Hawaii
THERE looked to be some major "Bond-ing" going on at Nick's Fishmarket in Lahaina as two action stars teamed up, chose their weapons -- knives, forks and spoons -- and welcomed the new century together. Turning heads and widening eyes among the other diners was the new "007" girl, Denise Richards, and her lucky beau, Pat Muldoon, of "Starship Trooper" and "Melrose Place" Nick’s hosts action stars
fame. Give the figure conscious Richards good marks for sticking to steamed asparagus and filet mignon (though she ordered it well done!), eschewing the Pancetta and Boursin Cheese. What the heck, we're all allowed one little guilty pleasure -- she did allow herself a decadent slice of New York Cheesecake. Nick's waiters described the two as very nice and down-to-earth ...
ENTERING a new century seemed like a good time to enjoy secret ambitions for sisters and business partners Lisa Ontai and Laurie LaGrange. The two spent New Year's Eve belting out songs by the likes of Whitney Houston, Maria Carey, Janet Jackson, Madonna and Shania Twain on their rented karaoke system from Escape Karaoke. The firm is well named, as "escape" is just what the girls' respective husbands did when they started belting. Shrugged Lisa, "I guess we'll stick to P.R." ...
Miles of smiles
THOUGH he's no longer president of DFS, John Reed is still smiling and still supporting Hawaii as well. Now CEO of BriteSmile, the tooth-whitening process, Reed has committed to being a sponsor of the Sony Open at Waialae. The local center opened in September and has already brightened the smiles of such folks as Carole Kai, Kona Carmack and even Michael W. Perry and Larry Price ... Miss Hawaii Candes Gentry will certainly be flashing her smile when she cuts the ribbon to open the San Francisco Sports & Boat Show Jan. 14 at the Cow Palace. She was a natural for the task, since her late father, Tom Gentry, was a world champion speedboat racer ... And Jim Becker always breaks into a grin when he talks about opera, which he'll be doing when he shares his experience in opera houses around the globe at a Hawaii Opera Theater tea Jan. 28 at the Plaza Club. Aside from talking and writing about opera, Becker was a longtime sports writer and then bureau chief for Associated Press, retiring only after a stint as essay columnist for the Star-Bulletin ...IT isn't only the 1999 UH Rainbow Warriors and coach June Jones who are gaining national attention these days. Even some Rainbow alumni are popping up in unusual places. Former UH kicker Jason Elam, now with the Denver Broncos, was the answer to a clue in the national crossword puzzle which ran in yesterday's paper: "NFL kicker Jason." ... Lifting and localizing the title of Derek Davies long-running column in the Far East Economic Review was Rick Carroll, who collected writings about Hawaii from various people and entitled it, "Travelers Tales Hawaii." He'll be signing copies of the anthology of non-fiction writing on Jan. 13 at Bestsellers on Bishop Street ...
Poi, oh poi
IF you're one of those lamenting the unavailability of poi these days, be advised there'll be plenty of the sticky stuff in various forms at the Polynesian Festival in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center Jan. 15. Lots of free Polynesian entertainment, parking just a buck an hour and the Poi Co. is offering free samples of flavored poi, poi biscotti, poi mochi and even poi bagels! ...
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: ddonnelly@starbulletin.com