Rob Fukuzaki, Malia Gibson
THE ultimate "Local Boy Makes Good," Chris Lee, president of Tri-Star Pictures in Hollywood, was back in town recently helping his dad, George Lee, celebrate his 70th birthday. Lee celebrated with a bash at the North Shore digs he keeps, a toe-in-the-water home away from the glitter of Hollywood. Robert Cazimero made music, and among those showing up were Jason Scott Lee and Kristi Yamaguchi. Lee also threw a traditional Chinese banquet for his dad at Dynasty II. It's difficult to get too far away from the office, even in Hawaii, as Lee learned when taking a few days off at the Grand Hyatt Wailea. While sitting by the pool wearing a "Godzilla" shirt -- shooting starts next month for that Tri-Star film -- Lee was approached by a guy who asked, "Aren't you Chris Lee?" He recognized the man instantly, of course, as P.J. Hogan, who directed the company's enormously successful "My Friend's Wedding" with Julia Roberts. Just another quiet getaway from the rigors of Hollywood . . . Tri-Star prez
can’t hide on vacationALSO on Maui and stopping by Planet Hollywood in Lahaina was Tori Spelling, daughter of the mogul of moguls, Aaron Spelling. Call it nepotism if you like -- and everyone does -- but she did get cast in "Beverly Hills 90210," which happens to be the zip code for Daddy, who has the biggest house in the Hills . . . Another strange visitor to another Planet Hollywood, this one in Waikiki, was Roger Clinton, brother of our nation's president, currently fighting charges of Huang-doing. The other Clinton lunched on Grilled Chicken Teriyaki, topped by the eatery's Ebony and Ivory Brownie . . .
THE "Cuchi Cuchi" girl, Charo, took time out from her Kauai restaurant and her Waikiki performances to do a gig in Sparks, Nevada. She was asked what exactly "cuchi cuchi" meant and her reply was honest vintage Charo: "To me it means money. Every time I said it, somebody gave me money." She also took time to plug her new CD and said if you do her new dance, the "tushi-cuchi," for 30 minutes "with intensity and passion," you can shake off 3,000 calories a day . . .
THE August issue of Architectural Digest contains a long article about designer Geoffrey Beene and his love affair with Hawaii. Particularly highlighted in many photos are discoveries he's made on the Big Isle which he's utilized in his eclectic home at Diamond Head. Many isle artisans get national attention through the article in this prestigious magazine . . . Beene there, done that
THERE'S a lot of Hawaiian memorabilia in the Hilo Hattie store in Ala Moana. Chris Resich and his team worked hard to create an ambience of old Hawaii in the store, and among the things you can find there are old Hawaiian sheet music including "Aloha Oe," by Queen Liliuokalani. There are also original album covers and posters from the '50s to the '70s of Hilo Hattie herself . . .
FORMER Isle sportscaster Rob Fukuzaki is becoming something of a fixture on the Oprah Winfrey show. He'll be making his third appearance there on July 14, again as part of a series entitled "Single Men of TV News." Fukuzaki, now with KABC in L.A., got more than 1,000 letters and photos from around the country after his first two appearances and chose as a date a woman from Hawaii who works for an ad agency in L.A. Iolani grad Karsha Chung got to Rob's heart by sending him a PR packet featuring a Spam musubi kit. The two will be flown to Chicago for a taping with Oprah set to air on Bastille Day . . .
YOU'VE seen those Kauai Red Dirt shirts? Well, now the same company that makes them has come out with Hawaiian Gold Earth shirts dyed in gold-colored soil found on Kauai. Garden Isle singer Malia Gibson, who made her recording debut in Japan last year, has been selected as cover girl for the line, and she'll be wearing one when she's featured on an NTV special in Japan July 19, starring samurai actor Hiroki Matsukata. The special is expected to reach nine million viewers . . . Gold in them there hills
Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.