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Hawaii
AFTER Don Ho's live show on K-5 from Don Ho's Island Grill Wednesday night, the 70-year-old said, "Never again." He didn't mean he'd never perform again, of course, but never "live." The show was going well, with Ho conducting sing-alongs of his familiar tunes and his grand-daughter (!) Off-mike duo
stalls Ho showdoing a hula and brief Tahitian dance. It peaked when Hoku, Don's "Star" daughter, was shown on video and then sang a solo number. For reasons unknown, Ho failed to close things out at this natural peak, calling up two guys who sat on either side of him and talked off-mike so that nobody seemed to know what they were doing there. "They're showstoppers," I said to a tablemate, "They've stopped the show cold." It was about this time that Ho mumbled something about "never again." If I were a drinking man, I'd say, "I'll drink to that." ...
TRUE to my prediction earlier in the week, comic Rip Taylor showed up with confetti as well as beaded leis from New Orleans. He also had a golden necklace -- "cost me a fortune" -- showing a tombstone with his name on it. RIP, get it? Taylor expressed an interest in seguing from the confetti-throwing zany of talk shows to serious comedic stage performer. In fact, there's a chance he'll go on a 50-week tour with Ann-Margrit in "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas." I dunno, 50 weeks in "Whorehouse" might give new significance to that golden necklace ...
Sonny Skies
GIVE Harry Soria Jr. a theme and watch him run with it. Taking Hawaii's weather as a cue, Soria confidently predicts Sonny skies for the next two Sundays. On his Territorial Airwaves show this coming Sunday, he's featuring an hour of music by late, great slack-key guitarist Sonny Chillingworth. And the following Sunday, Aug. 27, his in-studio guest will be Sonny Kamahele, who indeed goes back to Territorial days. Soria's show, now in its 22nd year, is heard on KINE-FM each Sunday from 5 to 6 p.m. ...ONE of the founders of the Honolulu Marathon, now given to more sedentary pursuits, Dr. Jack Scaff is back from attending the 13th annual Oregon Beer Festival. Hawaii brewers represented 11 of the 72 breweries featured. Ali'i Macadamia Nut Brown Ale was the first to run out, followed by Sam Choy's Big Aloha. There were some 80,000 in attendance, Scaff reports, "all well behaved." ...
FOR whom the bells toll: It's not that there's an inordinate number of weddings going on at St. Andrews this week. The reason so many bells are being heard there is that Very Rev. Peter Courtney, the Dean, has welcomed the North American Guild of Change Ringers, and more than 100 are honing their skills here. They'll perform free at St. Andrews on Sunday at 9:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m. and 2 - 5 p.m. ...
Final bell for Kelly
SERVICES will take place Sunday in San Francisco for Arnold Kaliszewski, known to all as "Kelly." While born in Michigan, Kelly was stationed at Subpac in the '50s where he played both basketball and football. He played hoops for UH for many more years than the NCAA allows today, but little attention was paid then. Kelly was a pleasure to visit and beat at gin rummy during trips to S.F. and he often returned to Hawaii to vacation. His huge heart gave out July 28, and those attending services for him Sunday are urged to wear Hawaiian shirts, a fitting tip of the papale to his Hawaii days. A later service is planned by friends in 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