Free Spirit sails
Mansfield homeBACK in January of 1997, Brian and Janet Mansfield were enjoying an isle vacation from their mainland home when they were assaulted in a robbery attempt at a North Shore bus stop. Both sustained injuries, but were assisted by VASH (Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii) and were invited back for a return visit the following year as part of VASH's "return victim" program, to give them the vacation they missed. This time they had a great adventure, topped by a sunset cruise aboard the Free Spirit Sailing Club's 48-foot tri-hull. Capt. Gordy Morris is a big VASH supporter and has frequently offered complimentary sails for victims. Brian Mansfield died last year and one of the first calls his wife made after notifying family members was to VASH director Darrell Large. And on Friday, Janet Mansfield and her two sons will be aboard the "Free Spirit" off Waikiki, this time scattering Brian's ashes on his final sail ...
AUTHOR and public speaker Ron Martin had better get used to the fact he may no longer get in the last word. Head of a retail consulting firm called "Success Dynamics," Martin hasn't lived up to his firm's name in his personal life. After vowing "never" to marry again following four divorces and the death of his fifth wife, he's breaking that vow to take another one. This time, Martin will be marrying Masae Yoshii, a longtime friend and partner who's joining him in business, as well as pleasure. He knows how to pick a bride, too -- Yoshii has been top salesperson for Ben Bridge in Ala Moana Center, the diamond store ...
Frequent flyer smiles
HAVING viewed her half-hour show called "On the Road," which aired Saturday on KITV, writer/producer/host Cynthia Yip is already planning her next project. The "Road" she just traveled was with the HVCB in both California and Japan. Chefs Sam Choy, Jean Marie Josselin and George Mavrothalassitis were in the California segment demonstrating isle cuisine. In Japan, HVCB honcho Tony Vericella was joined by Miss Honolulu Tricia Fujikawa and Miss Hawaii USA Trini Kaopuiki. Now Yip and her cameraman, Phil Girodi, are off on a much different trip -- they're heading to Laos and Bangladesh with the Aloha Medical Mission to do a TV special featuring the mission's work in treating people from those third world countries. They leave next week ...MEMBERS of the Hawaiian community have objected to the hiring of a non-Hawaiian to portray the young Duke Kahanamoku in a film about Doris Duke. Never mind that the actor chosen, Brian Stokes Mitchell, has impeccable acting credentials in TV, film and on Broadway, where he was nominated for a Tony in "Ragtime." The local theater community is proud we've reached the point where racially blind casting is a reality, and a Japanese can play a role normally played by a haole or vice versa, as long as they prove effective. Locals might do well to see how Mitchell performs before castigating him for taking the role ...
Simple Green payoff
ONE way to ensure victory in a boat race is to sponsor all the boats. Well, Todd Bradley of Simple Green plays cleanly, as befits his product, but he did manage to sponsor the winner and three runners-up in the second Kanaka Ikaika Ocean Kayak one man canoe race Sunday. Walter Guild won the eight-mile race, followed by Mike Judd, Kai Bartlett and 17-year-old Karel Tresnak Jr., all Simple Green-sponsored racers. The next race will be tougher, with 200 paddlers competing on Jan. 30 in another eight-mile race from Hawaii Kai to the Outrigger Canoe Club ...
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.