Hawaii
By Dave Donnelly
Monday, April 22, 1996
With the cash, she can rent videos
WE have in our midst a modern day Don Quixote, or perhaps we should say Donna Quixote. Her name is Tracy Kobashigawa, and at a recent KSSK movie premiere drawing at the Cinerama Theatre, she was one of three finalists gathered in hopes of winning a trip for two to Hollywood to see the world premiere of "The Quest," and meet star Jean-Claude Van Damme in person. But alas, when the name was called the winner was Mililani resident Aecha Nakamura, so Tracy and the other runner-up congratulated her on her win and headed to work. But will wonders never cease? Within minutes, a disappointed Tracy, still listening to the station that had figuratively closed a door in her face, heard her Gold Card number announced on the air, called and pocketed $1,300 cash, a one-in-60,000 chance. She may not get to meet Van Damme, but her "Quest" proved fruitful nonetheless ...
Rene Mansho
AFTER the item appeared here about Peter Birnbaum wrecking his motorcycle on the first night of his weeklong 10th anniversary celebration of the Sugar Bar, he got so many calls at Queen's that he asked the nurses to take the phone out of his room. He's still pretty badly scraped up. As he put it, "They had to pick half the macadam that was on the street out of the left side of my body." The injury resulted in four hours of plastic surgery on his face as well. City Councilwoman Rene Mansho, who had visited the Sugar Bar that fateful night and sang "It Had to be You!" with Arthur Lyman, sent a beautiful orchid arrangement to the hospital. "Too bad it's unlucky to take home flowers from the hospital," said Birnbaum to longtime steady lady Tammy. "If you think I'm leaving these here for the nurses to take home," quipped Tammy, "you got another surprise coming." ...
Sword play
STAFFERS at Manoa Valley Theatre toasted fearless leader Dwight Martin on his birthday and the champagne corks were literally flying. UH religion professor Lee Siegel, who holds a title called "Certificat de Sabreur" from the Brotherhood of the Golden Sabre, showed why. The title means he's been trained to open champagne bottles by holding them in one hand and then running a sabre up the side of the bottle, unleashing the cork and sending it flying. After demonstrating his technique, MVT administrative director Becky Dunning tried her hand at it, but those who ducked in mock fear had to cheer. She handled the task admirably. Siegel was showing how the champagne cork-popping is done so the actors could perform the feat in the upcoming play "Tony and Tina's Wedding." ...
"Cass" Castagnola
HE wasn't kidding. George "Cass" Castagnola, who sold his Italian eatery on Ala Moana, is now driving a cab and professes he's never been happier ... The Planet Hollywood people are ecstatic about the initial reaction to their public stock offering of last week. The local Planet Hollywood in Waikiki sent out a news release stating, "Planet Hollywood" is now a $3 billion dollar company!!!" I know nothing about the stock market, but since there are 31 Planet Hollywood locations worldwide, does that mean their average worth today is $100 million each? ...
Katz-ing up
UH volleyball star Yuval Katz got a chance to shine in front of his parents visiting from Israel at the match with Pepperdine Saturday night. And may I be the first to go on record as saying that his mom is what we in the old days might have called "The Katz Meow." Now, of course, it would be politically incorrect to do so, but a handsome woman she is ... UV, as the UH students call him, picked a great night to get 39 kills. The fact he wasn't named Player of the Year in the conference was a joke. I'd wager that after watching Katz Saturday the Pepperdine coach would vote for him today ...
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968. His columns run Monday through Friday. Contact Dave by e-mail at donnelly@kestrok.com.
Hawaii by Dave Donnelly is a daily feature of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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