"I'M paying for my dining card and when 'Cheap Ching' pays it's a happening," said retired banker Philip Ching at the Hilton Hawaiian Village last week. Ching and Mayor Jeremy Harris are co-chairs for "Wok for the Cure," a benefit for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation's Hawaii Chapter. "There is no more important fund-raising effort than this one," said Harris, at the luncheon affair. Eight restaurants are donating free first dinner courses for groups of up to eight people for those who buy one $88 benefit dining card. Sam Choy's, Dynasty, Eastern Garden, Golden Dragon, Hee Hing, Legend Seafood, Panda Cuisine and Royal Garden are participating. Call 531-5698 for cards. The eateries showcased their specialties at the HHV Rainbow Suites. Ching praised the restaurants and the Hilton brass on hand -- Peter Schall, Noel Trainor and Ted Sakai -- for their help ... Eateries donate
to fight diabetesPIANIST Kit Samson got off to a flying start in his solo gig in the Ala Moana Hotel's Mahina Lounge Monday. Several of his friends performed. Bobby Roberts sang "Lady Is a Tramp" and "Foggy Day in London Town" in fine Frank Sinatra fashion, with Kit and Miles Jackson on bass swinging ever so nicely. Drummer Butch Nichols, like Jackson a member of Kit's Sound Advice, was there. Jackson also sang a smooth version of "When Sunny Gets Blue." Vocals by Kit's granddaughter, Michelle Samson, 12, went over big ...
THE FARRINGTON and Mililani High dance bands picked up pointers from the big boys in Willie Barton's orchestra last Sunday at the Royal Hawaiian's Let's Dance session. The highlight was vocalist Jan Brenner squeezing all the emotion possible out of "Since I Fell for You," with Barton and the boys pumping and driving hard behind her. Fine stuff. Singer George Chun turned to Sinatra, singing "You Make Me Feel So Young." Mililani's versatile sax player-singer Jill Koide displayed professional stage presence singing "Somewhere Out There." Farrington sax-player Richard Pancoast was a strong emcee ...
AL SOUZA tossed a dinner Monday for Paul Spengler at Nicholas Nickolas to mark Paul's entry into the Aloha Section PGA Hall of Fame. The induction of Spengler, Art Fujita and the late Sam Kaaua was held earlier Monday at the Prince Hotel. Spengler is now V.P. of Pebble Beach Company Golf Division. Besides Paul's wife, Cindy, other guests included Joe Anthony, Thos and Robin Rohr, John and Tiare Finney and Carl and Jim Smigielski ... Souza honors Spengler
A CROWD of about 250 turned out for the Pacific Islanders in Communications' premiere screening of "The Hawaiian Sting" at the Hawaii Film Studio last Saturday. The 10-minute film was written by Anthony Kahawaii, 17, of Waikoloa. It stars Ray Bumatai and is about different ways to use the "Hawaiian Sting" on flies and cockroaches. Elizabeth Lindsey gave the prayer to open the evening, which included a Hawaiian food feast. Steel guitarist Sonny Kamahele performed ...
DWAIN HILL digs Western dancing so his wife, Sue, had 30 of his friends show up in Western attire for his 50th birthday April 20 at Yen King Chinese restaurant. Sue, co-owner of Salon Etc Inc, turns another year older on Mother's Day ... SuAnn Bamer will cover the Cannes Film Festival, which opens Wednesday, for Passions Par Excellence magazine ... Billie Gabriel-Zito proudly reports that her daughter, Kona Carmack, has been selected Japan's Playmate of the Year ...
MARI FREY promises to have 10 fabulous male models wearing Ermenegildo Zegna's menswear at the Kahala Mandarin's luncheon fashion show Thursday ... Don't forget Gloria Estefan at the stadium tonight and the incomparable Harry Belafonte at the Blaisdell Arena Friday... For the guys and dolls