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Hawaii
YOU hear about legislative bloodlettings, rising blood pressures and bloodsucking going on at the State Capitol. But tomorrow, hopefully without any bloodthirsty screams, members of the House and Senate will stage a competition to see who can donate the most blood. It's sponsored by the Blood Prick them,
they will bleedBank, which needs 200 pints of blood daily to maintain a proper supply. Rep. Bertha Kawakami is spearheading House members and Sen. Norman Mizuguchi is organizing the Senate donors. Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono has promised to show up and donate, but no word on Gov. Ben Cayetano. Actress Sharon Stone won't be donating either, for obvious reasons ... BREW Moon brewmaster Brennan Fielding is forever tapping new creations, but none pleased him more than his latest, in collaboration with his wife, Peta. Daughter Daisy Hanalei Fielding, reports the brewmaster, has a beautiful little head and great body ... Several items on the Academy Theatre schedule for May and June tie in, sometimes loosely, with the "Mystery of the Nile" exhibit on view there. For instance, there'll be a double feature film presentation May 13 featuring Boris Karloff in "The Mummy" and "Bride of Frankenstein." But my favorite listing on the Academy program, cleverly titled "Tut Tut," is an evening of Egyptian history featuring Jeff Gere and James McCarthy, with Gere reported to be "the most frenetic Pharaoh since Yul Brenner." I assume that's the illegitimate offspring of Yul Brynner and David Brenner, but don't quote me on that. Tut Tut indeed! ...
Revving it up
THE distinguished looking gray-haired gentleman was introduced as "someone you know," but his name, Earl Takaoka, didn't ring a bell. He mentioned he'd just come from a meeting with Dick Jensen and Frank Diehl and while I was aware that both singer Jensen and bandleader Diehl had become Christian ministers, I still came up blank. Turns out Takaoka was a former entertainer himself, now a minister at a church in Kaimuki. He was known as Tani many years ago, later amended to Earl Tani, and he sang with Melveen Leed at the Reef Hotel in Waikiki. Promoter Kimo McVay suggested he add "Earl" to his professional name so he didn't sound like a fire dancer. Who knew that show business would be an entree to the ministry? ... THE Wary owner of Auntie Pasto's second neighborhood eatery, this one on Kapahulu where the Internet Cafe used to be, didn't have to look far to find someone to do the restaurant's Sunday blessing. Ed Wary simply popped next door to St. Mark's Church and got Father Darrow Aiona to do the honors ... Dining al fresco in Waikiki? Nearly unheard of, except at Keo Sananikone's new Keoni by Keo's Restaurant in the Outrigger East Hotel. There are 14 tables either on Kuhio Avenue or Kanekapolei Street for those who like to eat outdoors. It's the site of the old Jolly Roger ...
Racy and Spacey
IT should be another busy Friday evening downtown, weather permitting, particularly since the Spring Film Festival gets under way that night at the Hawaii Theatre with Kevin Spacey starring in (and producing) "The Big Kahuna." It'll be followed by the earlier withdrawn film from China, "Dong Gong, Xi Gong." And around the corner, the madness, music, munchies and merry mayhem of "Nuuanu Nights" will be under way on the closed off avenue from Pauahi to SoHo (South of Hotel) ...
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