Dodging those
slings, arrowsWITH the new year barely underway, I already feel like Charley Brown. You know, the musical one who keeps complaining, "Why is everybody always pickin' on me?" ... The first complaint came from a gent who accused me of a racial slur for calling Pat Boone "white bread" in an item mentioning he'd written "This Land is Mine," the theme from "Exodus." Unnecessary in light of his image, perhaps, but certainly not meant as a racial slur ... Then an immigration officer wrote to reply to my item about billionaire Richard Branson having to land his balloon here, cutting short his around-the-world voyage. I had written that Branson was taken aback when an immigration official demanded to see his travel papers. This officer who wrote me made it clear he wasn't speaking for the Immigration Service, but was "pleased to say that INS does not waive inspections of people arriving from foreign places simply because they are among the rich and famous." Fair enough, but when they crash land a balloon, it would seem obvious they weren't trying to arrive here illegally or under cover ...
Moore, the unmerrier
THE easy pickin's continue: Channel 2 anchorman Joe Moore took exception to last month's item about KHON-TV's news ratings again being a strong No. 1 as were the Fox Network shows. Moore states his past comments regretting his station becoming a Fox affiliate had nothing to do with news ratings or his job security. "That was never a concern," wrote the confident Moore, adding that his lament was "and remains" what he considers an abundance of low quality shows on the Fox schedule. Still, KHON remains No. 1 and H.L. Mencken's immortal doctrine remains true: "Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public" ...AFTER the item here last year -- still sounds funny, doesn't it? -- about Kelvin Ro eyeing the old Willows site on Hausten Street, the word is starting to spread. Ro closed his Kahala Moon Cafe in Kahala Mall on Dec. 31 and now is trying to work his way through the maze of bureaucratic paperwork and permits that would try the patience of Job. Many kamaaina in particular would love to see him cut through all the red tape and reopen the much beloved restaurant. Friends are also suggesting he bring back strolling musicians -- Puamana was there for years -- and the eatery's world-famous coconut cake ...
THEIR names may mean nothing to older readers, but the young crowd at the Wave Waikiki certainly took notice when actors Grant Show ("Melrose Place") and Sean Patrick Flannery dropped by with artist Wyland and yes, had a whale of a good time ... The family of Wally Yee and wife Violet are holding a double 80th birthday party for the two Sunday at Sea Fortune Chinese Seafood Restaurant at King and Maunakea. Hosting the festive occasion will be Raymond and Olivia Yee and their children, Ray Jr., Sharon, Raynell, Robin, Dean and Roxanne ...
Cold but happy
FORMER Honolulu newsman David Butwin has been writing free-lance travel pieces in the 25 years or so he's been away from the islands. He's the newest contributing editor of Modern Maturity, which is billed as having the biggest magazine circulation in the world. For a story in the current issue, Butwin returned to his native St. Paul, Minn., to bring back memories of the winter carnival he liked so much as a youngster in those frigid climes. Butwin claims he enjoys that atmosphere every bit as much as a beach, which is I guess why he no longer lives in Hawaii ...
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.
His columns run Monday through Friday.Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.