BIG ALOHA FOR
THE BIG EASY

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Lee Fernandez, left, and Chris Manabe, employees of Side Street Inn, prepared condiments for their booth at last night's "Big Aloha" block party on Merchant Street. The event was a fund-raiser for Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans.

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HONORING VETERANS
OF WAR

DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM The 2005 National POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony was held yesterday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. The isle ceremony was held in conjunction with others throughout the nation and world. Above, Susumu Shingawa, left, Nick Nishimoto and Goichi Tamaye laid a wreath during the ceremony. All three were POWs during the Korean War.

DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM At left, retired U.S. Navy Capt. Gerald Coffee, who was a POW for seven years in the Vietnam War, was the keynote speaker. After the ceremony, Vietnam vet Fred "Pato" Pepper, right, went up to shake Coffee's hand and embrace him.

BLAZE HITS TOWING COMPANY

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Firefighters gathered outside the Restaurant Equipment Locators warehouse yesterday after putting out a building fire at Islandwide Towing, 611 Middle St. The fire was reported at 10:18 a.m. and brought under control by 10:26 a.m. No damage estimates were available yesterday.

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HPU TURNS 40

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Hawaii Pacific University President Chatt Wright blew out candles yesterday as HPU celebrated its 40th birthday at its downtown campus at Fort Street Mall. At left is Sharon Manibog, HPU Leadership Development coordinator.