NEWS FROM PAGES PAST
50 years ago — June 18, 1971
CYO Float Represented Kauai
Right, hundreds of people lining the sidewalks craned their necks while the eyes of thousands of others remained affixed to their television sets as huge diesel engines started, musicians began to play, and sixteen beautiful floats made their way up Atkinson Drive at the beginning of the annual Kamehameha Day Parade on June 11.
…members of the Catholic Youth Organization … sponsored the float representing the Island of Kauai. “Reminiscing enchanting moments at the Fern Grotto” was chosen as the theme of their float which featured a bridal couple under a replica of the world renowned romantic setting as the bridal party danced to such well known 
songs as “Beautiful Kauai,” “Nani Waialeale,” and “Sweet Lei Mokihana.”
25 years ago — June 14, 1996
Family tradition: Like making ukuleles, helping the church runs in the ohana
In his upstairs office, away from the noisy sawing sounds of his 80-year-old family ukulele business, Sam Kamaka Jr. speaks softly about his other work.
“There’s just no question. When the church asks me to do something I do it, if I can,” the 73-year-old Kamaka said. …
In addition to his [St. Ann] parish and Serra Club activities, Kamaka has also donated his woodcrafting skills for the benefit of the church.
Several years ago, he and his son Patrick were asked to build a reliquary for the transportation of Father Damien’s relic back to Hawaii after his beatification in 1995. … The father-son team also made a more humble box of koa and mil wood in which the relic was interred in Kalawao.
Editor’s Note: Sam Kamaka Jr. helped found the Serra Club in Hawaii.
10 years ago – June 10, 2011
Meals ministry in the park nourishing bodies, souls
Known as “Father Don’s Kitchen,” the Newman Center’s outreach program is one of the many local Catholic initiatives geared toward helping the homeless. Outreach coordinators like Aunty Janne have been assessing the new 90-Day Plan on Homelessness recently announced by Gov. Neil Abercrombie, and considering how the plan will impact their ministries. …
The plan’s final listed objective to “educate the general public about the most effective means to eliminate homelessness,” includes the controversial “action” of discouraging “food distribution programs that support the choice to live in parks or on sidewalks when shelter is available.”
