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Elvis footnoteTOMORROW is the 20th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley, and while nobody knew it at the time, I was very nearly an asterisk to that date myself. It was three years ago tomorrow that my liver more or less exploded while I was undergoing a routine physical at Kaiser Hospital, and I was rushed into surgery for an emergency operation. The doctors were pessimistic about the outcome, and my family and friends were notified that I was a goner. They failed to consult with me, I was able to joke with them later on, and one month to the day after surgery -- and after having taken on 60 units of blood -- my column returned to the comics page where it's been daily (save for holidays and vacation) ever since. Elvis wasn't so lucky. So once again, my thanks to the doctors and nurses at Kaiser for keeping me from being that footnote to history ...
ONE of the nicest guys in show business, Freddie Morris, also is ailing big time -- he recently had an epileptic seizure and is on medication while his affliction is being diagnosed. You can lend your voice to this fine ventriloquist, who for many years has provided his to his lovable dummy, Moku Kahana, and help him deal with mounting medical bills. Some of Hawaii's top performers will gather at 8 p.m. Aug. 29 at the Ilikai's Pacific Ballroom to honor and pay tribute to Freddie and Moku. For $20 you can enjoy the likes of Don Ho, Dick Jensen, Frank DeLima, Bo Irvine, Dita Holyfield and a host of other performers, and help Freddie at the same time. For info, call Comedy Cow at 926-2269 ...
YOU generally think of dogs and cats when the Hawaiian Humane Society is mentioned, but they're involved with all kinds of animals. Horses, for example. Oh, you can't just drop in and pick up a stray pony, but the Hawaii Horse Show Association is holding a show to benefit the Society. There'll be jumping competitions, pony rides for kids and a silent auction. Among the usual items up for bid are such rarities as a mane and tail braiding donated by Tara Hunt, and a custom-made Hawaiian print saddle pad by Sachie Peralta. For the nonhorsy set, you can bid on an acrobatic glider ride with Mark Desmarais. The show runs 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Aug. 30 & 31 at Maunawili Farm ... Horsing around
YOU can't expect the Kailua Class of '72 to meet at the Turtle Bay Hilton without dropping in, literally, to Mokuleia. A group including Norm Compton (who was in the forgettable "Speed II" and the highly regarded "Face/Off") and sports talker Russ Francis visited with high school buddies Greg Hine and Brian Brilhante and all ended up at Ken Anderson's "Drop Zone" and made sky dives. Even Beth Bowlen, daughter of Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, took the plunge ...
HAWAII has the second lowest record of melanoma rates in the country, bested only by Alaska. The reasoning behind the two coming out with the fewest skin cancer cases may surprise you -- it's believed to be because the two newest states have a higher population of melanin-rich ethnicities ...
ONCE a top model herself, Sri Maiava Rusden, who's gone on to be among the best photographers of models in the islands, has taken the next logical step. She and her husband Ruz, himself a model, have opened their own agency, More Models & Talent Inc., to go with her photography business. If her work is anything like her first brochures, she'll soon be, if not alone, certainly in select company at the top of her profession ... Model profession
Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.