Of alphabets
and ad jinglesKIDS stuff: Dan Cooke, the former weatherman, is fast becoming the slickest TV newscaster in Hawaii, often quietly displaying an understated sense of humor. And when addressing a local public relations group's meeting, the KHNL anchorman told how he proud he was when a few years back his son Robbie sang out the "N-B-C" to the chime played during station breaks. It was only later he was chagrined to find that young Robbie, singing "The Alphabet Song," rearranged the lyrics to read "N-B-C-D-E-F-G ..." ... Follow the bouncing ball: HPD to the rescue when Epiphany School's third graders' volleyball took a bad bounce and landed on the freeway above 10th Avenue in Kaimuki. While driving Ewa on the H-1, Sgt. Lorenzo Ridela spotted the bouncing ball. He turned on his blue lights and retrieved it, much to the delight of the cheering kids at the school ...
STILL kidding around: Politician-turned-restaurateur Andy Anderson came across Bishop Estate trustee Dickie Wong taking his mind off the news by helping his daughter celebrate her sixth birthday at the restaurant of her choice: "John Dominoes." ... Word is that local author Lois-Ann Yamanaka, whose books "Wild Meat and the Bully Burgers" and "Blu's Hangin' " are written from a kid's perspective, has signed a new two-book deal with a major publisher ... Acts are signing up left and right to appear on Children and Youth Day Oct. 4 at Bishop Museum. Among those sure to delight the kids will be the Riverdragon Acrobats. This husband and wife team performed with the famous Guangzhou Acrobat troupe before settling in Hawaii ...
IF you caught "American Journal" last night, you no doubt saw the piece Cynthia Yip did on Jack Lord and "Hawaii Five-O." The latter show continues to air around the world and, with the digitally enhanced version now on view, it's developing a new generation of fans. Yip's "AJ" story featured Marie Lord, though she failed to throw any new light on the health of her husband amid rumors he's not at all well. Yip's piece focuses on the love story behind the Lords, such as the times he'd write love messages in the sand outside their condo for her to discover. Others Yip interviewed were casting director Margaret Doversola, Herman Wedemeyer, Kam Fong and Moe Keale ... Yip's for Five-O
HERE'S a scoop: Clinton beaten and held hostage in Beirut for 17 days! That's from another report Yip did for "Inside Edition," and it refers to Hawaii-based Navyman Clinton Suggs. He was on the TWA flight from Greece to Rome which was hijacked in 1985. He shared with Yip the emotional story of how he survived the mistreatment he suffered in Beirut ... The tireless Yip is also editing a Hawaii Public Television show featuring the Iona Pear Dance Theater's production, "Hawaiian Myths & Legends," which airs Oct. 15 ...
THEY might well have called it the "Miss Hawaii Cruise" on board the SS Independence last week. Not only was the outgoing (in every sense of the word) Melissa Short on board, but Patricia Lei Anderson Murray as well. They could be found in the Surfrider Lounge watching -- what else? -- the televised Miss America Pageant and rooting for the current Miss Hawaii, Erika Leilani-Lee Kauffman. The two are in American Hawaii Cruises' "Hawaiian Heritage" series, an Aloha Festivals program highlighting a different island weekly with isle entertainers, artists and storytellers to Oct. 18 ... Talk about sea legs!
Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.