Disaster didn’t
stop film festYOU may have read about the huge landslide in Santa Cruz that left 60,000 homes without gas, but there's a local connection. Myrna and Eddie Kamae were there to open the Pacific Rim Film Festival with their latest film, "Luther Kahekili Makekau: A One Kine Hawaiian Man." In spite of people being left without gas, the scheduled two showings were sold out and a third had to be added to accommodate the overflow. With no gas, Eddie and Braddah Smitty had to prepare for the pre-show concert with ice-cold showers, only able to warm themselves a bit with a toddy of wine. But after the standing ovation from the crowd greeted their music, they felt the warmth of all ...
WHILE on the West Coast, the Kamaes also showed their award-winning film, "Words, Earth & Aloha: The Source of Hawaiian Music," in Palo Alto at the Asia Pacific Film Festival ... After the "Luther" showing in Santa Cruz, filmmaking teacher Jeff Dunn told the Kamaes that the next day his kids began to search for an outrageous uncle or colorful local senior citizen who could become a linchpin for a film on Santa Cruz heritage. Eddie told him not to rush, that his "Luther" project took more than a decade to complete. If you haven't seen it, it'll be shown on KHON June 12 and 21. And even better, it'll be shown without commercial interruption thanks to the Movie Museum ...
Wild and Koki guy
ONE of the big hits at the Republican Convention last weekend was the floor demonstration for lieutenant governor candidate Stan Koki. With the "Mission Impossible" theme song playing in the background, Koki and his wild and crazy gang reviewed "dossiers" for Gov. Ben Cayetano and Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono, and in improvisational theater manner concluded "the current administration is going to self-destruct in six months." And to whom should Mr. Phelps turn but to Koki and his "Mission Impossible" crew. I couldn't help but ask if he were to be elected and pushed through a Cost of Living Allowance if it'd be called Koki COLA ...MAKING all the talk shows to plug his new film, "Bulworth," is Warren Beatty, who's been quiet of late. He still doesn't look comfortable talking about the film and seems unsure what it's even about. In any case, local actress Elizabeth Lindsey has a role in it ... Local writer Bonnie Stone, former editor of Ka Nupepa O Mililani, has just had her fifth book released, and it's something different for her -- a children's book. "Civil War in Paradise!" (Minstrel Press) pits a heroine and her friends in a race against time to save an historic fort from destruction. No, it's not Ft. DeRussy ...
Morse code of honor
IT was supposed to be an OHA "Ohana Goodwill" golf tourney at Makaha East and to sweeten the incentive, money manager Clint Bidwell put up his 1950 cherry condition Oldsmobile for anyone hitting a hole-in-one on the par-3 fifth hole. It was an unlikely prospect, with the pin in a very difficult position, but wouldn't you know, Stephen Morse, an official in the housing division, stepped up and aced it. Bidwell's young son, Berkeley, was sitting in the car, his favorite, and crying his eyes out at the prospect of losing it. Bidwell, who is a money manager after all, made a quick monetary deal with Morse, who hated to see the kid cry anyway, and got to keep his car, not to mention his son's affection. Incidentally, Bidwell used to teach at UC-Berkeley, and so-named his son so he'd never be able to attend Stanford. Keeping the car may clinch the deal ...
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.