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Honolulu played hostess
to pop princesses
and a T. rexStar-Bulletin
January
The former Reginald Kenneth Dwight, or Elton John, loved Honolulu so much the last time he appeared here, Jan. 7 to 9, that he's coming back for more Jan. 12 and 13, 2001. His return earlier this year marked his first Hawaii appearances in more than two decades. Unlike his '70s rock 'n' roll extravaganzas, this time around it was just the man, his piano and old tunes like "Tiny Dancer" and "Crocodile Rock," which sent a whole bunch of Boomers back down high school memory lane.
February
Producers for "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?" could find only a handful of prospective brides when they came looking in January. The Oahu cattle call was a low-key affair but by the time the program aired in February, it became a media event. Rick Rockwell and his runaway bride Darva Conger attained dubious celebrity overnight. Millions who hated the show's premise tuned in anyway to watch the wreck happen. A total of 22.8 million watched nationwide. In 2001, we have Fox's "Temptation Island" to look forward to beginning Jan. 10. Four unmarried, but committed, couples and 30 singles looking for love travel to an exotic location to test the waters of temptation.Also, Jonny Lang came to make music without the Stones.
March
Five thousand years of Egyptian cultural history came to life via the "Mysteries of the Nile" exhibition, which ran March 16 through July 30. Some 80,000 stood in lines to see the mummy cases, shrouds and masks, gold jewelry, ornaments, tools and architectural fragments of a people responsible for building the pyramids and elaborate tombs of the pharaohs. Some of the most intriguing objects related to the afterlife, particularly jars and vessels used to house the spirit and internal organs of the deceased.On stage we witnessed "Fame" and "Forever Tango."
April
Pop princess Britney Spears wiggled and waggled, gamely trying to hula at a mock luau, part of a taping for the "Britney in Hawaii" TV special that aired in June on Fox TV. Lucky fans, 10,000-strong, were treated to afree show on the beach at the Hilton Hawaiian Village as the network picked up the tab. What's a concert without an audience after all? Those in front got more of a free show than they bargained for, however, as the teen-ager's flimsy costumes kept coming undone or flying open. "Oopsy! It was the tradewinds." Right.
On the heels of winning two Grammys in February, Sting returned to Honolulu April 27 without the rest of the Police, costume or pyrotechnics for a show that neatly covered 21 years of music-making. He interspersed songs from "Brand New World" with old favorites like "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic," "Every Breath you Take," and believe it or not, "Message in a Bottle" and "Roxanne."
May
The Natatorium was rededicated in time for Memorial Day so we could take a look at what $4.4 million buys in restoration jobs these days. Basically, fiberglass rebar in the 73-year-old structure was used to replace steel, cracks were filled in and sculptural elements were rebuilt with a polymer cement. More work has yet to be completed. Stay tuned.Locally trained dancer Amanda Schull debuted in "Center Stage."
June
Over four evenings, the inaugural Maui Film Festival screened 20 films, inviting 3,000 to watch the silver screen under cover of stars. At this point, the boutique festival, with offerings ranging from first-run Hollywood to classic films and documentaries, has yet to find its niche, but officials from the Hawai'i International Film Festival who were interviewed after the event agreed there's room for two festivals in Hawaii.On stage, "Men Dancing" showed us what happens when martial arts meets street moves meets video games.
Frank DeLima marked his 25th anniversary as a performer at The Captain's Table in the Hawaiian Waikiki Beach Hotel.
July
The original lizard king, T. rex came to Honolulu via Bishop Museum's "A Dinosaur Named Sue" exhibition. The 45-foot replica of Sue, the most intact T. rex skeleton ever found, stayed on view through October. Be glad they don't lurk in Nuuanu today, or do they? Nope, just another wallaby.Here came the Judds and Trisha Yearwood.
August
It took seven years to get "Rent" from the concept stage into production in New York in 1996. By that time, much of the city's artist/street punk ethos had already given way to the Disneyfication of Times Square and the running of the Wall Street bulls. If it all seemed dated then, imagine how the tale of AIDS and HIV-infected, lesbian and transvestite lovers struggling for survival played in Honolulu. Nevertheless, for all those who slammed the "immorality" of it all, there were many more who simply fell in love with characters like Mimi and Angel and sympathized with their plight.
September
"Try to remember the kind of September when life was slow and oh, so mellow ..." Uh, maybe it was too mellow. No fun was had this month, especially by kids who had to go back to school.
October
Christina Aguilera brought her heavily lined lids, bared midriff and "Genie in a Bottle" magic to the Stan Sheriff Center for a sold-out Hawaii debut. The concert -- heavily attended by 13-year-olds and their parents -- was also a pop music first for the venue usually reserved for basketball and volleyball games and graduation ceremonies.Girl power had its encore as Gwen Stefani and the boys of No Doubt returned to Honolulu for a show at Andrews Amphitheater.
Jimmy Buffet wowed crowds at the Blaisdell Arena.
Theater-goers went to "Chicago."
November
Freud meets Fellini in Christian Dior designer John Galliano's take on families. Those who witnessed the French Festival's Fashion Ball were treated to an opulent wedding, complete with a bishop with a 26-inch waist. Meanwhile, Thierry Mugler transported viewers back to sunny Egypt, Celine took the audience on an urban safari and Chanel showed us how to lead the glamorous life.SR-71 and Cowboy Mouth came to make music. Mark Morris came to dance. Wayne Brady came to make us laugh.
December
We went shopping and took in the usual spate of Christmas caroling, tree lightings and "Nutcracker" performances. The month's not over, and we're betting DJ Peretz's Hawaii debut New Year's Eve at The Space in the Waikiki Trade Center will be a show to remember. Let's hope the former Perry Farrell keeps his clothes on.
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