Stars and diamonds sparkle at Harry Winston soiree

HARRY WINSTON is well known for diamonds of the highest quality and Winston's parties have plenty of sparkle too. A reception, organized by Billie Gabriel and James Schaefer, was held in the Ala Moana store Saturday to give Hope Kamenstein a diamond pendant, thanks to Martha Stewart. Dom Perignon and quality wine flowed and snacks were served before Golbarg Parstabar, a Winston vice president, made the presentation. The happy Hope was at Stewart's show in New York on Valentine's Day. The audience was told the person who had a seat with a valentine taped under it would win a trip to Hawaii for two with airfare, accommodations at the Kahala hotel, tickets to all of Matt Catingub's "Return to Romance" Music Festival events and a gift from Harry Winston. Hope had the lucky seat and made the trip with husband Matthew. "I was just in shock," Hope said. Among performers in the "Romance" fest who attended the Winston soiree were Kenny Loggins, Jimmy Borges, Lucie Arnaz, Cecilio Rodriguez, Rocky Brown and Jordan Segundo. Guests included Windward Miss Hawaii contestant Marisa Kellett, Julie Aragaki and Rick Blangiardi. Catingub thanked everyone involved in the festival. Lucie, daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, was with her husband, actor Larry Luckenbill. She loves Hawaii and would like to land a singing gig here. "This is the only place I ever wanted to visit," said Lucie. She has been here 35 to 40 times. "Humbug," joked Loggins when asked what he thought of the festival. He made it clear he was looking forward to performing the following night at the Arena with Michael McDonald. Melinda Williams, a Lisa Kudrow lookalike, is a veep of Loggins' company. She has a UH graduate school degree in marine biology. "There are sharks in the music business, too," Melinda said ...

Joyce Okano meets Paul McCartney in Paris

"BONJOUR BEN! I am in Paris and met Paul McCartney!" e-mailed Chanel's Joyce Okano March 4 while in Paris for the Chanel fashion show. Joyce said she was having breakfast at a boulangerie when "Paul walks in and sits down right next to me! I introduced myself and told him what a big fan I was." Joyce said they compared notes on breakfast. "He was very friendly and even shook my hand when I left," she said ...

Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin in the streets of downtown Honolulu during World War II, writes of people, places and things in our Hawaii. E-mail him at bwood@starbulletin.com