Former isle
broadcaster
still in playTHE e-mail was called, " A voice from the past," and it was that in all senses of the word. It came from Internet Star-Bulletin reader Hank Greenwald, who did radio play-by-play for Hawaii Islanders games from 1965. He's written a book called "This Copyrighted Broadcast," due out in April. In it he tells of his arrival here and the sage advice he got from a veteran sportswriter who promised him the greatest thing about baseball was that "you come out here every night and you see something you've never seen before." He was right, says Greenwald, adding in his copyrighted manner, "Years later we even had a warm night at Candlestick." Greenwald went on to broadcast the San Francisco Giants games until he retired a few years back, and now spends six months of the year in Naples, Fla., the other half in S.F. ...
I REALIZED that I'd left out Greenwald's name at my "Stir-Fry" at the Hawaii Theatre last month when retorting to jibes from isle broadcaster Jim Leahey. I mentioned that many play-by-play men before Leahey went on to big things on the mainland, mentioning Al Michaels, Harry Kallas, Mel Proctor, Ken Wilson and Larry Biehl. Greenwald certainly deserves to be up there with them, particularly since, like Leahey, his son has gone into broadcasting as well, and for two years Doug Greenwald did the Canefires games in the late Hawaiian Winter League. One more example of Greenwald's ad lib ability came when his broadcast partner with the Giants was trying to remember an incident concerning a knuckleball pitcher, but couldn't recall if it were Joe Niekro or brother Phil Niekro. Greenwald stopped matters cold when he observed, "You know what they say -- all Niekros look alike" ...
Edgy and Emme
FILMMAKER Edgy Lee is in the thick of historical research for her new documentary (working title, "Waikiki"), and has begun shooting. She'd love to find some home movies of Waikiki or Kapiolani Park in the old days -- call her at 599-6403 if you have any ... And Emme Tomimbang has completed work on an hour-long special, "Waikiki, Then and Now," which will be telecast Friday at 9 p.m. and again Saturday at 2 p.m. on KHON-TV. Jimmy Borges co-hosts and the two look back on Waikiki in the 1960s with bits on the performers then on hand there, including, Don Ho and the Society of Seven who are still going strong in Waikiki ...MUSIC also is very big downtown, as we've observed before. Friday night was a good example. We stopped by the Honolulu Club to hear the DeShannon Higa quartet with singer Rocky Brown at Alan T.'s restaurant. (Brown will also appear Wednesday evening at Brew Moon and at an April Fool's Day lunchtime concert at Amfac Center Plaza.) From there it was to Havana Cabana for the V.K.s, and O'Toole's to hear Irish Hearts and watch the spirited step-dancing of audience members, including one guy who moved at about the same speed as Michael Flatley in "Lord of the Dance" ...
Head to head
KORL Radio has been sold to the same group which owns KQMQ and KKHN, and Kimo Kahoano has been signed to do the morning show with an island music format. This will put him opposite former KINE morning partner Brickwood Galuteria, now on KCCN/KINE with Frank B. Shaner. It's election time again for people who like Hawaiian music, as they have to choose between them ...
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.