Willows site
set to reopenIT'S happening in a quiet Moiliili area, so you may not be aware that a tremendous amount of work has been taking place at the old Willows on Hausten Street. It looks to be nearly ready to reopen -- as a restaurant. There had been rumors of a seniors' or low-cost residence, but those have apparently been shelved in favor of an eatery. When the late Randy Lee owned the property, it was the first place "visiting firemen" were taken for dinner. So who's going to operate it? Best bet is Kelvin Ro, who's shutting down his Kahala Moon Cafe Thursday night. He wasn't available to comment but a spokesperson at Kahala Moon said he was "not at liberty to say yet" where or when he'd reopen. My feelings is that the old Willows -- it's parking lot across the street still intact -- is the perfect locale ...
FOR years Isle showman Jack Cione and wife Maydelle have championed freighter travel, and have visited ports all over the world on these not-so-luxurious liners. The price, as Bob Barker likes to say, is right. But now the Ciones are upgrading, and will be seeing in the New Year aboard the Independence instead of a freighter. When he returns, Cione will start rehearsals for his annual Mardi Gras Follies for the Pearl Harbor Performing Arts Center, opening Feb. 19 at the P.H. Officer's Club ...
A caroling we will go
LOCAL lyricist Art Freedman responds to a recent item here that he also enjoys a visit down memory lane when he hears "We Need a Little Christmas" from "Mame." It was written by Freedman's classmate and frat brother Jerry Herman at the University of Miami. That, along with Irving Berlin's "White Christmas," are two perennial Christmas favorites written by Jews. Freedman has made it a threesome with "Santa Claus Lives in Hawaii," which he wrote with gentle gentile Ron Tish for the CD "Christmas in the Islands." He figures if white bread Pat Boone can write the lyrics to the "Exodus" song, ("This Land is Mine") then why not? Incidentally, Freedman recalls investing in Herman's musical "I Feel Wonderful" in 1955, probably his only stage production not to turn a profit ...WHICH provides the perfect opportunity to segue to Jerry Goldsmith, the Oscar-winning composer whose works include "Star Trek," "The Omen," "Alien" and "Mulan." He'll be appearing in person with J.P. Muntal in the Hawaii Public Radio studios at 8 a.m. on Friday, the morning after New Year's Eve, to talk about the new "Startrek Insurrection" movie soundtrack and reminisce about past scores. Goldsmith has more than 175 scores and TV themes (including "Man from U.N.C.L.E.") to his credit. The interview will be heard on KHPR (88.1 FM) and KKUA (90.7 FM) ...
Final trip for Rose
THE last of the real Hawaiian troubadours, Rose Kaohu Moe, was laid to rest last week in a touching ceremony that included a new song, "Farewell, My Darling, Farewell," written and sung by her husband Tau Moe, who had shared so much with Rose. Joining Tau in song were the couple's children, Lani and Dorian, who sang with their father in both English and Samoan. The Taus have spent most of their lives abroad, including seven trips around the world, spreading their music in live shows, on TV, radio and recordings over a 70 year period. Lani was born in Kyoto, Japan and Dorian in Calcutta, India. They performed with their parents all their lives. Rose Moe was so well known worldwide, in fact, that her obituary appeared in the New York Times. She was truly one of a kind ...
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.