The Honolulu Board of Water Supply named Nicholas and Celeste Barry of Pearl City as the winners of its $20,000 EXTREME Xeriscape Garden Makeover contest. The makeover will use the principles of xeriscaping, which helps to conserve water through efficient landscaping. Richard Sanderson of Mililani won second place. Sanderson will receive two trees in 24-inch boxes, which he will select from the BWS “;Oahu Planting Guide.”;

The contest was held in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the BWS Halawa Xeriscape Garden Open House and Unthirsty Plant Sale in August. Co-sponsors include Steve's Gardening Service Inc., Rain Bird and Friends of Halawa Xeriscape Garden.

  Dr. Danny Takanishi Jr., chairman of surgery at the University of Hawaii's John A. Burns School of Medicine, was voted chairman-elect of the Accreditation Council for the Graduate Medical Education Transitional Year Residency Review Committee.

  Duke's Waikiki gave Dustin Hurd its Coast Guard Sailor of the Quarter Award for Third Quarter 2008. It also gave Raynaldo Dulan its civilian award. Each received a $75 gift certificate.