McLain writes
songs for familyALEX McLAIN and the former Paulette Kane have been sweethearts since Stevenson Intermediate School days and have been married for 44 years. So it's not surprising that Alex, who has sung and played isle music professionally, decided to write a warm and tender song for her. "Kana'ana My Sweet" was his first attempt at songwriting. Then daughter Alette Kauka wanted a song written for her. He did one for her, then wound up writing songs for their other kids, Arlene Pratt, Alyson Pacarro and Arnold McLain, and for Arnold's wife, Rita. The words just kept flowing out, said Alex. With help from son-in-law, Dean Kauka, and Brian Boshard, musicians, and studio engineer Eric Jaegger, Alex made a CD and cassette compilation of all the songs entitled, "For the 'Ohana." It was truly a labor of love ...
Ruth's a sizzler
RUTH FERTEL, founder of Ruth's Chris Steak House chain, blew into town this week, and the little lady from New Orleans is as hot as one of her sizzling steaks. Fertel is here for the opening of a Ruth's in Lahaina this weekend. Randy Schoch has the franchise for the Maui Ruth's as he does for the Restaurant Row spot. Maui is Fertel's 66th, and she expects people to "get their kicks at Ruth's 66." But her business is far from a song as the chain grosses $200 million annually. Fertel says the secret of her success is starting with prime corn-fed beef. "The flavor is in the marbling," she says. The steaks are salted and peppered before cooking. Ruth opened her first steakhouse in '65. "I was butchering every day until I got bursitis from lifting heavy short loins," she said ...I LAUGHED so hard watching "There's Something About Mary" that I'll have to see it again to catch all of the great lines. Cameron Diaz as Mary has a wild and crazy bunch of guys on her trail who are nuts about her. She's so perfect in every way, it's easy to see why. The film contains profanity and gross behavior, but if the raunchiness keeps you away, you'll be missing one of the funniest movies in years ...
MICHAEL HIGASHI asked girlfriend Maile Matsuura to ride in the cart with him while he played golf at Oahu Country Club. At the 15th green they came upon a golf cart decorated with balloons, streamers, nonalcoholic champagne in a bucket with glasses, and a tape recorder playing "Endless Love," the couple's favorite song. Michael got down on a knee and proposed. Maile said yes. Michael's parents, Warren and Shirley, had decorated the cart with help from Estelle Kaya and pro shop workers ...
WEBCO Prez Greg Gomes tossed a birthday party for his wife, Frances, at Swiss Inn Sunday night. Greg is a key figure in the annual St. Louis Education Foundation Golf Event held yesterday at Makaha East ... Singers Walter Mookini and Alex McAngus were also dining in the Inn Sunday with their families ... Condolences to the family of Walter "Dutchy" Olsen, who died at 84 Tuesday. Dutchy was a nice guy and a familiar figure for decades at Honolulu Stadium, starting in the 1930s as a baseball player and later as a concessionaire ...
Mom's funny, too
"BINGO Tales and Other Dogma," the best of Star-Bulletin Managing Editor Dave Shapiro's Volcanic Ash columns, is on sale at bookstores and the Bulletin, call 525-8689. Volcanic Ash appears on Saturdays in the Bulletin. Dave's mom, Pearl, says: "It surprises me to find out after all these years that there's actually a sense of humor behind that sad-sack face." Byeeee ...
Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin in the streets
of downtown Honolulu during World War II, writes of
people, places and things every Saturday.
His columns appear online every Monday.