Museum given manuscript of early Hilo businessman

THEODORE PITMAN, great-great grandson of Hilo High Chiefess Kino'ole and businessman Benjamin Pitman, arrived from Massachusetts with his wife, Susan, this week to give Bishop Museum a handwritten manuscript by Benjamin Pitman. Entitled "Reminiscences of My Early Life and Sojourn in Hawaii from 1836 to 1861," the nine-page manuscript records personal observations of Hawaii, its people and King Kamehameha III.

Ben Wood

He wrote: "This young king was one of Nature's Noblemen -- possessed of a good heart and finer feelings. It was my privilege to make his acquaintance, and a friendship grew out of this which continued during the rest of his life, some twenty-five years." Educator Noelle Kahanu says the manuscript is significant because, "much of what we have during this time frame is seen through missionary eyes." Coming from a merchant married to a high chiefess, Pitman's observations are "much less constrained" than that of missionaries. DeSoto Brown and Betty Lou Kam accepted the manuscript for the museum ...

brazilian Rodrigo Santoro, one of the hot guys on "Lost," has an eight-page spread in this month's GQ, modeling casual attire in "towns, beaches and hills of Hawaii," the men's mag says ... Wynonna Judd is booked March 30-31 at the Concert Hall with the Symphony Pops ...

DIG THE BEAT ON JAZZ WEDNESDAYS AT KAWAIAHAO

'Tis the season for "Lent and All That Jazz on the Green" on the Kawaiahao Church yard every Wednesday at noon through April 4. Betty Loo Taylor and drummer Sonny Froman cut loose with a bunch of cats every Wednesday. This Wednesday, they have Noel Okimoto on vibes, Rocky Holmes on sax and flute, and Dean Taba on bass. On March 28, Kanoe "Tootsie" Cazimero's vocal pipes will get a workout with guitarist Shoji Ledward and Taba. To wind things up on April 4, Taylor and Froman will let it all hang out with Gabe Baltazar on sax, bassist Steve Jones and swingin' singer Jimmy Borges. Bring a lunch and give a listen ... My coworkers surprised me with an office luncheon Tuesday to mark my 40th anniversary with the Star-Bulletin. Besides the office staff, some of the Bulletin retirees came and made my day even better. It was much appreciated ...