Hawaii
NOTHING like the sound of a big band playing swing to get out people of all ages on the dance floor. And so it was Sunday afternoon at the Blue Tropix nightclub on Kapiolani near the Convention Center. Owned by brothers Darren and Steve Tsuchiya, the huge club was packed. The dance floor was filled with people ranging from their 20s to 70s, all twirling and having the time of their lives, creating something of a microcosm showing people of all ages can co-exist in step, side by side. Especially when the music is live, in this case the great band of musicians put together by leader Del Courtney. He personified the entire age thing, since Del is in his 91st year and is one of the rare band leaders who does his job sitting down ... Jimmy Borges filled the role of "boy singer" and noting the younger dancers, commented, "This music was written before their parents were born." ... Spotting the best dancers in the place was easy. I had to stop and compliment them, assuming they were kids on a date. If I owned the place I would have carded them. Turns out they're brother and sister, Jennifer and Matthew Wong, who with their mom, Gayook, own JMG Incorporated which produces get togethers called "Swing into Life." One such evening is tonight from 6:45 to 9 p.m. at the Kapiolani Bandstand, alas with CDs rather than the live band which seemed to add to their obvious enthusiasm for moving in unison to the music. Jennifer (who is 34 -- so much for being carded) and JMG have their own web site: www.jmgpartnership.com ... Swing’s the thing
at Blue Tropix
Gimme a C. Sharp
THAT'S his name and he's proud of it. We're referring to C. Sharp, a docent at Hawaii Theatre. So impressed was Sharp over the singing of Diamond Head Theatre's "Shooting Stars" in the Jim Nabors Christmas shows, that he's donated to them his stash of Broadway Playbills collected since 1944. Among the Playbills are ones autographed by Judy Garland, Henry Fonda and his "ever lovin' favorite," Mae West ... Despite stepping down as exec director of the Honolulu Boy Choir, insurance man Blake Nuibe has been drafted to co-chair with Society of Seven leader Tony Ruivivar a fund-raising concert by and for the Choir at the Outrigger Showroom on the SOS night off, Sunday, April 22. Call 596-SING ...
Domaine Man
WHEN Grover Liese threw a dinner party for some visiting friends the other night, the wine bottles contained labels with their names and photos on them, a little hobby of his ... Model Carolyn Bosanko was at the party and recalled it was 16 years to the day that we first met (after her appearance in Penthouse) and I responded with, "How old were you? Eight?" She still looks stunning ... Paul and Rikki Cassiday were also at the dinner and planning another trip to England. They clipped out my comments in the column about the plays I saw while there last month and picked out a couple they want to see ... Cal and Terri Lui were eying the Liese digs since they're about to build an even bigger home than they have now, one with both a pool and a tennis court. He has a series of jewelry stores both here (at the Hawaiian Village) and in Vegas.
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