Genoa Keawe’s death is huge loss for Hawaii's music world

Genoa Keawe's death Monday at age 89 is one of the biggest losses ever for Hawaiian music. I first saw the incredible falsetto singer in the very early 1950s when my UH pals, Archie Iwanaga and Hank McKeague, and I scraped up a few bucks and hit Sierra Cafe in Kaimuki. Besides Hawaiian, she and her group, which included a young Gabby Pahinui and Violet Pahu, sang hapa-haole songs and would also swing it on pop numbers during those Sunday afternoon sessions. The beer was cheap, but Genoa was priceless, just as she was right up to the end. Condolences to her family ...

Phyllis Zerbe marked a birthday Friday. Friends took her to the Halekulani for dinner. At her fifth birthday party, kids in her Piikoi Street neighborhood were given American flags to wave. And the table was decorated in patriotic red, white and blue colors. After all, It was George Washington's birthday, too ... Monica Bridle and Deane Salter, who first met in second grade in Newport Beach, Calif., married at Malaekahana Jan. 5 and honeymooned in Fiji. Monica owns Belina Communications and is a part-time evening hostess at Murphy's. Deane is the DOE's psychologist for all the elementary and middle schools that feed into Kahuku High, and for the high school as well. His family moved here when he was a child. The couple re-met at UC-Santa Barbara and love bloomed ...

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Heart Ball guests receive perks

Iz is everywhere. Guests at the jam-packed Heart Ball Saturday night at Hilton Hawaiian Village received a few extras. As they departed they were given a copy of "IZ Voice of the People," written by Rick Carroll and published by Bess Press. Another nice touch was a coupon for discounts from presenting sponsor Macy's, a strong Heart Ball supporter. Macy's has created the ballroom decor for the past several years. Macy's Hawaii and Guam chief, Deena Nichols, was her fashionable self at the affair. She also danced up a storm to great music by John Kolivas' Honolulu Jazz Quartet. Ball co-chairs Robert Hiam and Michael Ruley welcomed guests. Carole Kai participated in opening ceremonies and Danny Kaleikini sang the prayer in Hawaiian beautifully and praised U.S. troops ...

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