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TheBuzz
Erika Engle
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Magazine selects Ocean Club as being one of the nation's best
HONOLULU'S Ocean Club is the only Hawaii nightspot among the top 100 bars and clubs in the United States for 2007, as chosen by editors of Nightclub & Bar magazine.
Oceans is in some rarefied company, alongside luminary, glitterati-drawing clubs such as the Viper Room in Los Angeles, House of Blues in New Orleans, the ESPN Zone in Baltimore and the many joints from whence the stars stagger in Las Vegas. The Ocean Club also made the list for 2006.
The magazine makes it clear the picks are not the paparazzis' or the plushest or most popular-of-the-moment.
Venues were chosen based on annual revenues, effectiveness of marketing and advertising, uniqueness to its market and food and beverage programs, to name some criteria.
The bars and clubs will be honored with a party (imagine!) at the Nightclub & Bar and Beverage Retailer and Food Convention & Trade Show in Las Vegas in March.
Ocean Club officials could not be reached -- it seems they don't keep the same hours as the rest of us.
However, former Ocean Club partner Beau Mohr, whose own brand-new and lustrous Pearl nightclub did not make the list, is happy for his former colleagues and didn't want to steal any limelight by talking about Pearl.
"I want the Ocean Club to get all their due," he said.
As for Pearl not making the 2007 list, he said, "We're not even on the radar right now."
Pearl's blip may appear, however, as Mohr will be speaking at the trade show.
The list, as it appears on the magazine's Web site, would have a reader believe that Ocean Club in Honolulu is in Arizona, but hey, typos happen.
In the swing
Kuki'o Golf and Ocean Club on the Big Island's Kona side is once again on the top tier of Travel + Leisure magazine's 100 best golf communities in America.
"Kuki'o was designed to be the greatest place on earth," said Michael Meldman, chairman and CEO of
Discovery Land Co., the California-based developer.
The beyond-exclusive Hawaii golf community slipped to No. 15 from last year's ranking of 13.
This year's No. 1 golf community is Sea Island, Ga., up from last year's scorecard of No. 8. Last year's list topper, Santa Lucia Preserve in Carmel, Calif., dipped to No. 3 for 2007.
Discovery also developed other listees including Estancia in Arizona and Iron Horse in Montana. Separately, Meldman was involved in the development of Santa Lucia before he started Discovery Land Co.
Hualalai was on last year's Top 100 list, though without a ranking. Determining whether it or other Hawaii duffing destinations got a 2007 distinguished designation may require doling out dollars at a newsstand, as this year's full list was not posted online as of yesterday.
MIA for mom
KITV anchor Shawn Ching is stepping away from the anchor desk for up to 12 weeks of family leave to be with his mother, who is fighting worsening cancer.
"I have decided it is best for me and my family that I take an unpaid, extended leave of absence," he said in a note to co-workers.
A-list players in any industry don't normally get to be absent at certain times, and in TV news, those times are February, May and November for Nielsen ratings.
Ching apologized for his upcoming ratings absence.
Probably unnecessary -- because this is for Mom.
In a memo informing staff of Ching's decision, KITV President and General Manager Mike Rosenberg likely echoed station sentiments, extending well-wishes for Ching's mother and his "swift return."
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Call 529-4747, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached at:
eengle@starbulletin.com