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Wood Craft
ALOHA Festivals has selected master navigator Nainoa Thompson as Ambassador of Aloha this year and Claude Onizuka to represent the family of his late brother, astronaut Ellison Onizuka, as floral parade Grand Marshal. The Hoohanohano I na Holokai, or honor the voyagers, pays tribute to ancient voyagers who navigated in Polynesia as well as modern explorers of sea and space. The statewide Aloha Festivals open Sept. 14 on Oahu ... Nainoa, Onizuka
to lead festivals
Halekulani duo has the goods
MUSIC lovers desiring a Frank Sinatra fix should hurry on down to the Halekulani and catch singer-bassist Bruce Hamada pumping out a treasure chest full of tunes made famous by the Chairman of the board. With solid support from the talented fingers of pianist Jim Howard, the duo plays for diners in Orchids starting at at 8:30 and then in Lewers Lounge, from 10:15 to 12:15 Tuesday through Saturday nights. There is dancing in both spots. Bruce does not sing in Orchids, but it's another ball game in the lounge, where the former Iolani quarterback with the smooth pipes scores on such Sinatra hits as: "You Can't Take that Away From Me," "Night and Day," Fly me to the Moon," "September Song," "I've Got You Under My Skin" and "My Funny Valentine." Bruce is no slouch on the big upright bass and cuts loose on swing numbers. Jim gets in his hot licks on the piano as well. Guests often sit in. Last Saturday, Brickwood Galuteria sang and firefighter Billy Beimes, who blows a sizzling alto sax, worked out with the boys ...
MURPHY'S waitress Jan Diehl is a magnet for women who formerly lived in the isles and make visits from far away places. The latest to visit Jan is Wanda Cane, a onetime Marrakesh waitress who lives in Britain and picked up a degree at Cambridge after picking up a husband, Mark Walford, a Brit. Wanda said they belong to the Conservative Association which, she says, "is rather like the Republicans, but with a lot more scandal." She said they attended a party last year at a manor house for former British Prime Minister John Major. Arriving by helicopter were ex-Prez George Bush and wife, Barbara. Wanda said she felt Bush took time to chat with her because of her American accent. Wanda said she saw Bill Clinton at another function. She calls him a "big, handsome guy" ...
SWISS Haus manager Philip Isaacs broke a leg, so the Swiss Inn team of Jeanie Wyss and Sharon Fujii are still at the door handling customers and chef Martin Wyss is still helping new owner-chef Freddy Halmes ... Nick's Fishmarket maitre d' Bill Murphy is again caddying at the Sony Open at Waialae, and G.M. Ben Dowling is doing radio work there. Both are avid golfers ...
No apology needed, Elton
ELTON John often apologized for his voice problems during his opening concert last weekend but he didn't have to. He put on a rollicking rock show that had folks romping and stomping in the Blaisdell Arena aisles. Man, when he hammered on those piano keys and his superb musicians opened up with everything they had, it was wild. And the sellout crowd went wild. No apologies necessary, Elton, no way. Your show was a mega-hit. And this comes from a Sinatra man, not a rocker ... A convenient way to get to the Blaisdell complex for shows is to eat at one of the Ward Warehouse or Ward Centre restaurants and then catch a trolley to Blaisdell. The eateries provide round-trip tickets. I took the trolley after eating at Kincaid's. It solves traffic and parking problems ...
Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin in the streets
of downtown Honolulu during World War II, writes of
people, places and things every Saturday.
E-mail him at bwood@starbulletin.com