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Wood Craft Ben Wood |
Halekulani anniversary
party is first class all
the wayIt was 20 years ago that the "new" Halekulani opened, replacing the old hotel that was made up of one low-rise building and several cottages. The hotel held a fabulous party Tuesday night to mark the occasion. The Halekulani is known for really doing things right and Tuesday's party was one of the best it has held. The hotel's key personnel were standing tall, greeting guests from the porte-cochere right up to the second-floor ballroom. There, G.M. Fred Honda and Halekulani Corp.'s Chief Operating Officer Peter Shaindlin spoke. Shaindlin introduced Sunny Lee, wife of the late Randy Lee, who managed the Halekulani for many years. Sunny was with sons Randy III and Michael. Guests enjoyed a spectacular variety of food dishes. Even La Mer Chef Yves Garnier was at a food station preparing onaga. The Kobe-style beef was another delicious offering, as was the old Halekulani-style curry. Entertainment included the Halekulani's hula queen, Kanoe Miller; charming youngsters from Halau Hula Olana, who danced among the crowd, and the Honolulu Jazz Quartet. Singer-musician Van Diamond, a Halekulani performer years ago, was among those backing Kanoe ...
Salazar's 'Hula Jazz' CD is right in the groove
Owana Salazar dropped in a few weeks ago to have me listen to her "Hula Jazz" album. Owana followed the late Richard Kauhi's path and added a jazz flavor to Hawaiian and hapa-haole songs. "Hula Jazz" will have solid impact on the isle recording scene and should win some Hoku awards. Owana sang songs from the CD at the recent New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival ...It's great that Jasmine Trias has made the "American Idol" Final Four, despite Tuesday's lukewarm comments from judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson. And Cowell saying LaToya London and Fantasia Barrino are well above the rest could hurt Jasmine and Diana DeGarmo in the voting. Thanks a lot, Simon ...
Prosecutor Peter Carlisle and KHNL anchor Howard Dashefsky are emcees for the HUGS fund-raiser next Saturday at the Royal Hawaiian's Monarch Room. Disco is this year's theme. Janice Head is honorary chair. HUGS supports eligible families with seriously ill children, free of charge. Call 732-4846 for $125 tickets ...
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Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin in the streets of downtown Honolulu during World War II, writes of people, places and things every Wednesday and Saturday. E-mail him at bwood@starbulletin.com