Tom pours it on
in diabetes fightDr. Laurie Tom, whose goal is to develop a cure for diabetes, gives credit to others for the success of the Vintners in Paradise fund-raiser for the American Diabetes Association and the Hawaii Alliance for Arts Education. Laurie praises the team of Noel Trainor, Ted Sakai, Lee Ann Choy, Lee Conching and the rest of the gang at the Hilton Village, where the Monday night event was held, and wine merchants Lyle Fujioka and Nancy Ventura, wine distributor Chambers & Chambers and all the winemakers who donated wine for tasting and the auction. But when it comes to accolades, Laurie tops the list. As Meleanna Meyer, an artist and art teacher at Mid-Pacific, says, "Dr. Tom is a visionary, putting two groups together to be supportive of one another. That's what community building is all about." Well said ...
NICE gesture by former world surfing champ Fred Hemmings to dedicate his book, "The Soul of Surfing Is Hawaiian," to Rell Sunn, another of Hawaii's famed surfers. He is supervising management operations at Nick's Fishmarket ...
BILL COX, leader of the Over the Hill Gang Jass Band, is in Kaiser with liver and kidney problems. The band's regular Tuesday and Thursday gigs at Cisco's and its weekly Friday engagement at Pearl City Elks Club are on hold. Get well, Bill ... Cornet man John Norris turns 81 Monday. He will sit in with Shari Lynn at the Hale Koa that night. John and wife, Lois, live in One Kalakaua Senior Living ...
For the record
JAMES MICHNER'S death on Oct. 16 brought back memories to Martin Denny. Michner was a fan of Denny and his group and often came to see them in the Daggar Bar in Waikiki in the late '50s. The famed author graciously wrote liner notes for Denny's album "Hypnotique" ... Keali'i Reichel has another winner in his "E O Mai" CD. Sales put it in second place in Billboard's Top World Music Albums list soon after release. Reichel's talent seems boundless. The Makaha Sons have a new Christmas CD out ...PHYLLIS BOWEN and Barbara Coles are back from a buying trip for Phyllis' Mandalay Imports. Bowen, lunching with Betty Perry at the new Mission Houses Museum cafe, said she missed a Garuda Airlines flight from Jakarta to Thailand Sept. 25 by an hour. The flight crashed in Sumatra, killing all 234 aboard...
THE Callaway Hawaii State Open began this weekend at the Mauna Kea and Hapuna golf courses on the Big Isle. The purse is $34,000, largest ever. Callaway spokesperson John Schroeder said they were able to increase the purse because Tihati Productions sponsored the Pro Am, held yesterday at Hapuna. Jack "Tihati" Thompson is an avid golfer and took a group to play in the pro-am ... Stacey Yonamine has been named promotions manager of the Hawaii Prince Golf Club ...
BERNADETTE PETERS is with the Symphony at the Concert Hall tonight ... The Royal Hawaiian Band's program tonight at the Art Academy honors legendary bandmaster Henry Berger ...
'Popo' made many friends
ELLEN "POPO" WONG didn't work for the Board of Water of Supply as her husband, Clarence, did for 32 years. But she was one of the best assets the board could have had, according to retired Chief Engineer George Yuen. Ellen made business trips with Comptroller Wong and made many friends for the board. She also volunteered at Iolani and Punahou. Ellen died Nov. 7 at age 84. She and Clarence, married 67 years, had three boys - Kelvin, Kenneth and Norman ...