Isle woman
sits with Cronkite

UH '96 grad Jennifer Ablan, formerly of Foster Village, is a journalism grad student at Columbia and a financial reporter for the Institutional Investor in N.Y. She worked part-time for the Star-Bulletin. She was one of 20 students picked to attend an International House dinner for 100 people honoring Walter Cronkite Monday, and got to sit on Uncle Walter's left. "Our conversation was simply memorable," Jennifer said via e-mail. "As we were talking, dozens of people took his picture. He said to me, 'Boy, I feel like Clinton.' " Jennifer asked him who were the most interesting people he has interviewed and he said Saddat of Egypt and Tito of Yugoslavia. The person he would most like to interview is Saddam Hussein. Later, a discussion was led by former JFK special counsel Theodore Sorensen. Cronkite was asked if the media has too much power. He said, "Sure the press has power, but the issue and question is the misuse of it. Way too often the attribution of the 'anonymous source' comes up. The press uses that attribution too loosely. Not good." He said in his day, an editor would need two people "on-the-record" to verify a story. Advice for young journalists: "The press has been under scrutiny for all sorts of reasons, and young journalists can change that by getting the facts straight and doing lots of research."

Cheers to Bea Kaya

BEA KAYA, a 46-year employee, ran the Hawaii Newspaper Agency Library. Bea was one of the most competent, efficient employees in the News Building. If an old story was needed and could not be located, Bea would find it. Bring up a question about a name from the past and Bea either had the answer at her fingertips or would get it. She was one of the Most Valuable Players on the News Building team. Then suddenly she was no longer with us. She retired quietly, without fanfare. But she's not getting away that easy. Here's to you, Bea ...

ANYTHING Kahauanu Lake plans is bound to be a winner. Kahauanu has another blockbuster Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame show Thursday at the Hawaii Theatre. Last year's program blew everyone away. Honorees include the first living selection, Irmgard Farden Aluli, and R. Alex Anderson, David Nape, Johnny Almeida and Bina Moss-man. The show is loaded with stars.

HOW CAN a movie starring Paul Newman, Gene Hackman, Susan Sarandon and James Garner miss? It can't. So don't miss their riveting murder-mystery, "Twilight" ... For laughs, catch "Lateline" on KHNL Tuesday nights ... Slack key guitarist and singer Leabert Lindsey performs at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Indigo with his son, "Leajay" ... Robert Cazimero celebrated a birthday at Kahala Moon ...

SERVCO and Lexus brass, Mark and Eric Fukunaga, cousins, and Ed Shikata, Andy Nakano, Leighton Migita and Kevin Honda, and foot soldiers Roy Kuboyama, John Kakazu, Brian Walker, Bryan Choe, John Ho, Bruce Metzker and Miki Yoshida were on duty at Gordon Biersch Wednesday as Lexus took over the spot from 6 to 8 p.m. to display its snazzy RX300 and LX470 sports utility vehicles ... Lexus' Tony Rapoza, 78, is in a care home after two back operations. Tony, one of Hawaii's best known car salesmen, has lost over 100 pounds and weighs 149. Call him at 671-7010 ...

No piece of cake

THAT mansion on Hawaii Loa Ridge that looks so much like a wedding cake that it is known as the "wedding cake" house, drew 800 people for a Coldwell Banker open house last Sunday. No one popped for the $8 million purchase price ...