Hays shines
without sunNOW that the Green Bay Packers are out of the Super Bowl sweepstakes, people are thinking up new things to talk about in the land of the frozen tundra. A rumor making the rounds had it that Packer quarterback Brett Favre's girlfriend is eight months pregnant with his baby. The "girlfriend" in question is former Miss Hawaii USA Heather Hays, but she laughs off the report, saying there's no relationship to speak of: "We're just friends." And certainly no baby in the near future. Hays, who anchors the news on the NBC affiliate station in Green Bay, has just signed a lucrative new contract, complete with signing bonus. She admits that two feet of snow outside her door is a bit much to take, and says, "Send some Hawaiian sunshine when you get a chance" ...
AS soon as "Angela's Ashes," was written, I predicted its success. And not just because it was written by Frank McCourt, whom I'd met, and who's the brother of my old San Francisco pal, Mike McCourt. One day when I was in S.F., Rosie O'Donnell discovered the book and stated on her abysmal TV show that when they made a movie of the book, she wanted to play Angela. I told McCourt that if she did, I would refuse to see the movie. Well, she didn't. Quietly, the film version of the book has been wrapped with director Alan Parker casting the fine actress, Emily Watson, in the lead role. Watson, you may recall, was superb in "Breaking the Waves" and has just completed a film in which she plays Jacqueline du Pre, the cellist who contracted multiple sclerosis and died from it. Now I can't wait for "Angela's Ashes" to come out ...
What's new on Nuuanu
SHOULD be a great kick-off for 1999 on Nuuanu Avenue tonight. Down at Merchant Street both Murphy's and O'Toole's promise to be going strong, especially with Irish Hearts playing at O'Toole's. Moving mauka a block you'll find Hawaiian music at Punani's and the usual impromptu party at Hank's. Then, from 6 p.m. on, the Nuuanu Nights block party will be taking over the entire street from Hotel to Pauahi and the Piranha Brothers will be performing, emceed by 101.9's mistress of the cliche, Hudson, who says things like "one of my faves" and "twenty-four seven." Food will be available in the street as prepared by Glenn Chu of Indigo and Mahana Akina of Havana Cabana, and both establishments will be open for those who get tired touring art galleries in the area or just standing in the street ...THERE are 41 monitors sprinkled throughout Waialae providing video of the Sony Open this weekend, but no longer will it be necessary to cable up all 41 of them. Thanks to GTE Americast, only three antennas are necessary to provide digital video service to all the sites, including the Sony Jumbotron ...
Wok this way
THE announcements are out and ads have been running this week in the Star-Bulletin, so you'd best get tickets now for the "Dave Donnelly Stir-Fry" Feb. 3 at the Hawaii Theatre. A dozen or so people are rubbing their hands in anticipation of 1) putting me in my place, 2) getting even for real or imagined past wrongs, or 3) just being mean. The stir-fry -- you may think of it as a local-style roast -- is in recognition of 30 years of writing this column. It'll be emceed by Don Robbs of KHET-TV and is a benefit for Hawaii Public Television. It's a great way to help public television, sample cuisine from some of Hawaii's top restaurants, enjoy complimentary cocktails and see me get my comeuppance, all at the same time. Just remember -- I get the last word ...
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.