What the Heck? John Heckathorn

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Mick Fleetwood debuts a real band

Chemistry Lesson: "It was well-received, don't you think?" Mick Fleetwood said of his new band's first-ever performance.

That's English understatement. Fleetwood's Island Rumours Band knocked out the crowd at last weekend's Diamond Head Crater Celebration.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, now a Maui resident, took the stage surrounded by top-flight local musicians -- Raiatea Helm, Willie K and Eric Gilliom of Barefoot Natives, percussionist Lopaka Colon, bass player Lenny Castellanos and former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Ric Vito.

More than that, Fleetwood has molded all those talents into a real band, one of the most powerful local ensembles in recent memory. "That's what I do, create band chemistry," says Fleetwood, who, starting in 1967, managed Fleetwood Mac through 14 personnel changes.

Built on a powerful rhythm section, the new band glided seamlessly from Hawaiian music to hapa-haole swing to flat-out rock 'n' roll, pulling off surprises like a chilling oli dropped right into the middle of the Fleetwood Mac classic "Rhiannon."

"There's no reason this band can't play Vegas, or anywhere," says Fleetwood.

Decorum: From the Crater stage, Mick Fleetwood noted that the last time he played there in the '70s, he saw people fleeing up a hillside to avoid a brush fire. "Things are more under control now," he said.

Back in the VIP tent, KHVH's Greg Mueller, a veteran of the old Crater Festivals, just laughed. "Things are so under control and well-organized, it's not even like a rock concert. You'd think you were at the polo matches."

Lost at Jackie's: "I work for the state. This is the highlight of my week," said Janice Yonamine. Yonamine and three of her colleagues from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs showed up at Jackie's Kitchen in Ala Moana Center to watch the last episode of "Lost." With nearly 200 fellow fans.

Early in the year, the restaurant began holding "Lost" nights at its bar. By last Wednesday's season finale, every seat in the restaurant was taken up by Lostniks. During commercials, fans who answered trivia questions won "Lost" T-shirts, tote bags and DVDs.

The minute the program restarted, the room hushed. There were cheers and applause when things went well for the good guys; gasps, moans and tears when they did not.

At the end, Civil Defense employee Judy Simon, who has status among the "Lost"- obsessed fans because she's appeared four times as an extra, asked me if I understood the show.

I admitted I hadn't. "We've seen every single minute of every episode, and neither do we!" she said.

What she was going to do while waiting for the next "Lost" season to begin in February 2008? "Get a bunch of people together and talk about it," she said.

Eager to Get Going: Kai Drewes isn't even 2 weeks old and he's done something his father, KHNL weekend anchor Paul Drewes, has never managed to do -- arrive early.

Kai was born May 15, six weeks ahead of schedule. He weighed in at 4 1/2 pounds, but, after a short stint in intensive care, is now at home doing fine. He's the second son for Paul and wife Gina.

Sophisticated Hula: Last Wednesday, Mountain Apple, which doesn't usually throw CD release parties, threw one for Tony Conjugacion's "Na Hula Punahele."

The CD is more than a commercial release, it's an attempt to record accurate versions of classic hula tunes. Tony's mentors showed up. Hawaiian-language maven Pat Namaka Bacon, the hanai daughter of Mary Kawena Puku'i, sat in a corner talking to classic Hawaiian soprano Nina Keali'iwahamana.

Nina talked about how Tony had been a great favorite of her mother, Vicki I'i Rodrigues, who passed down hula tunes to Tony in manaleo, the authentic spoken Hawaiian, as opposed to the missionary written version. That set off Bacon's recollection about how in the '40s missionary descendant Henry Judd had been too shame to use the correct Hawaiian word for underpants, palema'i. "Hawaiian was too much for the missionaries," she said.

That spirit showed when hula kupuna Alice Johnson Villa, one of whose tunes is on the album, took the floor to remind everyone that hula could indeed be naughty.

Dean's List: After 32 years, Paula Kurashige is stepping down as dean at Punahou. Deans at the school cycle through with their students, starting with a class as freshman and remaining through their senior year. So in 32 years, Kurashige has graduated eight classes. Her last class graduates next Saturday. Her first included Barack Obama.

"I don't take any credit for Barry, or Barack, as I guess we call him now," she says. She won't take credit for any of her graduates. "I don't think anything I've given them can compare with all the fun they've added to my life."

Town Comes to Town: When it opened in 2002, the downtown Hawaii State Art Museum promised a museum café. The café was finished a year ago and has been sitting empty. Finally, it opens Tuesday for breakfast and lunch, dinner for private events only.

"I think it took some political back-scratching to get it opened," says Ed Kenney. "But I don't know anything about that. I just do food."

Part of the excitement is that the new café is an offshoot of Kenney's trendy Kaimuki eatery, Town.

Kenney gained his first reputation in 2003-04 when he ran a café at the nearby Richards Street YWCA. Says he, "I always promised I'd get back downtown someday."