Inline skating
to Hall of FameA CAR pulled up alongside mine on Alakea Street about 7 p.m. the other night, and inside was First Hawaiian Bank chairman and CEO Walter Dods. He was just leaving the office, he said, and I drew an appreciative smile when I responded, "Then I guess my money's in good hands." Dods has been on a roll -- literally! -- this week at a banking convention in Chicago. After being inducted into the Bank Marketing Association's "Hall of Fame," Dods responded with a keynote speech in which he previewed the new banking-industry promotional TV spots. One of them poked fun at a stereotypical group of banking "fuddy-duddies." They are sporting Rollerblades, swim fins and a skateboard. Dods, who is national president of the American Bankers Association, got his fellow bankers chortling when he Rollerbladed off the stage. In Hawaii, Dods does occasionally go inline skating with daughter Loren.
INTERNET cruisers may see a familiar name if they stop by the online site of the Chicago Tribune. Signing on as a sportswriter for his hometown paper is Mike Fitzgerald, former Star-Bulletin sports editor. His writings will appear both in the Trib and its online edition ... Former House Speaker Tom Foley, nominated by President Clinton to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Japan, also has an important connection with Hawaii. He's been a member of the East-West Center Board of Governors since 1995 ... Edgy Lee's film, "Paniolo O Hawaii," got its national premiere last night, but I couldn't make it. It was held at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
THERE is going to be a group of what we'll charitably refer to as well-heeled workers putting up siding and painting the exterior of the Alvin Prudencio family house in Waiahole Valley Saturday. In taking on the project for Honolulu Habitat for Humanity, Doc Buyers, honcho of C. Brewer, put the hard sell on a group of friends to help out on "Executive Workday." They'll help a regular volunteer crew of professionals do a major fix-up on the house. Among those whose arm has been tweaked gently by the Doc are Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono, Finance Factors President Gary Kai, Realtor Peter Savio, State Department of Education Supervisor Dr. Herman Aizawa, DFS Hawaii President John Reed, Brigadier Generals David Bice and James Donald, plus Lt. Gen. Joseph DeFrancisco, aided by his wife. (See what it takes to get that second star, guys?) The "executive work" is 9 to noon, but some will stay until 4:30 p.m. to finish the job. Buyers and a hard sell
ATTRACTING attention at Steck's in the Kahala Mall is musician/composer Kelly Villaverde, who's just out with a new CD, "Emerald House." Among those sitting in with him on recent evenings were Jesse Rivera and Henry Kapono. Also stopping by for a listen was KGMB's Kim Gennaula which may account for the fact Villaverde will be featured on Channel 9's morning news segment with Stacey Loe tomorrow.
THOUGH he went 0-3 to start off the current sumo tournament in Tokyo, Hawaii's Saleva'a Atisanoe, known throughout Japan as Konishiki, has reached a milestone, competing in 1,100 bouts in his 13 years in the top division (Makuuchi) of Japan's centuries-old national sport. That's more than any other active rikishi. Going into the current tourney he's won 644, lost 456 and missed only 85 bouts. At 33 and weighing in grandly at 606 pounds, he's to be congratulated for his stamina, if not his current record ... Mustang Sale
Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.