Wood Craft
Kahauanu strikes
up the bandIt's a shame the crowd was small for the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame concert Wednesday because producer-director Kahauanu Lake, the Royal Hawaiian Band and the band's friends put on an evening of enjoyment at the Hawaii Theatre. The band was inducted into the hall and, under the direction of Aaron Mahi, was at its best. It performed spirited marches, Hawaiian favorites and showcased its past and present singers. The band's six-man glee club and its swinging Hawaiian and hapa-haole music of the '30s, '40s and '50s was a big hit. Steel guitarist Scott Furushima's vocal of "No Huhu" was a comic delight. Other members of the group included Mahi on bass, Kaipo Asing on uke, Daniel Asao and Derek Kami on guitars and drummer Greg Shigetani. Hula dancers were Jody Helelani Uesugi and Karena Kauahi. Choral groups included: Anuhea Brown's superb Pualeilani Concert Group, the Kamehameha Alumni Glee Club, Hawaii Ecumenical Chorale and the Kamehameha Schools Concert Glee Club. Harry Soria and Ed Michelman emceed ...
Wood crafts Brita golf victory
JUDGE Jim Burns and Don Ho were hot on my heels but a brilliant front nine allowed me to hold on and win the fourth annual Brita Wood Memorial Golf Tourney by three strokes at the lush Links at Kuilima last Saturday. I finished with a net 68. Burns was second and Ho, a Brita co-champ in '97, was third. Dee Pavelka and Haumea Hebenstreit were fourth and fifth, respectively. Emme Tomimbang, a newcomer to the game, was in the hot Burns, Ho, Hebenstreit foursome and played with great enthusiasm for someone on flu medication. She placed last in the field of 35. The awards party at Sonny, Miki and Mahi Beamer's Kawela property was a smash, with Cha Thompson's hula a highlight. Cha's husband, Jack "Tihati," finished in a 10th-place tie with Randy Cadiente. Alice Clay was head scorekeeper and also danced hula as did Robin Midkiff, who beat me out of $10. But that's another story. Other score keepers were Stan Atkins, Willie Loo and Frank Steinmiller. The hard-working house band was made up of Mihana Souza, brothers Charley and Levi Kuheana and Travis Pajimola. Nina Kealiiwahamana and Mahi Beamer at the piano enthralled late-stayers with their songs ...Emme emceed L'Uraku's third anniversary party Thursday. The restaurant was brightly decorated by the art and 52 colorful umbrellas placed high on the walls. Furusato's Kiyoshi Matsumoto did the arty decor and made sushi. Chikara Yanagiya is president of L'Uraku and Furusato and attended. L'Uraku G.M. Mieko Kuromiya greeted guests. Chef Hiroshi Fukui was applauded by chef Alan Wong, who marks the fourth anniversary of his eatery tomorrow. Chuck Furuya poured wine, Dean Okimoto of Nalo Greens tossed salad and Hapa played music ...
Price is right
Larry Price may show even more enthusiasm next Saturday at the Perry and Price breakfast show because members of my Roosevelt Class of '49 will be in the Sheraton Hanohano Room audience for our 50th reunion. Larry says they are insulating the room for our arrival. Larry is much younger than we 49ers but we are proud of the former roly-poly youngster who grew up to become the UH head football coach and had standout military, athletic and educational careers along the way ... Don't forget Rosemary Clooney at the Blaisdell Concert hall tonight...
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.