Hawaii
THERE'S money in them there franchise operations. You've no doubt heard about the success of Planet Hollywood's initial public stock offering. The Fashion Cafe, with a trio of "Supermodel" figureheads, is also expanding operations and is looking to open franchises like their Hollywood counterparts. And now Mike Love of the Beachboys is pushing yet another "theme" club based on his group's huge hit, "Kokomo." Love, who was on Maui for a concert last night, met with Aloha Tower Marketplace G.M.Marleen Akau and marketing consultant Chris Akau for dinner Sunday night. Love is scouting Hawaii locales for one of the first five worldwide Club Kokomo sites, and is eyeing Aloha Tower. Other areas he's looking at include Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Aruba and the Caribbean. And, of course, if these prove successful, can Wall Street be far behind? ...
Paul Revere
SPEAKING of old rockers, and we're not talking Martin & MacArthur koa jobs here, Paul Revere has been spotted cruisin' into the drive-through line at McDonald's in his Rolls Royce. It's a kind of payback for the burger people's new national campaign featuring the song from the Raiders, "Hungry." ... John Decker of RainSong, the Maui guitar folks, was thrilled to see one of his bass guitars being played by one of the Blowfish when Hootie and his group appeared on MTV the other night. Visiting Maui all last week were world-famous luthier (look it up!) Lorenzo Pimentel and his son Gustavo. Pimentel & Sons Guitar Makers have been working with RainSong since 1983 in developing their all-graphite instruments ...
WE cut now to Rick's sister, Leslie Smolen of Carbone Smolen in N.Y., who designed the Jackie O. auction book for Sotheby's, and also the stationery for the local public relations firm of Sheila Donnelly & Associates. One of the items at the auction, a sterling silver Tiffany tape measure, sold for an astronomical $48,875, and the local Tiffany store reports it immediately sold out of the item which retails at $155. The same is happening all over the country and more are being ordered. If you get one, just engrave it with JBK (style 213) and who knows what you can get for it? ...
SERENDIPITY DO: It was one of those nightmare situations you try to overcome, but former model Carol Green recalls dressing for a black-tie dinner one night and the slinky little dress she'd hoped to slither into proved a bit more resistant than she'd like. An old girdle was a temporary solution, but it led her to start a business designing ladies' shape-wear that is current, sexy and comfortable. Many women are wearing them as "outerwear" and to the gym for workouts. Green, now a successful businesswoman, is coming to Hawaii to appear at Liberty House Ala Moana Friday and Saturday. The product line is called "Aubergine," French for "eggplant," but let's hope that's not a reflection of anyone's body style ...
