Hank McKeague, 80, was one of the most unforgettable people I have ever met. Hank, a writer of letters to the editors of both papers, died last Saturday morning at Kaiser Hospital after being hospitalized with lung problems March 3. He owned Hank's Place in Kaimuki where the Makaha Sons of Niihau were based when brothers Israel and Skippy Kamakawiwoole starred in the group. He sponsored a California concert by the Sons. I met Hank at Robert Louis Stevenson Intermediate when I was in the seventh grade. Hank should have been two grades ahead of me, but he was only one ahead because he managed to flunk first grade at Thomas Jefferson. Don't ever think he was dumb, because he went on to graduate from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He always did things his way and was likely setting his own course, instead of the teacher's, even in first grade …

Hank was an almost pure Hawaiian from Kapahulu and a fine singer who also wrote songs. His “;Kaleilehua”; was recorded by the respected Kahauanu Lake Trio. In high school he was Roosevelt's top athlete in the Class of '48, starring in football, basketball and baseball. After graduation from UH, he became a police officer, a restaurant-bar owner, a real estate broker and worked for the Job Corps. He married Beverly Tang, whom he called his “;Diamond in the Rough.”; Bev suffered four strokes, starting in 1989, and Hank gave her tender loving care up until his hospitalization …

Hank was in my wedding party in 1974, along with Tim Smythe and Frank “;Steiny”; Steinmiller. Tim and I met in first grade in Lincoln Elementary, and Steiny met Hank when he was in first grade at Thomas Jefferson. We were all together at Stevenson Intermediate and Roosevelt High. Steiny has priceless stories about Hank in their elementary school days and later when he was a fireman and Hank was with HPD. “;I first met Hank when I was in first grade and he was in second grade,”; Steinmiller said. “;It has been a long, enjoyable journey, and I will miss him.”; Smythe said, “;In our lives we've all made many friends, and a few were a little different, they had something special. Hank was one of them. He was a leader.”; Hank's services are scheduled for this morning at Kailua Beach Park. Aloha, Hank …

MOVING ON: Colin Nishida, owner of Side Street Inn, is closing his Fort Street Bar and Grill on Friday, making me and many other regular customers unhappy. Good, reasonably priced comfort food is served on the ground floor of the two-story spot at lunch time. It's crowded daily with downtown folks who either eat there or take food out. Besides the food, I will miss the counter crew of Rose Francisco, Jachel Aradanas, Lee Fernandez and Kaniela Perez, and kitchen staffers Chris Manabe, Nate Fujimoto, Jason Oka, Tabo Kishimoto and Regie Alvarado. The night bar crew is made up of Yumi Teraizumi, Rae Nakagawa, Jill Matsumoto and Earl Kalani. The entire staff will be brought into Nishida's Side Street Inn …

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