Free Italian fest
has lotsa pastaTHE upcoming Italian Festival at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center offers many choices. The aromas of freshly grilled Italian sausage and pasta will be battling with the sounds of dueling accordion players. And the featured live entertainment will be by an Italian band called L'Escargot. Sounds like a love match between a Neapolitan and a Sicilian. At the festival Aug. 14-16 there'll also be music by the Hawaii Opera Theatre (hopefully with Italian arias) and also dueling violinists, mandolinists and guitarists besides the "Lady of Spain" contingent. Sausage maker Tony Spadaro, who's totally Italian, will be passing out free sausage samples along with gelato maker Maurice Grasso and cooking demonstrations (just like mama's cuisine) by the center's signature Italian eatery, Villa Paradiso, plus Simone Pizzeria, Acqua, Ciao!, Sarento's, Matteo's, Angelo Pietro and Cafe Sistina. Mama Mia! There'll also be a pizza tossing contest Aug. 15 if you'd like to demonstrate your skills. And, of course, a wine tasting garden set up to benefit the Waikiki Community Center ...
AND who could enjoy Italy without that country's couturiers showing off their fashions. Hawaii's own Sri Maiava Rusden of More Models, will be staging a show on a custom-designed stage and fashion ramp at the Center's Fountain Courtyard, and a $150,000 state-of-the-art audiovisual system will be set up by John Guild to broadcast the show live out to Kalakaua Avenue through the use of 12-foot video screens. While shows of this nature usually cost a bundle to attend, this one will be free ...
Valley Isle Quayle
FOOD wasn't the only thing on the minds of some of those attending the grand opening of Ruth's Chris Steak House in Lahaina. Not with former V.P. Dan Quayle there with old college roommate and golfing pal Mark Rohlfing. And since Quayle is now an Arizona resident, he also gets on the course with restaurateur Randy Schoch, who has the Ruth's franchise in Phoenix as well as Lahaina. But golf inevitably turned to politics when Valley Isle Mayor Linda Lingle, who'd love to move to Washington Place, stopped by to chat with Quayle and create a "photo op." Guest of honor was Ruth Fertel herself, seated with Lana Duke, who handles national advertising for Ruth's and is franchise owner for San Antonio and her native Toronto.IN addition to all those folks dining in Lahaina, Hawaii Public Television volunteer coordinator Lauren Avery was also on hand at the invitation of her daughter, Heather. A Vermont grad, Heather has worked for the Ruth's chain for four years in San Diego, where she reported to Randy Schoch. After management training in Houston, Heather will relocate to work in the Ruth's Chris in Irvine, Calif. ...
Eyeing politics
WHO better to be eyeing a seat in the State Senate than eye surgeon Dr. John Corboy. No drugstore Corboy this one, Dr. John lives on Molokai and has nine medical offices across the state including in Kaunakakai, Molokai; Wailuku, Maui; and Lanai City. The seat he's hoping to win represents those three islands. Corboy, who went to both Punahou and St. Louis, has cut back his medical practice of late, though he still spends part of the summer in Tonga, volunteering his medical skills. The Hawaiian Eye Foundation, which Corboy established in 1984, sends volunteer medical teams throughout the South Pacific and Asia. And, oh yes, Dr. Corboy flies his own helicopter around his district ...
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.