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Hawaii
IT all started, as things sometimes do, on an airline flight. In this case, James Lee was seated next to Chef Sam Choy on a flight to Hong Kong. Lee mentioned that he too had worked in the restaurant business, first waiting on tables and later running the cash register at his father's Chinese Iolani lauds James Lee
eatery, Hee Hing. He suggested the two might go into the restaurant business together, and so it was that in 1995, a partnership was formed. Lee bought and manages both Sam Choy's Diamond Head and the Breakfast, Lunch & Crab restaurants, as well as the family Hee Hing eatery. Lee is also a big supporter of his alma mater. A graduate of Iolani (Class of '74), Lee has long been raising funds for the school's athletic program, and he and his wife, Vickie, are also Iolani parents and volunteers. Now the school has given him its Alumni Service Award at its annual all class reunion, a well deserved award ...
SINGER extraordinaire Rocky Brown and jazz trumpeter DeShannon Higa have set the date for their lifetime duet. The two will wed on Sept. 16 ... Radio stations kept referring to a concert featuring, the way I heard it, the Food Fighters. Why anyone would want to see a food fight was beyond me, until I realized it was the Foo Fighters. That doesn't make any more sense, but at least sounds cleaner ... I wish the same could be said for the online offering of a CD called "Malt Shop Memories." According to the copy, it includes, " 'In the Still of the Night' by the Five Stains." They are referring, I think, to the Five Satins, but you never know these days ...
Bouncing baby Boeing
THE newest member of Continental Airlines' Micronesian fleet is a Boeing 737-800, hopefully not bouncing too much. It's being debuted Friday at the airport. Christening the new 737-800 will be Continental Micronesia president Bill Meehan and Hawaii marketing head Ron Wright. Those attending will tour the aircraft, dine on Continental cuisine and two attendees will win a trip to Majuro. And the runners-up win two trips to Majuro? Nah ...THE Lush Report: The Elks Club in Waikiki will again sponsor the Duke Kahanamoku World Champion paddleboard race Sunday off Waikiki. Spokesman Bud Lush promises paddlers from Hawaii, the mainland, and as far away as Japan and Australia. Entertainment by Hula Joe & the Hutjumpers ... Book 'em, KANO. The last city of its size in America to not have a public radio station has lost that dubious distinction. Hilo has welcomed KANO to the statewide HPR Network ... How rude! Shaun Earl, who plays Angel, the drag queen in "Rent" at the Concert Hall, appeared on the Perry & Price show from the Hanohano Room and couldn't believe it when he was asked if he were a real drag queen. "It's acting!" he replied ...
Rent control
WHILE the Advertiser critic didn't care for "Rent," I enjoyed it a lot and so do the folks who give it a standing ovation nightly. One of those was Dixie Grill manager Jim Hamachek, who was so incensed over the review that he redid his marquee to read, "See Rent! The Advertiser Doesn't Know Diddly." ... The people at Diamond Head Theater are thrilled that producer Kevin McCollum brought "Rent" to town -- it plays through Sunday -- because the young man, who grew up in Hawaii, has presented DHT with a check for $10,000 in memory of his late mom, Sue McCollum, who acted in shows there ...
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