Hawaii
The president was warned
-- by a UH business profEVERY time I hear George W. Bush mention "weapons of mass destruction," which he does often, I find myself thinking, "Don't airplanes fit that category since 9/11?" ... Llewellyn Howell of UH's College of Business Administration is one of those who warned Bush and others in his Cabinet about terrorism as far back as March of last year. That month, a column he wrote as international affairs editor in USA Today stated, "The shift to terrorism as the means of conducting war in the 21st century poses a dramatic problem for which we are still unprepared." And probably still are ... On display through June 22 at the Pelham Art Center in New York is a collection called "Artists September 11 Response" that includes at least one artist from Hawaii. He's John Henry Nichols, whose jazz-theme paintings are often on display at Nash Megi's new Kahala Bistro ...
KAUAI native Stacie Taniguchi has a new CD out called "One World: United We Sing," which is dedicated to victims of Sept. 11 in New York and Washington. The new Chaminade grad and "Hawaii Stars" finalist did a particularly difficult and complicated version of "America" in one take. Producer Roy Hamada was amazed. She'd sung the song flawlessly, and there was no need to sweeten or make improvements. Art Umezu, who was in the studio, said he'd been around but it was extremely rare to hear a one-take with that much emotion, intensity, power and heart. So the 3:43 you hear on the CD is exactly what Hamada and Umezu heard ...
Iz is everywhere
IN his intro to "From the Corner of His Eye," thriller novelist Dean R. Koontz wrote, "As I wrote this book, the singular and beautiful music of the late Israel Kamakawiwo'ole was always playing. I hope that the reader finds pleasure in my story equal to the joy and consolation that I found in the voice, the spirit and the heart of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole." The gentle giant's now classic "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was selected by producer John Wells for the "ER" episode in which Dr. Mark Green dies. Previously, the song was used in the films "Finding Forrester" and "Meet Joe Black." After "ER," Iz's album "Facing Future" popped onto Amazon.com's top-sellers list, and Mountain Apple, which distributes Iz's Big Boy record label, has increased by 300 percent the CDs sent to the stores. The music of Iz lives ...CHEF Beverly Gannon of Hailimaile General Store has started "Pay It Forward Mondays." On Mondays she's offering half-price entrees for diners bringing in a nonperishable food item to be donated to the Maui Food Bank. Says Bev, "We feed you, and you feed your neighbor." ...
Smoke and sip
WHO says cigars are passé? The Veranda at the Kahala Mandarin was packed with puffers and sippers the other night. Three Avo Signature Series cigars were available, and three separate ports -- Dow LBV 1995, Cockburn Vintage 1994 and Warre's Tawny Port 1987 -- made up the package. That included music by Betty Loo Taylor and her trio plus vocalist Star Williams. "I expected this to be a stag party," said Betty Loo. "It's nice to see so many women smoking cigars." And indeed there were ...
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.
The Week That Was recalls items from Dave's 30 years of columns.Contact Dave by e-mail: ddonnelly@starbulletin.com