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Hawaii
SURE, the politically incorrect notion that the Chinese are a thrifty race continues to flourish in Hawaii. And the Chinese Chamber of Commerce is doing nothing to erase that theory. For example, it's been assured by the local chapter of the American Heart Association that it will leave up the traditionally elaborate decor from its Heart Ball for an extra day. Chamber adept
at thriftThat way, those attending the 51st annual Narcissus Festival Fashion Show on Feb. 13, which takes place the day after the Heart Ball in the same ballroom at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, can enjoy the decor. Appearing at the Narcissus fashion show will be newly crowned Narcissus Queen Libby Lum and her court. The design shops at Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center will provide the newest in European fashions for the show, again at no cost. This enables the chamber to set the price for the show and five-course gourmet Chinese lunch at a reasonable $40 per person. Call the Chinese Chamber for tickets at 533-3181 ... Today from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. there'll be a special reception at Ramsay Galleries in Chinatown for the opening exhibition of "Generations: Chinese Families in Hawaii 1850 to 2000." The exhibit opens to the public at the gallery (1129 Smith St.) tomorrow and will run daily through the month except Saturdays ...
Crunching numbers
THANKS to the Arcadian, the newsletter for the retired folks living in Arcadia on Punahou Street, for the following bit of numerological trivia. The newsletter reports that today, 2/2/2000 is the first day using all even numbers since 8/28/888. There'll be plenty more to come, but this is the first in more than 1,000 years. If that doesn't stagger you, the numbers continue to boggle the mind in that the next day that can be written out with all odd numbers is 1/1/3111. Darn, I don't think I'll be around for that one ... SO State Sen. Rod Tam is equating the yawns his suggestions on state workers napping has elicited to the knowing smiles that greeted the Wright Brothers when they took flight. That's a bit of a stretch -- but enough about napping. Now Serendipity bookseller Cheryl Niggle -- I'm not making this up -- says there's a new book out called "The Art of Napping at Work," which is a follow-up to a 1997 sleeper, "The Art of Napping." Niggle hasn't read the book and doesn't carry it in stock, but says a promo for the book backs up Tam's dubious theory that smart people "laying down on the job" actually enhances creativity. I still say a good night's sleep is best ... LET me plead to Mayor Jeremy Harris before he spends any more money on traffic "roundabouts." I've done a fair amount of driving in England and let me state that the most difficulty incurred is not from having the steering wheel on the right side of the car and the gear shift on your left or even driving on the wrong side of the road. It's those damnable roundabouts! My fearless prediction: More accidents will be caused than prevented by them ...
Statehood recognition award
IT'S been some time since we've given out a Statehood Recognition Award to those who either didn't know or forgot that Hawaii was a state. Then isn't it ironic that this one goes to United Airlines, which used to call Hawaii "Our little corner of the world." Now the Friendly Sky's ual.com site is offering an Internet fare sale "for flights between the U.S. and Honolulu." ...
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