Barbi: Playgirl to
island momABOUT 25 years ago she was one of the most recognizable people in the country, thanks mainly to Hugh Hefner. Once the live-in girlfriend of the Playboy publisher, Barbi Benton appeared in both the pages of Playboy and in news articles -- on the arm of Hef at this party or that. Those days are behind her now, and Barbi, who's married to developer George Gradow and a mommy, lives part-time in Hawaii. She's done some acting and singing and when she showed up to Christmas shop at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall's crafts and food expo last weekend, some people were wondering if there may be a singing gig in her future. Stay tuned ...
FORTE, that group of four attractive young girls with the sweet harmonies and the early rhythm & blues choreography, will be making a personal appearance Saturday at Jeans Warehouse in Waianae Mall following the Waianae Community Christmas Parade ... When Peggy Bridges of Waikiki turned 100 a couple of years ago, Keith & Carmen Haugen showed up to sing happy birthday for her. They missed her celebration last year, but were on hand again the other day for her 102nd -- that's right, she was born in the 19th century -- and they've vowed to show up for every one that follows. Wouldn't it be a kick if Peggy's lifetime bridges parts of three centuries? ...
WHY are North Shore residents so opposed to a drive-through window at McDonald's? One cynic suggests the move is being supported by those in the area who prey on cars left in parking lots, particularly rental cars driven by tourists. The idea is: If folks don't have to leave their cars, an opportunity could be lost ...
Party on
YESTERDAY'S column mentioned the entertainers who taped "Emme's Island Moments Christmas Special" Sunday, but not what happened later that night after the taping. Emme and many of the entertainers closed out the evening by repairing to Havana Cubana on Nuuanu, right behind the Hawaii Theatre. There, minus the KHON TV cameras and an audience, the music continued, with Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom singing music from "Evita" with a cigar in one hand and a drink in the other. Willie K was also on hand to sing, as were Jimmy Borges and other cast members. Why Havana Cubana? It wasn't just the desire to puff on a stogie. One of the owners of the new cigar bar is actor Jason Scott Lee's brother, Stuart, who agreed to keep the place open for the impromptu party. Jason picked up the tab ...BEFORE leaving for New York, stockbroker Wesley Yamamoto checked with pal Madilean Coen, an Academy of the Pacific grad who's been working on Wall Street for the past four years. He asked what he could bring her from Hawaii. She never missed a beat: "Squid legs and cuttlefish." Yamamoto went to see Yates Honma at Wholesale Unlimited and was a popular guy when he arrived in the Big Apple with the goodies in tow ...
Oh, Calcutta
AFTER graduating from college, Punahou alum Lael Weyenberg took a year out to travel throughout Southeast Asia. In India, Lael found herself drawn to Mother Teresa's mission in Calcutta. She spent three months with Mother Teresa and has two quite different things to show for it. One is a feature story of her experience in the current Honolulu magazine, and the other is a permanent strain of a stomach bug that doctors say will be with her the rest of her life. Lael's now working with Legal Aid in downtown Honolulu ...
Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.