Wood Craft
Chicago Bears All Pro Olin Kreutz, the 1995 St. Louis grad considered by many to be the best center in football, and his physical therapist Pat Ariki of SportsMedicine Hawaii have great admiration for each other. But you'd never know it the way they fire zingers at one another. Asked what he thinks of Pat while working out Wednesday at SportsMedicine, Olin said, "Some of us have to suffer." But after Pat was dispatched to another room, the powerful U. of Washington product got serious. "I've been with Pat since high school. He's the best therapist I've ever been around, and I've been around a few in Seattle and Chicago. Every time I've had an injury, I've come back, and Pat has always got me back 100 percent." Olin has had knee, neck, shoulder and foot injuries ... Bears star Kreutz praises
isle physical therapist ArikiNow it was Pat's turn. "Olin's been a comedian for some time," he said. Then, with the big guy out of earshot, Pat said how proud he is of the 24-year-old athlete. He first treated Olin as a high school freshman. "He's for real," Pat said, and went on to say how much the 6-foot-2, 290-pounder has matured. "You can't teach a kid that kind of stuff. He had rough edges. I was very happy to have shared guidelines with him for a time." Olin married the former Wendy Duarte of Kaneohe March 2. Pat is also giving UH stars Timmy Chang and Travis Laboy therapy. UH defensive backfield coach Rich Miano walked into the gym Wednesday wearing a red Kahuku High championship football T-shirt. Rich said he wore the shirt because "Pat works for St. Louis, and I wanted to rub it in his face." Pat earlier asked big Travis to beat up Rich. The jokes go on ...
Nagaishi moving on
David Nagaishi is leaving Don Ho's Island Grill and takes over as operations manager of four John Peterson Ltd. restaurants, owned by Eric Horst and John McManus. The eateries are the Shore Bird, Lewers Street Fish Co., Lahaina Fish Co. and the soon-to-open Ocean House in the Outrigger Reef Hotel ...
Pilots Maria Finazzo and Patrick Friskel, both Hawaiian Airlines captains, are engaged. They are looking at a wedding at Christmas. Patrick has 23 years with the airline, and Maria has 16. Both were assigned on a recent Samoa flight. Who was in charge? "He's senior but I pulled rank," said Maria, with a high-flying laugh ...
The reason the greenery and plants at Harbor Square look so nice lately is because they are orchestrated by entertainer Carlos Barboza, a former member of the Aliis who has a gardening business. Carlos is assisted by John Robinson at Harbor Square ...
Neiman draws a crowd
Neiman tossed one of its parties for customers Tuesday, with entertainment and food on three floors, plus a wine tasting. Willow Chang drew a crowd with her belly dancing. The Iona Pear dancers cruised through the store. A dancer made up as a tree created interest. Food was catered by the Mariposa, Sansei and the Pyramids. Ivy Nagayama and "Mom" Kodama were at the Sansei station, talking about D.K. Kodama's new restaurant in Kihei, Maui ... Lucy Chelini is the new public relations director at Neiman. Mariposa GM Elise Faur leaves next week to become food and beverage chief for Hualalai Resorts in Kona ...
Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin in the streets
of downtown Honolulu during World War II, writes of
people, places and things every Saturday.
E-mail him at bwood@starbulletin.com