Wood Craft Ben Wood

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Twin teens earn dream assignment

Matthew and Joshua Juntilla, twin sons of singer Anita Hall, picked up extra credit in their Kaiser High Spanish class, taught by señor Ignacio "Mel" Cariaga, by writing a food review after chowing down at Azteca Mexican Restaurant. The 16-year-old boys, husky juniors on Kaiser's football team, rated Azteca 9.9 out of 10. They said they could not give the eatery a 10 because they were too full to try the desserts. Anita said she enjoyed listening to her guys "trying to communicate" in Spanish with owner Sara Sanchez ...

Robert Spicer, one of the oldest practicing psychologists in the U.S., who will turn 89 on June 17, was hospitalized with pneumonia at Straub recently, but wanted to go home. However, there are 65 steps to his front door, which is well above the driveway. Robert is 6 feet and weighs 150 pounds. His hanai daughter, Jana Hall, who pumps iron, is strong, but for her to get him to the door was too much to handle. But it was no problem for Robert's close Clark Hatch workout friend, businessman Dick Gushman. Dick, who is a strong 6-feet-6 and weighs 200 pounds, carried Robert right up all those stairs and placed him on his sofa. Jana had a John Philip Sousa march blaring on the stereo for the homecoming ...

Alan Wong took his restaurant staff to Richard Ha's Hamakua Springs Country Farms recently to film an episode of the PBS award-winning series, "Chefs-A-Field." The series highlights the relationships between chefs and farmers. The Wong-Ha episode will showcase Ha's hydroponically grown tomatoes. Leigh Ito, a key member of Wong's team, says the episode will open the series' fourth season nationally next year. The show also features chefs and farmers interacting with children. Keaukaha Elementary in Hilo is part of the "Adopt-A-Class" program that Ha started last year. The sixth-grade class was filmed participating in a cooking demonstration with Wong. The class was adopted by Wong. Good show! ...

Leather Soul, a cool name for a shoe store, held its grand opening Thursday at Royal Hawaiian Center. Congratulations to owner Tom Park. Pure Heart alum Jon Yamasato entertained. Food and beverage was provided by Okonomiyaki Chibo Restaurant and People's Wine Shop ... Don't forget Emme Tomimbang's "Island Moments" on Genoa Keawe at 9 p.m. tomorrow and 3 p.m. Saturday on KHON-TV ...