When 102-year-old Hawaii-born Bill Tapia was told by his doctors he could not make the trip from California to Honolulu to perform in the Ukulele Masters event at Aloha Tower last Wednesday, he was extremely disappointed. And so was the promoter. So a film crew was sent to his home to capture his performance. “;He did two songs,”; said Eddie Kamae, who played at the event as did Herb Ohta ... “;I'm getting better and better every day”; Bill said by phone from his California home Feb. 4. Bill had hoped to mark his 102nd birthday at Mihana and Chuckie Souza's Kailua home Jan. 3 but fell and broke his hip Dec. 16. His birthday falls on New Year's Day. Bill speaks clearly in a strong voice and had been doing shows up until his fall. He is incredible. And he has not lost his sense of humor. He said he was asked to walk 100 feet with a walker after shorter walks in the hospital. He did. Then he was told because he could walk 100 feet he would have to pay a higher rate of $190-a-day rate or go home. “;If I knew that I would have walked only 50 feet,”; Bill said. “;A doctor told me I was the first 102-year-old man they ever operated on. I told him the hell with the history, make me well.”; Bill stayed a few more days in the hospital and went home. A nurse and caretakers see him regularly and Pat and Nancy Enos, originally of Hawaii, stay with him. Mihana sings with Bill and his group in mainland concerts ...

BEARING DOWN: Wolfgang's Steakhouse in Royal Hawaiian Center is offering Valentine's night diners a Teddy Bear wearing a Wolfgang's apron. Steakhouse G.M. Bill Nickerson says he has 200 bears to give away ... Bob Lopresti, owner of Joe Pacific Shoe Repair, has been treated like a rock star after his bank, Central Pacific, featured him as one of their well-satisfied customers in print and TV ads. The ads ran numerous days. “;The response is incredible,”; said Bob in his busy downtown shop. Besides new customers, many old ones have come by, not only to have shoes repaired but just to say hello and comment on the ads that pictured him ... Keith and Carmen Haugen present the free Peace on Earth concert Wednesday at the Kapiolani Park Bandstand, 6 p.m. ...

I'm a die-hard San Francisco Forty Niners fan but I've also been a New Orleans Saints supporter ever since Katrina. So I was happy to see New Orleans upset the Indianapolis Colts in Sunday's Super Bowl. David Letterman, on his Monday night show, displayed his wide-receiver skills by snagging a pass from the game's MVP, New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees. Also on the show, Sandra Bullock showed an autographed football Drew gave her ... Matt Corboy, Punahou '91, was key actor in the Super Bowl Budweiser ad in which a human bridge saved the Bud truck. Matt, who was quite an athlete at Punahou, is the son of Dr. John and Mary Jo Corboy ...

Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things Saturdays. E-mail him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).