WHY shouldn't airline employees be allowed to have a sense of humor? A United Airlines flight attendant was interviewed in the audience at a recent David Letterman show and when the host asked if the passengers were pretty nice, she wisecracked, "Passengers are the enemy." It had Letterman in hysterics throughout the rest of the show, but United was unamused. The airline now has issued a statement that the attendant has been identified and "appropriate action will be taken." It was a very funny bit and nobody took her seriously, but perhaps United is more friendly in the skies than on the ground ... Then there's Chaminade's Cheryl Niggle who got a giggle from the Delta reservations clerk who, at check-in, asked the usual questions (did you pack your bags yourself, did you have complete control of your bags) and the last question was completely deadpanned: "Are you a Bishop Estate trustee?" "No," Cheryl replied and the agent told her, "OK, then you can leave the state." Delta loves to make jokes and it shows ... Giggle quotient is
flying high
FREELANCE photog Tim Wright has a new respect for Friday the 13th. That's when he received his copy of "The Best of Photography 1997" and on page 79 found a photo of Michael Jackson that he took at Honolulu Airport. He'd been called at 4 a.m. by Photolink to cover M.J. that day, but it turned out to be worth it. Wright credits his Kau teacher, Mrs. Leslie Lauro, for putting a camera in his hands 20 years ago. He hopes to get some award-winning pics of Mariah Carey while she's here for her Aloha Stadium show tomorrow ...
Bond-age
TO introduce new features of their Royal Hawaiian Shooting Club, Marvin Silverman and Warren Kahapea donned tuxedos and threw a "Secret Agent" party for tour company execs and hotel concierges. There was much posing for photos with "Bond Girls," actually tour employees living out their fantasies for the night. "Tomorrow Never Dies" was played on the RHSC sound system. Since live ammo was being shot on the premises, the martini glasses contained only soft drinks -- shaken, not stirred naturally. All manner of folks have been visiting the shooting club, particularly tourists from Japan including a blind man who hit some bull's-eyes ...PLAY BALL: Baseball pitchers and catchers reported for spring training Saturday and now the umpires are starting to show up. Mark Johnson, the American League ump who often spends the off-season in Hawaii, left this week for Florida ... And Tiffini Hercules -- which is her real name -- is off tomorrow to Louisiana. As the new Miss Hawaii-USA, she'll be competing in Shreveport in the Miss USA competition. She may not be as strong as Hercules, but she's every bit as much of a gem as anything you'll find at Tiffany's as she demonstrated when saying goodbye to friends at Havana Cabana ...
Social notes
HANDSOME twosome holding hands at the reception Dr. Richard Kelley threw at his Diamond Head home for the visiting Marquis of Waterford: Pat Moore, former wife of anchorman Joe Moore, and KGMB's Tim Tindall. The latter was Moore's colleague in earlier years, then an opposing anchor before hosting Channel 9's morning show ... Tyrone, the marquis visiting here for the 33rd consecutive year, was grateful to get some sun and it showed in his ruddy complexion. He mentioned it started raining June 6 in Ireland and hasn't stopped since. Hawaii has to look awfully good after that ...
Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.