Wood Craft Ben Wood

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Thompsons give friends a super 25th-anniversary gift

WHEN Jack and Cha Thompson of Tihati Productions give dear friends a gift for their 25th wedding anniversary, it's bound to be something special. And it certainly was for SubZero/Wolf CEO Bobby Riggs and his wife, Rita, who marked their 25th with close friends in La Mer at the Halekulani Thursday. For their gift, the Thompsons brought in singers Jimmy Borges and Sonya Mendez and keyboardist Dan Del Negro, three of Hawaii's top musical artists, to perform. Sonya sang "I Love You for Sentimental Reasons" and Jimmy did "How Deep is the Ocean." The dapper crooner also wrote and sang a song about how generous Bobby is and how "Mary Poppins" Rita is, bringing laughter and some tears all around ...

THE FOUR SEASONS Resort Maui at Wailea and the Bungalows at Mauna Lani are listed as two of "The World's 100 Ultimate Escapes" in the Summer Issue of Robb Report. Villa Feltrinelli on the shore of Lake Garda in Gargnano, northern Italy, and restored by Robert Burns, is included in the Top 100. Burns is remembered in Hawaii for putting the Kahala Hilton in the limelight as G.M. in the 1960s, and then founding Regent International Hotels. The magazine says Burns sold his company to Four Seasons and then spent $30 million restoring the villa. Mussolini was held under house arrest at the villa in World War II ...

LOUIS VUITTON HOLDS FANCY FOOTWORK PARTY

MANY OF THE TOWN'S well-heeled women were at Louis Vuitton Ala Moana Saturday eve to check out how the luxury firm's master craftsman from Paris, Anthony Delos, 31, makes shoes. He started with the company at age 16. Friedrich Schwegler, LV's footwear director for North America, made the trip and discussed shoes with guests. Kahala Caterers put out fine pupu and poured champagne and other beverages ... Earlier Saturday, Neiman Marcus showcased a line of chocolate, Noka. "Chip" Ching, the store's epicure and gift galleries' chief, arranged to have the tasty chocolates served at a wine tasting. Noka's Katrina Merrem and Noah Houghton answered questions about their product. Neiman's wine gal Cynthia Fenner landed John Doty, head of JMD Beverages, to pour wine with Cherlynn Mattos ...