Miss U delayed;
what else new?IT'S often been said that if you know World War III is about to break out, head for Hawaii -- it'll be on a delayed basis there. And so it is with today's Miss Universe Pageant. People who want to watch the proceedings on TV with millions of others around the world won't be able to do so. They'll have to "tune out" the rest of the world until the local telecast starts, long after the pageant itself is over and the winner crowned. Some enterprising folks who don't want to wait and can't afford the high-priced tickets can wander into a sports bar and convince the bartender it's worth tuning in on the TV -- providing it doesn't get in the way of a baseball game, of course. My major cavil with the preliminary judging last week was with the writing of the little vignettes about each "delegate" as read by Kimo Kahoano and Shari Shima. The attempts at humor in the brief bios were lame at best, and downright embarrassing at times. Couldn't they hire a talented professional writer or editor instead of leaving it to hacks? ...
RAN into former "Playmate" Barbi Benton and hubby George Gradow at the opening party of "Damn Yankees" at Ft. Ruger. I was explaining to another guest that the Wall Street Journal said that the Gradows' house in Aspen had 27,000 square feet under roof. To which Gradow piped up, "Yeah, and 25,000 square feet of it is Barbi's closet space." She claims the Journal was wrong and the house is "only" 25,000 square feet. That still makes it the third largest in Aspen. One Saudi there has a home that's 55,000 square feet, making it twice the size of No. 2, and no future homes can be built as large as Barbi's ...
Build a better mouse
FOR years people have been at work on a better mousetrap, but at UH they're working on building a better mouse. Besting last year's winning time by 18 seconds in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' "Micromouse Competition" in California was a UH team consisting of Michael Misaki, Nathan Mariels, Shigehiro Minami and Nava Zvaig. Their "mouse" beat Cal-Davis' entry through a maze and to center square by six seconds. The winning battery-powered microprocessor mouse is named "Iole 'Auana" -- Wandering Mouse ...NUUANU Avenue downtown is continuing its upgrading efforts. At the makai end of the downtown thoroughfare are the venerable Murphy's and O'Toole's, and at the mauka end is the new Havana Cabana behind the Hawaii Theatre. Among with numerous art galleries and shops on the avenue are Indigo restaurant and the new Puanani's in Chinatown Gateway Plaza. All the above periodically feature live music. And now artist Hank Taufaasau has taken over the once seedy Doug's Place, pool table and all, and will create a new ambience that will showcase musicians in the evening. Bye-bye, pool table. There's still room for more Nuuanu redevelopment, and people are looking ...
Moon over Diamond Head
THAT was a gorgeous full moon Sunday night, and David Paul Johnson put it to good use by kicking off a series of monthly "full-moon" concerts in his Diamond Head Grill reception room. It was transformed into having a nightclub atmosphere and entertainment director Nohelani Cypriano gathered up a number of fine jazz musicians to help kick off the jazz evenings. Wailing away under the full moon was L.A. performer David Swanson, singer Azure McCall, saxman Gabe Baltazar and a trio headed by pianist Betty Loo Taylor. Nice to see live jazz, even if it's only once a month ...
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.