Keeping tabs on
celebritiesTHREE different tabloids this week (The Star, Globe and National Enquirer) have photos taken of John Ritter at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. One tabloid junkie said he looked pregnant -- now that would be a scoop. "Three's Company" indeed ... And we mentioned that Don Ho was also in the Enquirer in a gentle puff piece called "I Hate Tiny Bubbles," hardly a scoop ... And if you're not tabloided out, local photog Tim Wright points out that another tab, The Sun, contains in its April 14 issue a photo he took captioned, "JFK -- On the Rocks." Nothing to do with drinking. It's a photo he took a year ago of the rock profile commonly called "Kennedy Rock" at Pali Elee State Park on Maui ...
GUESS who's in the doghouse now? It's Bank of Hawaii Exec V.P. Jim Tollefson, chairman of the board of the Hawaiian Humane Society. At the organization's recent Tuxes & Tails fund-raiser, Tollefson and Pamela Jones of Schuler Homes were on stage to pick the winner of a trip to France. Jim picked the name and handed it to Pam, who couldn't believe her eyes. Tollefson had picked his own name! He tossed off an apology to his wife, Caroline, in the audience and selected another name. And that's how Fred Badua of Aiea won a trip to Paris and a relaxing cruise on a barge in the French countryside. As he was departing for the doghouse, fortuitously built and displayed by Schuler Homes for the silent auction, he was heard to mutter, "It's a far, far better thing I do today..." Let him explain that to Caroline when he gets home. Don't be surprised if he springs for a trip to France himself in the near future ...
Model behavior
WHEN Julie Honda asked Society of Seven leader Tony Ruivivar if he'd escort celebrity model Vicky Cayetano when she models a gown by Takeo in the May 3 Japanese Women's Society's 23rd annual fashion show, he immediately said "Yes." That was last year, but now a scheduling conflict has come up, so chairwoman Honda has asked another handsome Filipino to escort Vicky: her husband, Gov. Ben Cayetano. Now how could he say no to that? Besides gowns by Takeo, there'll be models showing off the kimono fashions of Anne Namba. Entertainers include former Miss Hawaiis Cathy Foy and Melissa Short and for the first time, a kabuki performance by Onoe Kikunobuaki. Emcee for the evening, which benefits the Kuakini Home for the Elderly, is Jimmy Borges who, despite kidding from pals, isn't ready to move there ...FOR the first time since Food and Wine magazine began handing out its "Best New Chefs in America" awards, Hawaii, Utah, Nevada and Ohio were represented. Hawaii actually was represented twice: Trey Foshee, former chef de cuisine at the Mauna Lani (and "Cuisines of the Sun" host) and Oliver Altherr of Hoku's in the Kahala Mandarin both won the prestigious award ...
Fashion plates
HONOLULU Club founder Gene Axelrod and wife Jeannie were discussing where to have dinner the other night and she suggested either Nicholas Nickolas or Sarento's. Axelrod demurred. It wasn't that he didn't like the food there -- in fact he did very much. "I read where Aaron Plakourakis was named best dressed man in Honolulu or something," he told Jeannie, "and I'm afraid I'll look shabby by comparison." She smiled at him sweetly as she dropped the other shoe. "Then perhaps you might consider dressing up," she cooed, as if the thought had just come to her. (Now picture a light bulb going on over Axelrod's head.) ...
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.
His columns run Monday through Friday.Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.