Bob Dole, Adele Ne Jame
WHEN the former head of the Republican Party in Hawaii, attorney Jared Jossem, joined the local office of the law firm of Vernier Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand, he was welcomed aboard by none other than former Democratic governor John Waihee. There were plenty of Democrats in the firm's Washington office, including Sens. Lloyd Bentsen and George Mitchell, the latter who served as Senate majority leader. Jossem was the only and, therefore, the top Republican in the firm, he said. But this week he learned that's no longer true. Joining up as special counsel was none other than Bob Dole. Yes, that Bob Dole. Jossem accepted his demotion gracefully "given the circumstances." ... Bob’s the new kid
on the blockWITH Linda Coble playing the part of Jay Leno, this week's Aloha United Way annual meeting luncheon was in a talk-show format with local celebs as guests. Among those chatting away with Coble were Jeff Apaka, author Jana Wolff (who wrote "Secret Thoughts of an Adoptive Mother") and chip off the old block Wally Amos. After Wolff had made the point that she was her adopted son's real mom and had "the doo-doo under my fingernails to prove it," Wally joined her on stage, and got a big laugh by feigning distaste at shaking hands with her ...
THE Warner Brothers Studio Store at Ala Moana Center is joining other WB stores around the country in saluting Looney Tunes legend Daffy Duck as he celebrates his 60th year, as they put it, "a beloved, perpetually frustrated cartoon star." Knock out the part about "beloved" and the "cartoon star" and they could include me in that celebration ... Poet Adele Ne Jame, aWindward Community College grad, returns to the school April 17 to read from her work and be honored for her recently published poetry collection, "Field Work." ... Meanwhile, if you hear singing of sorts at Barnes & Noble in the Kahala Mall tonight, it's probably Scott Shirai giving a demonstration based on his new book, "Karaoke: Sing Along Guide to Fun & Confidence." ...
WHEN the Shelley High School Band of Shelley, Idaho, scheduled a series of performances on Oahu, they wanted to bring along some special gifts. What better, they reasoned, than the product for which their state is famous. And that's how 1,600 pounds of Idaho potatoes were donated to the Hawaii Foodbank, along with 60 pounds of Idaho honey. Hawaii Foodbank president Jim Baldwin, in thanking them for the thoughtful gift, couldn't help quipping, "That's a lot of baggage to have checked in." The band's mascot, incidentally, is the "Russet." ... This Spud's for You
DR. Hong Liu, practitioner of the healing art of Qi Gong, and author of a book (and video) entitled "Master of Miracles" (Warner Books) is in town for a few days of book signings. His guide while here is former isle resident Jo Ann Choi Pottberg, a kind of disciple of Dr. Liu's, who talked to him so much about Hawaii that he decided to visit here. Among those who subscribe to his alternative medicine is actress Goldie Hawn. ... People who stroll through the lounge between the Bali-by-the-Sea and Golden Dragon restaurants at the Hilton Hawaiian Village are often surprised when they discover the piano player there on Wednesdays and Saturdays is Rep. Terrance Tom, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, doing a bit of moonlighting...
AFTER performing at the 60th annual dinner of the Hawaiian Tel Employees Federal Credit Union, Na Leo Pilimehana belted out the song, "Smooth Operator," as an encore. The trio's Nalani Choy had special aloha for the audience, inasmuch as she's a member of the credit union and her husband works at GTE Hawaiian Tel. Another member of the trio, Angela Morales, also had a special connection to someone in the audience. She allowed that it felt a bit strange to be on stage and see one of her high school teachers in the audience ... Well connected
Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.