COLLEAGUES planned a surprise retirement party for Miki Beamer last Saturday at Queen's Hospital. The only problem was that the RSVP number was a number that Miki answers at work. Duhhh. So much for the surprise. Miki, wife of Sonny "Mr. Automatic" Beamer, retired after 12-1/2 years as leader of Queen's volunteer services. The Roosevelt '48 grad trained and supervised hundreds of volunteers and was instrumental in the success of the high school weekend volunteer program ...A TOAST to Halekulani G.M. Pat Tam, chair of the Hawaii Hotel Assn. Prior to taking the helm of the world-famed Halekulani, Pat ran the Waikiki Parc, the Halekulani's sister hotel, from 1987 to 1993. In earlier years, Pat was a baker. But this local girl, who made good in a field dominated by men, is not slaving next to a hot oven in her spare time. She's out slamming the little white golf ball down the fairways with the boys ...
Ellie Dillingham
CHEERS TO ELLIE: One of Oahu Country Club's stylish living treasures and deadly putters, Ellie Dillingham, celebrated her birthday recently. She's a fashion plate who sizzles on the greens ...
THE FORMER Gaila Kaluna of Kapahulu and Benny Townsend met and married when they were both in the Army in Munich, Germany. After Benny retired from the Foreign Service, they settled in Crystal Lake, Fla. They held a luau there recently to mark their 60th birthdays. The Townsends and their three kids put on a Hawaiian show for 70 guests. Gaila's brother Alan Kaluna flew in from San Francisco with the ti leaves and kalua'd the pig. Sister Dana Morey jetted in from Honolulu with the rest of the Hawaiian kaukau. Dana said the Townsends are now like "Forrest Gump" and have a shrimp boat. But Dana said the shrimp there are tiny. The shrimp are shrimps ...
BEER drinkers can get their fill at Ryan's Beerfest, under way at Ward Centre. More than 60 different beers from 28 countries are available at the restaurant through Aug. 25, according to managers Eddie Niemeyer, Tish Casteneda and Tanya Phillips ...
MEN and women who go to Gladys Kamahira's Shear Magic to have their hair styled or cut on Mondays are sometimes in for a musical treat. Leland Wong, the singing hair stylist, works at Shear and Monday is the day members of his musical ohana come in for a hair fix. They usually sing in beautiful harmony while there. Leland's grandmother, Luisa Hart Hopkins, composed "Kuu Home." His mom is Lydia Judd Kaniaupio, who formerly sang with the Rainbow Serenaders along with Haunani Kahalewai and Louise Freeman. Wong's dad is former HPD detective Junius Wong, who died June 16 at age 68. Junius played music with HPD members and with groups from Aloha Airlines. Leland's brothers Buddy and Jamieson are professional singer-musicians and sisters Junelle Kekahuna and Lyann Thayer danced hula for Johnny Piilani Watkins. Leland was doing Lyann's hair recently and was singing as she played the uke. Momma Lydia was there and said, "A-minor," when Lyann was seeking the right chord ...
