Dieter Seeger, Jackie Ward
THE Kona Kohala Resort Association is holding its annual media luncheon today to promote that part of the Big Isle as a visitor destination. Invites included one of those David Letterman-inspired Top 10 lists, this one being "Ten Signs You're a Fool on April 1." Among the 10 are "You try to rationalize the fat content of your meal at Sam Choy's," "You look for a gas station on the Saddle Road" and "You bring your umbrella to the Kona-Kohala Coast and your sunscreen to Hilo." ... Tying in nicely with the luncheon is the unrelated announcement out of Hilton headquarters that the Hilton Waikoloa Village in Kohala has been ranked the No. 1 hotel in the Hilton chain throughout the U.S. So you can bet the biggest smile at luncheon today belongs to Waikoloa Village G.M. Dieter Seeger ... Waikoloa Village
tops U.S. HiltonsLOCAL forecast: More Bright in Kaneohe. That's because a third generation of Brights will be on the Castle Performing Arts Center stage when "South Pacific" opens there this month. This is director Ron Bright's grandson, Christopher, who plays the role of the son of Emile de Becque, and sings "Dites Moi" in French. Both of Chris' parents are in the musical field, with mom being the elementary choir teacher at Kamehameha Schools and dad Clarke the musical coordinator at New Hope Christian Fellowship. Grandpa Ron is directing the musical ...
Also on the musical beat, of the 50 professional jazz musicians and singers donating their talent to Jackie Ward's first annual Hawaii Jazz Blow-Out '97 Sunday afternoon. Ten of them are active bass players; six are former students of the late Herb Ward, whose home, "Ward's Rafters," has been the scene of regular jam sessions. The 10 bassists plan a giant jam Sunday afternoon from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Bakken Hall event and they're calling it "Home Bass." The jazz fest is a fund-raiser to help Jackie pay the fine the City levied on her for holding jam sessions in her home. She's still holding Sunday afternoon jams, only now the general public isn't invited -- just friends and musicians who drop by ...
STANDING outside the Hawaii Theatre before the "Broadway on Bethel" concert, a beautiful woman and her escort were walking by when suddenly she called me by name. I apologized for not recalling her, and she said, "Sheryl Akaka." It all flashed by at once. I was a judge in the 1969 Miss Hawaii pageant when Sheryl, then a 22-year-old UH junior, won not only the title but the swimsuit, evening gown and talent categories as well. I hadn't seen her since, but told the story of our first and only encounter to the man she was with and my companion. Then, 28 years later, she gave me a big hug of thanks. It's a pleasure to pass along that Sheryl, a niece of Rev. Abraham Akaka, is every bit as beautiful today as she was in 1969 ... A beauty then and now
SPEAKING of Cris Groenendaal, who starred in two earlier productions of "Phantom of the Opera" here as well as in "Broadway on Bethel," he was interviewed for KGMB-TV while dining at Ruth's Chris Steak House. How come? Seems that by taking a week off from appearing in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" on the real Broadway, Cris was missing the party which "Forum" star Whoopi Goldberg was hosting at the New York Ruth's Chris, so this was his way of not feeling left out ... And while "Phantom" works just fine in theaters around the world, I prefer the music of "Les Miserables." In fact, I've declared myself to be a "Les Mizrealite." ...
FORMER isle D.J. Kamasami Kong (a k a Bob Zix) has teamed up with former rock musician Richie Walker and they're opening a Hawaii-themed coffee shop called Kona Connection. In Taiwan! The opening is set for April 26 and the shop is located on the Wall Street of Taipei, Dun Wha South Road, across from the famed Far Eastern Hotel, which is filled with brokerage houses, banks and rich folks. It's a "great location" Kong reports and he'll be promoting both Hawaii products and island music there ... Kona West
Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.