Wood Craft Ben Wood

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Oahu has Polish connection in former Miss Poland, artist

Honolulu has a polish connection in Sylwia Kupiec, Miss Poland of 1997, and 6-foot tall artist-model Edyta Franczak, 28. Sylwia turns 31 Sept. 22. Both made their homes here to escape Poland's cold temperature. Sylwia, a HPU business administration grad, is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker. She is also a professional cellist. She came here for the Miss Universe contest in '98. Edyta came here on vacation four years ago after completing law school in Poland. She was one of Poland's top women high jumpers and could clear her 6-foot height. She also studied violin for six years. Her paintings will be on display at the Honolulu Club starting Oct. 3. Besides landscapes and people, Edyta likes painting surreal nudes. She hopes to paint a nude Sylwia playing her cello on a beach. Problem is, she can't find a secluded beach. A nude former Miss Poland on a public beach will draw a crowd. I'd be there ...

ONWARD: Diamond Head Theatre's Deena Dray and John Rampage dug into their big bag of stars and pulled out Cathy Foy, Candes Gentry, Ahnya Chang, TX Tario and Loretta Ables Sayre and had each sing a hit from this season's upcoming productions. Donald Yap accompanied them on piano in the big little show at the Oahu Country Club reception Thursday. All of the singers were in fine voice. TX, just 11 years old, blew me away with his rendition of "Thank Heaven for Little Girls," from "Gigi." Stardom beckons. Loretta had guests howling on "Insai da Book" in pidgin, from "You Somebody." Candes gave guests a copy of her CD, "A Change in Me" ... Word from Manoa Valley Theatre is that sound problems that plagued the opening night of "Urinetown" have been fixed, helping the show ...

The Academy of Arts has added Kleenex stations to the gallery for the "Ansel Adams at Manzanar" exhibit. Some people viewing the famed photographer's emotional pictures of Japanese internees have been brought to tears. The exhibit runs through Oct. 29 ...