Wood Craft Ben Wood

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Figaro rolls about on Segway in HOT’s ‘Barber of Seville’

Stephen Powell, who made his Hawaii Opera Theatre debut last night as Figaro in "Barber of Seville," is already imagining other uses for the Segway he rides in the show. He wanted to use it to arrive at Tiffany Waikiki's invited "Meet the Stars" party after tomorrow's matinee. But director Larry Edelson, who crafted this "comic" component for the opera, insists the Segway stay parked at Blaisdell Concert Hall until after Tuesday's final "Seville" performance ...

Becoming a teenager is a big thing for Halsey Smythe, and her mom, Jackie, president of Smythe & Associates, is seeing that her 13th birthday is something she won't forget. Things started with dinner at Roy's Monday, Halsey's special day. A barbecue with her friends is scheduled on the beach this Monday. Then Halsey, Tanya David, Emily Hamocon and Maddie Wilson will check into Embassy Suites for a girls' night on the town. Jackie is chaperone, along with former Mrs. Hawaii Aulii Graf, who danced for Don Ho and later served on his staff. Maddie is the daughter of Lissa and Artie Wilson. Artie is a former UH basketball player and is now on the TV broadcast team for UH basketball games. He also scores points as a Realtor. Halsey's dad is Maui singer Kalani Smythe, Melveen Leed's nephew ... "Broadway Babies" cast member Ana Malia Kia, well versed in Hawaiian chant, hula and song, celebrated her 12th birthday Feb. 7. Her mom is Realtor Andrea Kia ...

Mayor honors Jim Nicholson with award

Attorney Jim Nicholson received the Honolulu Hero Award from Mayor Mufi Hannemann at "on the beach" activities Feb. 8. Big Jim, chairman of the State Labor Relations Board, was honored for his athletic, academic and community service. He was a star NFL tackle, mostly for Kansas City, after standout football careers at Michigan State and Saint Louis High. He was also a top basketball player at Saint Louis ... Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and wife Callista went whale-watching Valentine's Day off Maui on Pacific Whale Foundation's catamaran Ocean Odyssey. They observed multiple breaches and a pod that circled the cat ... This e-mail note arrived Wednesday from local boy Bill Olds, a civilian contractor in Iraq: "I am here at Taji where the 4 soldiers from the 25th were killed. Not good" ...