Behind the scenes
at KGMBD RAMA in the newsroom! No, it wasn't a late-breaking story or anything like that, but in this wonderful technologically advanced age of computers, there are still screw-ups. They learned that at KGMB-TV the other evening when anchor Russell Shimooka was trying to introduce Kim Gennaula with the weather. (That is the moment each night, according to an unscientific study I made, that most attention is directed at the screen, whether it be to hear about the weather or watch Kim describing it.) Alas, the weather computer decided to act up, and rather than have a dead air glitch, Shimooka went to commercial and the director put out a call on the intercom for sports anchor Neil Everett to get on the set immediately. Well, small problem here. Everett, thinking he had several minutes of weather ahead of him, was shaving in the dressing room, but trouper that he is, he flew onto the set, half-naked, shirt in hand, his face half-shaved. Wouldn't you know that on this day 15 Rotarians were standing on the set watching the telecast? Everett got his shirt on as quickly as he could, but the computer suddenly was fixed and the camera came on reporter Gennaula, who thankfully (from a family values standpoint) had her shirt on. One Rotarian asked, "Is it always like this?" ...
How about 'linking'?
THE current link-up in space inspired Mike Levad of KITV to explain the difference between "docking" and "berthing" at a Star Station One demonstration at Bishop Museum. "Science Mike," as he's known, told the audience there are two ways of joining modules of the new space station. If the pieces join each other by their own impact, it's called "docking," but when the astronauts gently attach modules with a robotic arm, NASA calls it "berthing." ...THERE were a couple of great lines on the NBC "Today" show yesterday when poet Maya Angelou was there to promote a new film and her son, Guy Johnson, joined her to talk about his first book, "Standing at the Scratch Line." The book began as a short story, but eventually the manuscript reached 1,200 pages. Explained Johnson, "The indeterminate sentence was outlawed in California, but I somehow forgot that." And his mother recalled how, when Johnson was asked how he felt to grow up in Maya Angelou's shadow, his response was, "I always thought I was standing in her light." ...
I NTERESTING twosome at the golf course at Koolau the other day -- entertainer Don Ho, who golfs there frequently, was with travel book author Arthur Frommer. (Remember "Europe on $5 a day"? That's a very old book.) ... Cleverly titled newsletter for Alan Wong's Restaurant. It's called "Wong's World." ... Jazzman Abe Weinstein missed the snow in Las Vegas when he was there last week, but he got to meet with Bob Flanigan, manager and original member of the Four Freshmen, who celebrated their 50th anniversary in Vegas with more than 1,000 fans who had driven or flown in. The two discussed bringing the Freshman back to Hawaii for a refresher course. Here's hoping they do ...
Quick flight to North Pole
SOME 200 underprivileged kids joined children of Continental Airlines employees on a "Fantasy Trip" to the North Pole. The kids boarded a plane and it taxied around to a terminal which was decorated to look like the North Pole, complete with Santa Claus, elves and presents. Continental employees are hoping to raise enough money so that next year's trip can actually leave the ground. If you'd like to help, call Juanita Zavala at 837-4125 ...
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.