Three “names” with island ties have fascinating tales in the May issue of The Magazine, the
AARP publication for seniors.
In a story dubbed Finding Their Heroes, the mag spotlights folks of local interest:
- Olympian Greg Louganis’ hero as an athlete was the late Duke Kahanamoku, the celebrated Hawaiian free-lance swimmer-surfer who won three Olympic gold medals. Louganis, who collected four gold trophies himself, is part Samoan, was adopted as an infant, but met his biological father Fouvale Lutu some years ago, and learned he had a half-brother and two half-sisters with Hawaii ties.
- Amy Tan, author of the revered “The Joy Luck Club,” credits local author Maxine Hong Kingston and her “The Woman Warrior” book for inspiration that Asians could publish stories they know. Tan notes that Kingston’s life wasn’t just her own – it was a turning page for other authors of color to open the door, or book, to share their tales.
- If there was no Patsy Mink, there might not have been a Mazie Hirono, because Mink was the first woman of color to serve in Congress in the 1960s and ‘70s, serving 12 terms. She created such trend-setting legislations like Medicare and co-authored the Title IX law for equal-sex opportunities. “I’m grateful that America offered me many opportunities,” says Sen. Hirono, an immigrant (born in Japan) who was a lieutenant governor of Hawaii who earned a seat in Congress in 2013 and the nation’s first Buddhist to serve.
These separate stories reflect the power of minorities beating the odds and becoming models for generations to come. …
Whee, the people
Local boy KoDee Martin has been cast as Ferdinand, King of Navarre, in Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” a July production in Central Park. It’s his New York theatrical debut, so if you’re in The Big Apple this summer, go visit. Martin was part of the “Allegiance” cast when the Manoa Valley Theatre staged the Hawaii debut of the show at the Hawaii Theatre. …
Singer Shari Lynn and hubby Michael Acebedo head to New York shortly – beginning a five-week vacation-celebration of their 45th wedding anniversary, but one year tardy because of last year’s pandemic. If the Tokyo Olympics can stage a belated to-do, why not the Kailua couple? Bon voyage – and a shout-out for a happy 46th. …
Isle actress B.K. Cannon has a featured role in “Why Women Kill,” streaming on Paramount + this summer. She filmed her Season 2 role from last October till last April, in the height of the coronavirus pandemic; it’s a 10-episode, dark comedy series set in 1949, with requisite period costumes, cars and set, from Marc Cherry, who created “Desperate Housewives.” …
And that’s “Show Biz.” …
So happy to hear about KoDee Martin’s debut in NYC. I worked with KoDee at Aulani a few years back in the Character/Entertainment dept. Very talented young man and happy for his success! Tell him “Aunty Sonya” said aloha!
I enjoy reading your stories with the local flavor!