inouye impacted the University of Hawai’i in ways that cannot be measured. We are deeply grateful to the senator for his years of support and for all that he has done for us,” UH President M.R.C. Greenwood said in a prepared statement. The Board of Regents approved the proposal to name a selection of facilities and programs in honor of Inouye at four campuses. They are:

* UH Manoa: The Daniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography

* UH Hilo: The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy

* UH Maui College: The Daniel K. Inouye Allied Health Center

* Kaua’i Community College: The Daniel K. Inouye Electronics Technology Building.

Koloa Rum Company has named Bob Gunter president and chief executive officer, and Alicia Iverson chief financial officer. Previously, as chief operations officer, Gunter was instrumental in designing, constructing, permitting and commissioning KRC’s primary production facility in Kalaheo. Prior to joining KRC in 2008, Gunter served as operations manager of Sandwich Islands Distilling Corp., vice president of operations at Hawaiian Islands Spirits Inc. on Maui, and previously on Kaua’i as employee relations supervisor with AMFAC Sugar, and director of human resources at Kaua’i Electric Division. Gunter has a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. As CFO, Iverson will oversee the company’s manufacturing, wholesale and retail finance and accounting functions, including the preparation and dissemination of financial statements, seasonal budgets, forecasts, internal controls, payroll, economic strategy, and Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Trade Bureau (TTB) compliance and requisite government filings …

It’s almost time for the Garden Isle Artisan Fair March 16, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Po’ipu Beach. It offers an opportunity to enjoy the wealth of local talent on the Garden Isle, with more than 40 of our finest artisans. Highlights include photography, jewelry, aloha wear, wood carvings, lauhala baskets, photo albums, pounded mulberry bark, lilikoi jellies, original oil paintings and table linens …

Aloha United Way offers free income tax self-preparation and free federal and state filing help to anyone in the state with an income of $57,000 or less. To access the service, go to the website (auw.org) and click on the My Free Taxes link. Following that is an H&R Block At Home site to prepare and file taxes. This free self-preparation service is in addition to the local Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for those who need assistance with their tax preparation or do not have access to the Internet. To find the free tax preparation site nearest you, call 2-1-1 …

All 27 classes at elementary schools in Kilauea and Hanalei will receive a volunteer tutor, plus $700 to buy supplies and fund a field trip, under a new program of the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay. Its name: Adopt a Classroom. The news was announced last week that 17 of the 27 classrooms have been adopted to date, and checks totaling $12,000 were presented to the principals of the two schools by Rotary president Tony Motta. Every classroom is being adopted by an individual, couple, business or civic organization. “Classroom Angels” contribute $700 and commit to spend one hour a week in their adopted class, take students on a field trip, and work with the teacher and parents to improve student performance. “Classroom Sponsors” simply contribute $700 to their class, and the tutor is recruited by the Rotary club, according to the program’s creator, Ric Cox. At Kilauea School, whose principal, Sherry Gonsalves, helped develop the program, 12 of the 13 classrooms have been adopted and 22 tutors are in place. Founding Classroom Angels are Rick Gerding, Jeff Goodman, Michael and Barbara Dexter-Smith, Chick Lanphier, Will Spiegelman, Jessie Hill, Tom and Linda Sanders, Deborah and Benjamin Gillikin. Founding classroom sponsors are Jonathan McRoberts, O’Connor Realty, Marjorie Gifford and New Wave Electronics. At Hanalei Elementary School, where recruitment began more recently, five of the 14 classrooms have been adopted so far and four tutors are in place, according to principal Corey Nakamura. Angels are Hanalei Coffee Roasters, Bar Acuda Restaurant and Mal and Pam Dohrman. Sponsors are Ching Young Village and Hanalei Land Company. Anyone interested in adopting one of the remaining classrooms, or adopting a whole school for $20,000 each, can email Ric14@aol.com, call 635-9300, or visit HanaleiRotary.org …