Hawaii
By Dave Donnelly
Better safe than
SARS for ‘Giselle’THE SARS epidemic in Hong Kong and China has clipped the wings of "Giselle," at least temporarily. The dates for the Ballet Hawaii production of the work have been moved from May to July, and even that may have to be altered, depending on the epidemic's impact. Guest artists Wu Haiyan and Li Jun, both solo dancers with the National Ballet of China, may have visa problems. Should the problems continue, director Pamela Taylor-Tongg is investigating the possibilities of importing dancers from top U.S. companies. For more info, called Ballet Hawaii at 521-8600 ...
SPEAKING of dance, kumu hula Michael Pili Pang is getting his Masters in Dance from the University of Hawaii and he's remounting his work on dancer Noelani Goldstein for the annual Foot Holds concert this weekend. The rarely performed hula was created for Jana Cassidy who performed it in 2000 in New York at La Mama Theater ... Meanwhile, Jazz Alley TV-Maui Reflection Films is doing a TV special on the East Maui Taro Festival this year focusing on the beauty and spirit of Hana. Crews will produce a one-hour special that will air nationwide and internationally on Viacom Digital Music Networks and WorldNet TV, according to producer and host Kenneth K. Martinez Burg-maier ...
Past reflections
YESTERDAY was Herb Caen Day in San Francisco, and fans of the late, longtime (50 years plus) 3-dot columnist, which included most people in the city, had a "V" cocktail in his honor. That's a vodka martini, a drink Caen, an old friend of mine, favored. There'll never be another like him ... And Bo Diddley was booked on the David Letterman show last night. It's all too rare that Bo makes TV appearances, let alone perform at, say, a Four Seasons Hotel, but I had the privilege of seeing, hearing and even dancing to his music at the Four Seasons Wailea a few years back when he was the featured performer at the hotel. I'll never forget two gents looking at their program. "Bo Diddley?" said one. "He must be a hundred." It's true, he's been a legend for years - even creating his own Bo Diddley beat -- but it's nice to see he's still at it ...THERE sat Sumner Howard, president of a non-profit group called Government Efficiency Teams Inc., sitting in Ferguson's Pub one lunchtime. A woman with her 6-month old baby brushed by en route to the lady's room. "Six weeks old," I revealed to Howard. "The baby is 6 weeks old?" he asked. "No," I was forced to say, "the mother is 6 weeks old." He just shook his head, marveling at his own dumb remark ...
Jazz at Kapono's
THE UH Jazz Ensemble is holding a fund-raising concert at Kapono's on April 21 at 7 p.m. They've been invited to the Reno Jazz Fest which annually brings together top young jazz artists. Featured this year is Ravi Coltrane, son of the late John Coltrane, and Grammy winner Dave Holland and his quintet. Admission is free at Kapono's, but donations are welcomed ..
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