La Pietra holds all-school reunion over the weekend

MORE THAN 300 members of the La Pietra Ohana and friends gathered at the school's all-school reunion last weekend. A reception was held at the school Friday, followed by a luau Saturday, with music by Puamana, on the Great Lawn. Festivities ended Sunday after a picnic at Secret Island at Kualoa Ranch. La Pietra was the dream of Lorraine Cooke and Barbara Cox Anthony, who felt the community needed a small non-sectarian school for girls ...

Hoku's at the Kahala reopened Saturday after hotel managing director John Blanco tossed a preview party for about 200 guests Friday. Chef Wayne Hirabayashi spent time with some of the top chefs in the country -- including Thomas Keller of the French Laundry and The Boulevard's Nancy Oakes -- before writing his new menu. About 80 percent of the menu is new but favorites remain. Besides new silver and china, white tablecloths -- something many guests wanted -- are now used at dinner ...

SORRY LARRY: Former Bank of Hawaii President Larry Johnson was among those 1958 Punahou grads who brought their former history teacher and baseball-basketball coach, Henry Zabierek, here recently for his 82nd birthday and the Punahou Luau. Larry's name was left out of those involved in the Z Project in an earlier column ...

'Bird Lady' is grand marshal of Kailua parade

DOROTHY BABINEAU has been named grand marshal for the Kailua Fourth of July parade. Dorothy is known as the "Bird Lady" for the care she has given to hundreds of her fine-feathered friends. Mike Stott is parade chair. Five marching bands, including a band from New Zealand, are included in the parade ... The Doubletreee Alana Hotel has the Independence Day spirit. The hotel is giving away chocolate chip cookies to anyone who walks into the hotel on the Fourth ... Mel Suzui, one of the most knowledgeable people in Hawaii when it came to shotgun trap and skeet shooting, died June 2 at age 87. He taught many people the ropes about shotgun sports. Mel could be tough and crusty but also had a good sense of humor. Condolences to his daughter Bonny Amemiya and other family members ...

Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin in the streets of downtown Honolulu during World War II, writes of people, places and things every Wednesday and Saturday. E-mail him at bwood@starbulletin.com