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Hawaii
IT'S not everyday that you hear former mayor Frank Fasi refer to an opponent as "clever," but that was the word he used yesterday to characterize incumbent Mayor Jeremy Harris. Backhand compliment
And it's hard to argue with the fact that the timing of Harris' new re-election spots on TV coinciding with the city-purchased plugs for his pet "roundabout" system was remarkably to his advantage. Fasi noted that I've been anti-roundabout based on experiences I and others have had with the system elsewhere, but his concern was how much it would cost to put them up in Hawaii. I told him I was more concerned about whether they'd work from a safety standpoint ... IT'S been quite a week for dealing with people out of the past. I said hello to Larry Ramos, the Kauai kid who hit it big with the Association and is back for a Tom Moffatt promoted concert with the group, plus Herman's Hermits and the new Rascals. I'd interviewed Larry back in the early 60s when he and I were both clean-shaven kids, he with the then new group and me a disc jockey (with Moffatt) on K-POI ... I also lunched this week at Indigo with old pal Gene Parola, who's in town with wife Shirley to promote a new cookbook of Hawaiian style goodies she's written with her daughter Lisa, "Remembering Diamond Head, Remembering Hawaii." Parola played Uncle Charley to my Willy Loman in "Death of a Salesman" at UH's Farrington Hall back in 1958. I literally ran into him while he was strolling with his wife down Kalakaua Avenue in the shadow of Diamond Head ...
Eclectic ExecTrekkies
YOU don't have to be in peak condition to participate in the March of Dimes ExecTrek, as witnessed by the varied batch of business, community and government leaders (hopefully after their naps) signed up for this year's fund-raiser. Every year a group of like minded execs donate $500 each to participate in a symbolic walk through downtown that begins with a quick warm up at Tamarind Park. This year, they may get more of a workout, however. Sprint Hawaii V.P. Nonie Toledo, chair of ExecTrek 2000, has lined up the UH cheerleaders as well as members of the national champion Lanai High School physical fitness team to set a pace for the workout. They'll be well-rewarded at the end of the walk, however, feasting on a massive buffet luncheon aboard the "Statendam" at Aloha Tower Marketplace. You can still sign up for the March 8 ExecTrek by calling 536-1045 ...NEXT weekend's a busy one for Leilani Rivera Bond. She'll be on the Perry & Price show Saturday morning, March 11, followed by an appearance at Border's in Ward Centre at 2 p.m. and at Shipley's in the Manoa Marketplace from 8 to 10 p.m. Then on Sunday, March 12, the singer will be at her CD release and mahalo party from 6 to 9 p.m. at Gordon Biersch at Aloha Tower ...
Where's the West?
THREE lovely hostesses have been charged with planning the 40th anniversary dinner of the East-West Center on March 17. Jean Ariyoshi, Joan Bickson and Lyn Anzai have brought in Chef Gordon Streng of the Hawaii Prince Hotel, but his menu looks more East than West: Ulu bisque, California roll, Thai green papaya salad, miso prawns, Hawaiian pineapple gallette with ginger ice cream. Since the Center's region extends from Pakistan to Maine, how about some Maine lobster for good measure? Or maybe Irish stew -- it is on Paddy's Day, after all ...
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