Hawaii
LOVEY wasn't even offered a reward, but she didn't hesitate one bit when she found a package which a group tour conductor had left in her cab containing $16,000 in cash, plus tickets and receipts. She returned to the Waikiki Resort where she'd taken the tour conductor, who happily reclaimed the money. This time Lovey was offered a $300 reward, but refused. After the owner insisted, Lovey accepted $150 and lunch with the woman at the Halekulani ...
BUT Lovey's not the only honest driver in town: Basil Bennett, also a Charley's driver, picked up a customer at the Alana Hotel and took her to the airport. After the drop-off, the dispatcher got on the phone and told Basil about the woman leaving her handbag. Basil returned to the airport and handed the woman her bag, receiving $20 and a hug in return. Sounds like Charley's should be in for some kind of "Good Guy" award from Mayor Jeremy Harris ... Safety is a prime concern at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, reports Jon Fukuda, who's back at the Kohala property after many years in other areas of the visitor industry. All 12 of the resort's beach and pool lifeguards are certified by the U.S. Life Saving Association, something Fukuda says no other resort can claim ...
ATTORNEY Jared Jossem, head of the Republican Party in Hawaii, has demonstrated that lawyers make strange bedfellows. He's joined the law firm which also recently took on board former Democrat governor, John Waihee. Meanwhile, Jossem's former wife Carol, an artist and children's book illustrator, has remarried and moved to Seattle. She keeps up on Hawaii happenings via the Star-Bulletin's online edition, and e-mailed me after reading the column item about Emme Tomimbang's upcoming TV special on former isle folks now living in Seattle. There's one more Emme missed.
Richard Dean
LA RONDE: Richard Dean, longtime master sommelier at the former Third Floor and later the Secret, has left the Tavern on the Green in New York and is now in charge of sommeliers at the Mark Hotel at Madison and 77th in N.Y.. The property, whose G.M. is localite Ray Bickson, is part of the Rafael Group, operated by George Rafael, who about 25 years ago opened the Hawaiian Regent, where Dean worked ...
LANIKAI'S Bob Dye spotted the Kinsale house he owns on the "Today" show beamed in from Ireland yesterday. He realized what great promotional value the show had on the charming little town and thought out loud about putting a "For Sale" sign in front of his house when he returns there next month. Wife Tessa said something along the lines of, "If you do, I'll kill you." It's now officially NFS. Dye was particularly pleased to see Kinsale's town physician, Dr. David Nagle, playing fiddle in a pub scene on "Today." Dye took Dr. Nagle on a local pub crawl to Murphy's and O'Toole's during his recent visit here ...
