WITH sex and deception seeming to be the only topics in Washington, D.C., these days, why should Hawaii be lagging behind? Charges and denials are flying about there: "Did he or didn't he?" And with supposed friends taping each other, at the behest of a book promoter with an eye on a buck, can reading and reprinting diaries be far behind? ... Here in Hawaii, the advertising community is all up in arms over an invitation created by Marty Schiller's agency, The Schiller Group, to get other agencies to enter the 1998 Pele Awards competition. Many advertising folks found it demeaning that the theme of the invite was "Need an Ego Boost?" and the photo art to accompany it was a penis enlarger, a Wonderbra and a toupee. Say what you will about it -- good taste or not -- the piece got the attention of the ad people it was targeting ... Risque invite
in the D.C. mold
JUST back from a trip to New York was Diamond Head resident Jim Nabors, taking in the Hale 'Aina Awards party at the Kahala Mandarin. The hotel's restaurant, Hoku's, was named Restaurant of the Year in the Honolulu Magazine annual awards, and provided samples of restaurant items at tables throughout the reception area. Nabors had just seen "Ragtime," among other shows, in New York. I mentioned that all New York seemed to love the musical except the Times critic. Jim told how he was washing his hands in the theater restroom and another fellow doing likewise said, "Hi, Jim." Nabors didn't recognize him until he identified himself. "I'm Howell Raines." He's a Times editor. In fact, the paper's owners, some of whom Jim knows well, sat directly behind him at "Ragtime" and, he reports, "They loved it." ...
Separate but Choy's
PROMOTER Shep Gordon took Rolling Stones bassist Ron Wood into Sam Choy's Breakfast, Lunch and Crab for a late feed of Roasted Garlic Dungeness Crab, Sweet and Sour Catfish, ribs and Spam musubi. Brewmaster Dave Campbell gave the two a tour of the mini-brewery and, while Wood is a Guinness man, he allowed he did enjoy the Kiawe Honey Porter, and discussed how the honey is incorporated into the brewing process. (And you thought all these guys did was rock!) Meanwhile, Mick Jagger found himself dining at Sam Choy's Diamond Head restaurant Sunday night on Oven-Roasted Duck, Stuffed Opah and Seared Ahi Sashimi ... And showing how the Stones don't always roll in the same direction, drummer Charlie Watts and bassist Darryl Jones dined at La Mer ...WHAT'S in a name, or better yet, an acronym? A sign on South Beretania Street reads "Structural Analysis Group," which one supposes must acronymically be called SAG ... Emme Tomimbang, on the Big Isle to interview Senior Skins participant Arnold Palmer for her next "Emme's Island Moments" show, spotted John Landau, producer of "Titanic," relaxing at the Mauna Lani, basking in the glow of his Golden Globe Award for best motion picture of the year ...
Khan also rolling
SITAR artist Ustad Shujaat Khan has received rave reviews from both the Times of London and the New York Times. His performance here at the Academy of Arts last May was a sellout, so Friday he'll perform at the larger Orvis Auditorium. Prominent Hawaii residents Gulab and Indru Watumull know a great deal about the sitar and say Khan is the best ever. His free workshop is at Orvis tonight; musicians should bring instruments. Call 262-6077 ...
Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.