It’s deja vu
for Ho, Ayau"I'LL be standing on the side enjoying the scenery," says Don Ho, after the restaurant bearing his name opens. "I'll be standing right next to Don," says aloha host Henry Ayau with a laugh. Don Ho's Island Grill opens next Saturday in what was Scott's Seafood in the Aloha Tower Marketplace. In a pre-opening event Thursday, Don, actor Albert Finney, "Lethal Weapon" Director Richard Donner, singer Sammy Hagar, Linda Coble, Jimmy Borges, Tom Moffatt, Pamela Young, Gary Sprinkle and others will serve lunch to disadvantaged kids. Ayau, who was a host and manager at Duke Khanamoku's where Don became famous, said the new spot "is going to be a place with Hawaiian atmosphere and decor where Hawaiian hospitality and aloha are practiced." Key partners are Barry Silverman and Shep Gordon. Entertainment is planned. Chef is Mark Ellman. "I'll probably be hanging out there after our shows," Don said this week from Nevada. Don's home base is the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel, but this weekend he does his show at Las Vegas' New Orleans Hotel ...
Chef Mavro opens tonight
CHEF Mavro Restaurant, owned by chef George Mavrothalassitis, opens quietly tonight at McCully and King streets. Mavro, formerly of Le Mer and Four Seasons Maui, has some of his former key people, including chef Ben Takahashi, maitre d' Greg Dietrich and pastry chef Jeff Walters with him. Hawaii regional cuisine, influenced by Mavro's native Provence, will be the fare ... Kelvin Ro is closing Kahala Moon Dec. 31 and plans to reopen at another location later ...FORMER National Hockey League player Ted McAneeley, manager of the Hawaii Prince Waikiki Hotel, has been promoted to general manager. McAneeley, originally from Canada, speaks fluent Japanese. When NHL teams appear in Japan, McAneeley plays a starring role as a liaison between NHL and Japan officials ... Singer Shari Lynn and pianist Ray Kaneyama are guests at a free Christmas concert at Kawaiahao Church tonight, 7 p.m. The Kawaiahao Choir and Handbell Choir, Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus and cellist Herb Mahelona will perform ... There's dancing to Willie Barton's band tomorrow, 6 p.m. at the Royal Hawaiian ... Tickets went on sale today for Celine Dion's Feb. 12 stadium concert ...
LIZ PERRY marked a birthday Thursday at a late lunch at the Kahala Mandarin's Plumeria with Conne Sutherland, Mihana Souza, Emily Hoffman, Laurie Tom, Rachel Simmons, Margaret Murchie and one lucky guy. She partied at the Outrigger Canoe Club that night. Conne, Suzy Hemmings and Michele St. John did a hula at Liz's request. Wednesday, Liz and Michael Haig maintained a tradition by celebrating his birthday until midnight. Then it was Liz's birthday and they partied on ...
OWEN HOLT, 70, a generous man and a '46 Kamehameha grad who served 31 years with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's office, died Dec. 5 of a heart attack in San Jose. The flag at San Jose City Hall flew at half-staff in his honor and many of his relatives, including a brother, Charles Holt, and a sister, Anne Holt, attended services there. He will be buried at Punchbowl ...
Marathon suits her to a T
TOKYO residents Douglas and Makiko Hardy ran Sunday's Honolulu Marathon and that evening went to Swiss Inn to join Les Young and his friends for dinner. Makiko wore the T-shirt she received after completing the marathon. "She hasn't taken it off yet," her husband said ...
Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin in the streets
of downtown Honolulu during World War II, writes of
people, places and things every Saturday.
His columns appear online every Monday.