Hawaii
THE cover of the new Honolulu telephone directory, featuring rocks under water (?) as concocted by Hiroki Morinoue, continues to get people talking. Some agree with artist Tom Sellers that it's not even "art" but you know what they say about art being in the eye of the beholder? Thanks to the World Wide Web, the Star-Bulletin appears around the world online, and comes this response from Tom Foster, associate Dean of Grossmont College in San Diego County: "I haven't seen it yet, but from your description of the phone directory it sounds as they they may have something. That is, any time you can get people arguing about art, or if something even is art, then perhaps the artist has really touched a nerve and that's not all bad." He goes on to state a couple of opinions of his own: "If there were no disagreements then the whole world would be overrun with those sappy Wyland whales and, the gimmicky Robert Lyn Nelson above and under the water things." ... At least it’s not whale art
FURTHER proof, if it be needed, that the Lord moves in mysterious ways. Jarren Lea has come out with an inspirational CD entitled, "Lord You Are My God." Two songs are by Teddy Randazzo and Lea wrote the other eight himself, stating he found his faith after a friend gave him a cassette tape by the Imperials ... Former local girl Bette Midler is doing her bit to help beautify New York. She's contributed $250,000 of her own money and got others to kick in $4 million more to keep New York from auctioning off 115 city-owned lots which residents have transformed from trash-strewn eyesores into lush gardens. You'd think Mayor Rudy Giuliani would be delighted, but he wanted to sell the lots and get them back on the tax rolls ...
Slightly ahead of 2000
YOU know that Panasonic's slogan has long been, "Just slightly ahead of our time." The company has demonstrated it once again by holding a Kohala Coast party to celebrate the year 2000. EventWorks of L.A. was contracted to plan the party and hired Ken Anderson of Air Tugie Productions to first drop flowers and then drop skydivers onto the Hilton Waikoloa beach. And as the divers hit the ground with their "Panasonic 2000" banners flying high, fireworks filled the sky followed by the burning logo on a scaffolding reading "Panasonic, Digital 2000." Everyone from the head of Panasonic on down applauded the spectacle, even if it did come slightly ahead of its time ...FORMER isle public relations man Nick Sylvester and wife Barbara returned to Honolulu from their home in Fort Smith, Ark. -- don't ask -- and where else to go for dinner than Nicholas Nickolas, a spot seemingly named after him twice ... And speaking of people in public relations, I saw Elissa Josephsohn at the Diamond Head Theater showing of "42nd Street," and nearly didn't recognize her. I don't know what diet she's on, but it's working ...
Wong, two, three
GUESS who showed up for Viennese waltz lessons and donned his dancing shoes this week? None other than Honolulu Symphony Maestro Samuel Wong, that's who. Apparently he's getting ready to kick loose at Saturday's second annual Symphony Ball, "An Evening in Vienna." The ball features the symphony and Strauss, a silent auction, traditional Viennese cuisine and, yes, waltz dancing. Maestro Wong should be ready by Saturday. Anyone wishing to join him can call for tickets at 524-0815, Ext. 237 ...
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.