Who says guys -- actors, artists, musicians, radio personalities, even the University of Hawaii football coach -- can't be sensitive? Celebrities craft miniature
Christmas trees with
favorite themesBy Tim Ryan
tryan@starbulletin.comA group of celebrities recently took the time to play homemakers, decorating 18-inch artificial Christmas trees as a way of reaching out to help the Queen's Medical Center's biggest annual fund-raiser.
Singer/songwriter Henry Kapono's unique "Rock and Roses" features a half-dozen illuminated guitars -- bought over the Internet -- and lots of teeny-weeny white silk roses with a strand of silver something or other encircling the piece and the top.
"It was a fun three hours to do this for a good cause and a chance to try something different," he said.
Artist Mark Chai's "Patriotic Surf Tree" tree has five red, white and blue cardboard surfers attached to 10-inch surfboards, all made from recycled materials that the Queen's Hospital worker found on the job. The surfers' hair sticks up in red and white strands -- also recycled material -- symbolizing the American flag.
A small signs sits at the base saying "United We Surf."
What: Queen's Medical Center's 47th annual Festival of Trees silent auction fund-raiser On view
When: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and tomorrow; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; silent auction bids close at 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: Ward Warehouse, 2nd floor Kewalo and Kakaako rooms
Cost: $1 donation suggested; children 12 and under admitted free
Call: 547-4397
Actor Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa's tree is a bit more conceptual, at least this afternoon. The actual tree was MIA but quite close to cerebral completion, Tagawa joked.
The Kauai-based actor who most recently appeared in "Pearl Harbor" and "Planet of the Apes" calls his design a "Revolutionary Christmas" with the tree topped by a tiny "Ape" helmet, dangling signed ornaments, autographed phone, and "Planet" trading cards.
And how did other notables decorate their 18-inch wonders?
>> June Jones' "Winning Warriors Holiday" has his tree topped with a wood Warrior logo, and cut-out wood jerseys with individual players' numbers and signatures, plus bows made from the athletes' shoelaces. (They were washed, we hope.)
>> Brickwood Galuteria and Frank B. Shaner's "Enduring Freedom: Remembering the Reasons for the Season" has red, silver and blue bells, and red, white and blue ribbon. A Hawaii-U.S.A decal attached to the base has the Pledge of Allegiance, while the top features American and Hawaii flags each protected by a bird of peace.
>> Michael W. Perry and Larry Price created "The Posse Stars Holiday," a tribute to the radio-listening citizen "Posse" that uses a network of cell phones and automobiles to protect Honolulu streets. The tree has more than 30 "Posse" embossed stars in the KSSK colors: red, white and black. The stars are interlaced with red berries, miniature white lights and red satin balls. A red garland encircles the entire tree.
Viewers can check out celebrity trees through Sunday at the Ward Warehouse second-floor conference rooms, and place a silent auction bid to take one of them home. There will also be sales of volunteer-decorated trees, handmade gifts and ornaments. Funds raised will go toward the purchase of a critical-care ventilator machine.
There will also be trees decorated by Peggy Chun, first lady Vicky Cayetano, Honolulu Pops conductor Matt Catingub, the Local Divas and KITV's Jill Kuramoto.
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