Media revive
Gridiron ShowREMEMBER the Press Club Gridiron Shows of old? Politicians and newsmakers were skewered to a turn by valiant Press Club'ers at the dinner party of the year. Now another group is attempting to pick up where the Press Club left off, and take on the likes of Lokelani Lindsay, Margery Bronster, Abigail Kawananakoa and other newsmakers. This show is from the collective minds of members of the Society for Professional Journalists and the local chapter of Public Relations Society of America. It takes place Oct. 2 & 3 at the Waikiki Terrace Hotel with Scott Shirai directing and Donald Yap as musical director. Tickets are $25 with proceeds going to the groups' scholarship funds. No one and no issue is sacred, Shirai says. I only hope someone comes up with a dance on the Bishop Estate called "The Bronster Bash."...
STILL more spoofing: Once again, the four mayors of the state are being targeted for abuse by members of the Hawaii Women's Legal Foundation at its annual fund-raising dinner. This year's theme is "Ain't Too Proud to Beg -- Save the Counties 1998 Telethon." This prompted one indignant attorney to call the sponsoring foundation to ask, "Save the counties from what?" You can come up with your own suggestions to that one, but the likes of Jeremy Harris, Maryanne Kusaka, Linda Lingle and Stephen Yamashiro will take some serious heat in order to benefit many worthwhile programs involving women and children. The dinner will be Oct. 10 at the Royal Hawaiian Monarch Room...
Local import
THE new musical play called "Ku Kanaka" was written by locally born and reared Cliff Cabanilla, who considers Lanai home. Most of the collaborators in the project have Hawaii ties: People like Gavan Daws, George Kanahele and Ron Kalama. So you'd assume its world premiere would be in the islands, right? Try Redlands, Calif. That's where Cabanilla founded the Redlands Theater Festival 26 years ago and still is its artistic director. He produced the show there to standing ovations and fine reviews and is now bringing it to Hawaii. The local premiere will be at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center Sept. 26 and 27. Says Cabanilla, "It is our biased opinion that what "Riverdance" did for the Irish, "Ku Kanaka" can do for the Hawaiians."...ADS for Hawaiian Airlines have given "boarding" a new meaning. They show a drive-through check-in featuring an illustration of a surfboard, demonstrating you can check in yourself and your board before parking your car. Harry Takamoto called Hawaiian to inquire where he could buy that specific board since it was just what he wanted. Sorry, Harry, but it was the brainchild of the ad agency's art director Ron Nakayama and illustrator Ralph Kagehiro and not for sale...
Call the manager
LOCALITES Kedric & Suzie Hasha claim they hate to see people using cellular phones in theaters and restaurants. (I'd like to add while driving and being a risk on the road.) But they do carry a phone when dining out. They keep the phone on vibrator mode and out of sight, but occasionally feel obliged to use it. Hasha will call the restaurant where things aren't going so well for him, get the maitre d' and ask about the service in the establishment. After hearing praised heaped on the service he asks why this particular night was an exception. He informs the startled maitre d' his table location and asks him to make proper inquiries. Says Hasha, "You just can't imagine how quickly things improve." ...
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.