During the lightning storm in December, a bolt zapped the coconut tree in Coralie Vellis' yard in 'Aina Haina and killed it. A neighbor who is Buddhist rushed over and told her, "My mother said you must put a bouquet of flowers with a small bottle of wine under the tree because the tree has sacrificed itself for us." I'll bet you didn't know you're supposed to do that when lightning strikes your tree.

RUSTI'S ROMANCE

Let's see what other news has come over the back fence lately. Rusti the orangutan and his lady friend, Violet, are now living together at the zoo. Some time ago our sentimental staff of Advertiser news hawks came up with ideas of how Rusti might get Violet in a romantic mood. These marvelous suggestions never got into print, until now:

David Putnam — Take her to a movie, "King Kong."

Peter Boylan — Make her queen of the Banana Republic while promising no monkey business.

Reach Bob Krauss at 525-8073.