Wood Craft Ben Wood

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Tori Richard Christmas card is fun-filled collector’s item

My favorite Christmas card thus far came from Tori Richard. It's about 6 by 9 inches and opens up to double that size. Three polar bears are standing tall on their hind legs outside the home of Mr. and Mrs. Claus at the North Pole, asking: "Where's Santa?" Open the card up and it will take awhile to spot Santa in shorts and a red aloha shirt -- from Tori Richard, no doubt -- among about 100 characters and objects in front of a Tori Richard Waikiki beachfront store. Pictured are surfers and paddlers in the ocean along with something that looks like the Loch Ness Monster, a gorilla floating on a big tire tube, a mermaid in a diver's arms, a pirate climbing up a sea wall, a samurai warrior protecting a sand castle and a sumo wrestler nearby a volleyball player losing his shorts on a kill. Marilyn Monroe and Elvis are on the deck and a spy is hiding behind a coconut tree. And there's Santa on the sand near a convict coming out of an escape hole. It's the work of Malia Wisch, the company's talented graphic designer ...

Julie Honda held a luncheon for a group of well-known women at Orchids recently. Attending were Jean Ariyoshi and Vicki Cayetano, wives of former governors George Ariyoshi and Ben Cayetano. Others there were Carole Kai, Kika Matsumoto, Patricia Lee, Trish O'Neil and Barbara Ching ... Legendary composer-songwriter Burt Bacharach and guest singers get the 2008 Symphony Pops season rolling Jan. 4 and 5 at the Concert Hall, 8 p.m. ...

Fitness awards presented at Clark Hatch

Roy Yempuku and Cherryann Slagel were named 2007's Mr. and Ms. Fitness at Clark Hatch Fitness Center's 31st annual awards party this month at the center. Other top awards for men and women were: Joe Gronwald and Yoko Keller, most improved; Bernie Bays and Miho Suzuki, strength, and John Mackey and Georgianne Senda, aerobics. Gym member Kale Imua and Wayne Borje played music. Food and prizes were donated by members Dave Heenan, Robert Spicer, Sharyn Klafehn, and Aloha Sushi, Jun Bo eatery, McCully Bike Shop, center owner Bill Monsen and the center's massage experts ... I will be on vacation Monday through Jan. 1. The next Wood Craft will appear Saturday, Jan. 5. Happy holidays! ...