In late 2006, before Barack Obama was a household name, Doug Riggs, interested in national politics, knew who the Illinois senator was and spotted him jogging on Monsarrat Avenue. Doug, now 24, knew Obama, whom he admired, was considering a run for the presidency. The senator, on an island visit, was heading into Doug and his brother, Scott, now 21, as they were walking to the beach. Doug was barefooted and shirtless but as Obama reached them he turned, jogged along with him and shook his hand. Doug was reluctant to let go of his hand and was dragged along for a bit by Obama. “;Are you going to run?”; Doug asked. Obama said he would decide after the new year and ran off as Doug shouted, “;God bless you, Mr. Obama.”; Hearing that, Scott asked, “;Who's Obama?”; He knows now. Doug is a Californian whose parents, Bob and Rita Riggs, have a home here. He later worked on Obama's presidential campaign and got to meet him again at the Kahala Hotel a year and a half after the chance Monsarrat run-in ...

Robert Graham

The Kahala Hotel & Resort's Kawai Cummings has been named 2008 Concierge of the Year in an annual awards competition sponsored by Oahu Concierge magazine. Kawai is the concierge manager at the Kahala ...

For those who haven't been up to The Contemporary Museum recently, it might be worth a visit to look closely at the bronze entry gates. They were a gift from Robert Graham, an internationally known Los Angeles sculptor who died Dec. 27 at age 70 in LA. He was the husband of actress Anjelica Huston. Graham designed the gateway of the Los Angeles Coliseum for the 1984 Olympics. He was inducted into the California Museum's Hall of Fame 12 days before his death ...

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's recording of “;Over the Rainbow”; was one of four recorded songs by vocal greats played in New York's Times Square shortly after the crystal ball descended, marking the start of 2009. The first song was, appropriately, Frank Sinatra's “;New York New York.”; It was followed by Ray Charles' “;America the Beautiful”; and Louis Armstrong's “;What a Wonderful World.”; Then came IZ's “;Rainbow”; blockbuster. That's cool for IZ to be linked with such legends. Anderson Cooper, cohosting CNN's New Year's special with comedienne Kathy Griffin, was saying how much he loved that version of “;Over the Rainbow”; when he was cut off by the loudmouth comedienne. She also made an ugly comment to a heckler, that cannot be printed here. During the show, viewers e-mailed new year's greetings that were rolled at the bottom of the screen. One came from a Christopher of Hawaii and read, “;Hau'oli Makahiki Hou From Hawaii.”; Happy New Year to you, too, Chris. What's your last name? ...