HAWAII has long taken pride in being the melting pot of the world, so it's only fitting that we have a representative at an international wedding taking place Aug. 23 near Cannes, France. Ed Reinhart and wife Kathy are flying over to be witnesses for the vows of Reinhart's longtime business associate, Gerard Durand, a Frenchman who lives in Vanuatu. He's marrying Tina, a Tahitian from Hawaii. Other witnesses are from Canada, Tahiti and France. Tina's son from Texas and daughter from Hawaii also will be there, with their spouses and her sisters from Tahiti, California and Florida as well. Also in attendance will be Gerard's uncles from Gabon and the Congo. The day after the wedding, Gerard's father, Etienne, turns 80 and his close friend Renee celebrates her 60th, while Tina's daughter Hina turns 30. In addition, it's the six-month anniversary of the Reinharts, who were married in February in Portlock. You suppose a little champagne might flow? ... Aloha-French connection
SPEAKING of celebrations, Bill Garliepp, owner of the Creekside Lounge in Kailua, is planning "Biker Appreciation Day" on Aug. 10. There should be a record number of Harleys, etc., lined up outside the establishment that day as Garliepp goes all out to fete the bikers, who he says are his best-behaved customers. He still looks askance at me, however, certain that it was his joint I had in mind when I referred to a Kailua bar with a two-tattoo minimum. As if the biker bash weren't enough, Garliepp will celebrate his birthday the next day. Although it's a private affair he's having, Jerry Martini (formerly of Sly & the Family Stone) will provide the music ...
Sir Rocky
PALS of Benihana owner Rocky Aoki, a frequent isle visitor, now refer to him as "Sir Rocky." He has a proclamation to prove it, too. Rocky long has been involved in charity work with the likes of Prince Philip and friends such as Jon Bon Jovi, Chico Torres and Eva Herzigova. Annually he picks up the tab for the Japanese Folk Festival at Carnegie Hall. When Alec Baldwin and Kim Bassinger asked Rocky to donate all the veggie fare for the PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) benefit in L.A., he readily agreed. Rocky's been named "Knight of Honour and Merit" and Ambassador to the Empire of Japan by the Knights of Malta, signed by the 74th reigning sovereign grand master of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Prince Robert B. von B. Khimchiachvili. I have no idea what all that means, but Rocky's ecstatic about it ...
AFTER AT&T was praised for its great ad campaign, someone there got the wires crossed, so to speak. A localite asked the company for info on international services, and was sent a pamphlet on "How to Feel at Home in America." It was designed for New Zealanders, which is where an AT&T underling apparently thought Hawaii is located ...
ADMAN Don Mueller read with interest the item here about his cleaning out his desk at Peck Sims Mueller and wondered what it all meant. He replied, "Although cleaning my desk could be considered newsworthy (I do it every five years, whether it needs it or not), let me reassure you that I am still actively involved in the agency and contributing to our clients' business as a resource for strategic thinking and creative problem solving." As for Sandy Sims' reappearance on the scene after retiring two years ago and moving to the Big Isle, he says Sims "continues to be involved with the agency as well as contributes to the mentoring of our staff." ... Still Peck-ing away
Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.