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Allegra Mossman, 7,
steps up for a Pearl Harbor
veteran

On Dec. 7, Allegra Somei Ke'alohikeaokalani Matsuo Mossman, 7, played taps on her violin at the Arizona Memorial to continue the late Richard Fiske's efforts to honor the U.S. and Japanese military personnel who lost their lives during the attack. Fiske was the bugler aboard the battleship West Virginia during the attack. Years later, he and Japanese Pearl Harbor pilot Zenji Abe, who attacked the West Virginia, became a strong force in reconciliation and friendship efforts between American and Japanese Pearl Harbor survivors. Fiske had been blowing taps on his bugle every month for 12 years at the Arizona Memorial and laying flowers paid for by Abe. Suffering with cancer, he did it for the last time on Dec. 7, 2003. He died last April. Allegra volunteered to step in with her violin and play taps each year on Dec. 7 to carry on for Fiske and Abe, who is 88 and has cancer. He managed to come from Japan for this year's remembrance. He was assisted here by his friends John De Virgilio and Michele Matsuo, Allegra's mom. Allegra's dad is Brad Mossman. Her grandfather, Ted Matsuo, served with the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Her grandmother, Dorothy Matsuo, is the author of two books on the 442nd, "Boyhood to War" and "Silent Valor" ...

LaBoy gets bad rap on 'Monday Night Football'

It's a shame former UH defensive end Travis LaBoy, now with Tennessee, was called for hitting the Kansas City quarterback in the head on Monday Night Football. Announcers Al Michaels and John Madden repeatedly said it was not a blow to the head and was a legal hit to the shoulder. The hit was rerun several times, showing it was clearly fair. LaBoy got the bad rap, not the QB. The miscall penalty helped K.C. win in the dying minutes ... Kristoffer Polaha of "North Shore" ran Sunday's Honolulu Marathon in 7 hours, 19 minutes and 14 seconds ...

Diners at Compadres got an unexpected treat last Saturday as Sonny Ching's halau and Na Palapalai sang and danced impromptu numbers. They held a party at the eatery in advance of Ching's concert at the Hawaii Theatre tonight and tomorrow ... Photographic artist Alan Houghton is back on track after recuperating from prostate cancer surgery he had two years ago. Alan's holding an exhibition of his works featuring hula this month, at the F22 Gallery in Chinatown. Photos by Steve Kastner and Pat Smith are also on display ...

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