Former State Senator Anson Chong, who represented Makiki back in the 1970’s, died yesterday on the Big Island after a long struggle with cancer.

Last month, Fern Forest Community honored him by observing Anson Chong Day in recognition of his contributions to the community, according to a story in the Hawaii Tribune Herald.

“Years ago, Anson met a woman with cancer,” said a spokesman. “Anson would drive her to chemotherapy appointments and to Mass on Sundays. As a result, he also became involved with helping the homeless who live in Fern Forest, and was instrumental in developing a ministry to them which continues to this day.

“On June 7, the community is honoring Anson to share their appreciation with him for the positive effect he has had on their lives.”

A steady stream of visitors has been arriving at the home where Anson and his wife, Ann Gleason, are being cared for. Many of them recount ways Chong has helped them and changed their lives for the better.

When I saw Anson more frequently back in the 70s, he was a supporter of peace and of community groups working for social change.

Anson wrote this little biographic sketch in a longer piece after the death of Vern Hiu, a lifelong friend.

Vern and I have Big Island roots. He is from the A Hoy (a.k.a. akana) family of Kona, which morphed to its present “Hiu” name upon moving to Honolulu. My grandfather, Ahnee of Kohala, was a konohiki on the household staff of the late Rev. Bond in the 19th century. Ahnee began using the Chong name when the clan moved to Honolulu in the early 1920s.

Vern and I were born in the same month and year on Oahu, played trombone together in the Punahou band which included performing in the pit band for the Punahou Carnivals, the circus band at an Atherton YMCA carnival and the Junior Symphony. We also hawked the Star Bulletin on the sidewalks of Waikiki, hiked behind Maunalani Heights many times, belonged to the Saturday Porky Pig club at Kaimuki Theater (9 cents to get in and you got a free coke), went night spear fishing at the Aina Hina reefs, did gigs with the Nocturns, a dance band, and lived on Sierra Drive, Kaimuki. When my parents got divorced and I became wayward and had a “Mohawk” hairstyle (which got me suspended) (I was ahead of my time), Vern dragged me to his house and got his Mom to cut the Mohawk off. We didn’t do drugs, smoke pot or drink alcohol. Heck, we probably were the last generation NOT to have done it while in high school. I was present at his marriage to his first wife, Susan Bell, on July 21, 1959, and he was present at my marriage to Ann Gleason on Dec. 27, 1983.

Aloha, Anson.

Wondering about the woes of the real estate market? Check out the self-inflicted injuries in this web site, “It’s lovely! I’ll take it!” It’s a funny collection of bad photos found in actual real estate listings. It’s worth wasting some time with.

And you might be interested in the observations of Honolulu teacher Jackie Chappel, who is blogging from a summer teachers institute at the University of Pittsburgh sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities. “Voices across time” has brought together wenty-five teachers from around the country for five weeks studying American music and learning ways to integrate music into their classrooms.

It seems that I unintentionally “outed” the book project about Obama’s time in Hawaii. Yesterday’s Notebook Blog provided more information on the book, a project of retired Advertiser editor/reporter Jerry Burris and former Aloha Airlines spokesman and onetime reporter Stu Glauberman.

Pity the poor contract negotiators at the Advertiser in the face of today’s announcement of a 36% drop in Gannett’s quarterly profits and a planned multi-billion dollar writedown. Ouch.

Interesting news that the Stop Rail folks may have stumbled in the wording of their petition by calling for a vote “at a special election”. The city is now saying that this disqualifies the question from being on the general election ballot even if enough signatures are collected. And the Advertiser’s story today quotes Eric Ryan, described as the campaign manager for Stop Rail Now. I wasn’t paying enough attention and did not know that. You may remember Ryan’s recent incarnation as a vocal critic of Gov. Lingle and any sort of “big tent” view of the Republican Party. He wants to get back to bedrock conservatism and has challenged the GOP to do just that. Lingle must have had to hold her nose and walk past all that in order to sign the anti-rail petition.

Which raises the issue: What is Lingle positioning for with her walking the rail line? It would seem she is making trouble for Mufi. She can’t run for governor again, so that’s not the race she expects to potentially meet Mufi in. She must think that they’ll be facing off in a race for one federal office or another.

And so it goes.