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Ex-Green Beret Billy Olds
has his hands full
with Iraq job

Isle-born Billy Olds, a retired Army colonel, is in Iraq working for a company that has a multi-million dollar USAID contract. He served eight years in the Mideast and speaks Arabic. The Kailua High grad and former Green Beret is responsible for overseeing convoy and physical security, intelligence assessments, procurement and travel in and out of Iraq, according to his buddy here, retired Col. Ed Gayagas. Billy moves through Iraq on military air and vehicle convoys and has flown missions with Hawaii's 29th Infantry Brigade Aviation Company. Members call their unit "Hawaiian Air." That's cool. Part-Hawaiian Billy travels with bodyguards in armored vehicles. He favors Hawaiian and Samoan bodyguards with Ranger and Special Forces experience. He took his Army uniform to Iraq to take part in the upcoming promotion to colonel for Ed and Norma Gayagas' daughter, Lt. Col. Christine "Crissy" Gayagas. She is stationed at Camp Victory Baghdad in the Green Zone. She and Billy have met in Camp Doha in Kuwait and in Baghdad. Ed said it took him and Billy 23 years to make colonel and Crissy is making it in 20. Ed, a Kauai boy, is proud that his son, Lincoln, and Crissy are West Point graduates ...

'Spiderman' Chafetz to drop down on the stage

Conductor Stuart Chafetz's entry to the Concert Hall stage Friday and next Saturday will truly be grand. He will swing down from above, dressed as Spiderman. This I gotta see. What's more, the Captain & Tennille -- Daryl Dragon and Toni Tennille -- are surprise guests. There's bound to be loads of fun along with groovy sounds at these Symphony Pops Spooktacular concerts. The musicians will be decked out in Halloween attire and concert-goers are also urged to wear costumes. There will be a costume contest both nights, with the winners flying to Las Vegas on Hawaiian Airlines. The concert features hits of the '70s, sung by Anita Hall and Zanuck Lindsey, as well as the Captain and Tennille. Conductor Matt Catingub will turn the baton over to fun-guy Stu after he drops in. Stu is pictured here in last year's Halloween makeup ...

An Infinity I35 is the top silent auction item in this year's Turandot Opera Ball Nov. 13 at the Sheraton Waikiki. There will be colorful costumes at this one, too, as it's Mandarin formal or black-tie ... In recent columns, Abbie Funn Chong's last name was incorrect and KHON/FOX was listed with an incorrect network ... I will be on vacation next week marking another birthday ...

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