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Isle Guard troops
in Texas will have
a taste of home today

Merry, Merry Christmas! ... Hawaii National Guard soldiers training for Iraq duty at Fort Bliss, Texas, will have aloha Christmas packages of local food to enjoy today. Rep. Marcus Oshiro worked with firms and stores in the Wahiawa area to have bags filled with macadamia nuts, beef jerky, Kona coffee and li hing mui. Dan Owen, Continental Airlines' cargo operations chief, supervised loading the packages on the Honolulu-to-Houston nonstop, ensuring that the soldiers that didn't make it home for Christmas will have a little island treat ... Military personnel or their adult dependents will receive a 50 percent reduction from their food bill at lunch or dinner today at Don Ho's Island Grill ...

I tuned in late to the "Kennedy Center Honors" on KGMB Tuesday but got to see terrific tributes to Warren Beatty and Elton John. Beatty's award was presented by Faye Dunaway and Jack Nicholson and John's was presented by Robert Downey Jr. Nicholson was at his best, wearing his devilish smile while speaking with much humor about Beatty. He was funny. The John tribute was a blockbuster with Billy Joel, Kid Rock, Heather Headley and Fantasia singing his hits, backed by singers and musicians. It was interesting to see conservative President Bush sitting in the same row a few seats away from liberals Beatty and John in the Presidential Box ...

Willie K, friends spark Emme's show at 4 and 8 p.m.

Emme Tomimbang's Christmas "Island Moments" show will be rerun by KHON today at 4 p.m., and without commercials by PBS on KHET at 8 p.m. Seth Markow said he was blown away by Willie K's rendition of "O Holy Night," backed by the Makaha Sons and Voices of Praise, 34 singers and musicians from City of Refuge Christian Church. The ovation went on and on. Melveen Leed, Jordan Segundo, Pauline Wilson and Hapa are also in the show. Al Waterson, Harry Soria, Brickwood Galuteria and Kimo Kahoano emceed. Seth knows his music. His radio show, "The Real Deal," is broadcast Friday and Saturday nights from 8 to 10 on Hawaii Public Radio's KIPO 89.3 FM and has been carried for more than 20 years ... For Sinatra fans, as I am, Guy Steele hosts "Sinatra -- The Man and the Music," Sundays from 5 to 6 p.m. on the same station ... I'll be on vacation until Monday Jan. 3. Next Wood Craft on Jan. 5. Happy New Year! ...

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