ROBIN LEACH, that "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" fella, will be here this month to film a new show called "Gourmet Getaways," which will premier on the TV Food Network. Leach will have celeb couples with him as he wines and dines at posh isle resorts. On Oahu, Leach and his seven-person film crew will be at Ihilani with Victoria Rowell, a member of "The Young and the Restless" soap. Rowell is dating Wynton Marsalis. Unfortunately, Wynton won't be making the trip. On Lanai, Leach will be with "Nanny" co-star Charles Shaughnessy and the actor's wife, Susan. Since Shaughnessy, the Nanny's heart-throb, has a butler on the show, they'll be booked in the Butler Suites, of course, at Manele Bay Hotel. The exclusive Mauna Lani Bungalows will be home for Leach when he hits Mauna Lani Bay with another "Restless" star, Lauralee Bell and her hunk. They'll film during the annual Cuisines of the Sun food event ...ISLE CAMERAMAN Ray Mews' photo of a one-legged Vietnam veteran coming home and embracing his wife, one of his crutches fallen at his side, was chosen by the New York Times Magazine as part of its "Celebration of One Hundred Years of Pictures." The photo was taken by Mews in 1966 in South Dakota when he was with the Sioux Falls Register. It shows Lance Cpl. Perry Shinneman, in uniform, hugging his wife, Shirley, on his arrival home. The award-winning photo was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Ray thinks the photo will "live on forever" ...
FOR MANY years Howard Graves was "Mr. Pacific" as head of the Associated Press Honolulu bureau, which covers the Pacific islands as well as Hawaii. Now he's retired to Prescott, Ariz., and has a new title, "The Morning Walker." Explanation: On his morning walks in his hilly neighborhood, he picks up newspapers dropped at the foot of steep driveways and walks them to the doorsteps. Aww, isn't that nice. Howard was always an old softy. Being a good guy earns Howard fan letters and candy from grateful neighbors ...
FIFTY GUESTS came to sing "Happy Birthday" to Jeff Apaka at Keo's June 22 on his 50th birthday. They also sang to guest Mihana Souza, a member of Puamana, who had a birthday the same day. Mihana and her twin brother, Inoa, turned 47. She had to rush home for a special, private celebration. Keo's Bruce Kemna made the arrangements for party hosts Robyn Rodby and John Whalen. Sonny Kamahele, who played music with the late great Alfred Apaka, Jeff's dad, attended ...VICTOR BURNER'S wife, Mary Jane, tossed a 90th birthday party for him at the Elk's Club June 26. Seventy people attended. The Burners' only child, Patti Lei Settle, came home from Louisiana for the party. Vic was the butcher at Victor's Corner at Foodland Ala Moana ...
SWEET-SWINGERS are gearing up for the 41st Waialae Women's Invitational July 15-16 at the lush Waialae Golf Course. Beverly Kim was the low gross champion last year while Merlene Takemoto captured low-net honors ... Rich Little will be at Planet Hollywood at noon on Thursday for a handprint ceremony. That should be a wild and crazy session ...
RECENTLY I received from my sister-in-law, Barbara Laminet, a birthday card mailed from France. Strange, I thought, as my birthday is in October. Then I looked at the postmark and saw it was Oct. 18, 1995. It was a card sent for last year's birthday. Where has that card been? ...
