Wood Craft
THE Hawaiian Super Prix, which could be an $85 million windfall for the state economy, geared up Tuesday with a blessing of its offices at 600 Kapiolani by the Rev William Kaina. The race is Nov. 13 at Barbers Point. Race CEO Richard Rutherford and G.M. Phil Heard welcomed guests. DeSoto likes fast company
Councilman John DeSoto got a laugh as he read names of famous drivers such as Michael Andretti and Al Unser Jr., who will vie for $10 million in prize money, and wound up the list with his own name. Rep. Mark Moses and Dalton Tanonaka read state and city proclamations, respectively. Ex-49er star Russ Francis, a state sports official who has been working on the project for two years, said the 'Niners will be better this year. Guitarist Doug Shirley performed. The Prix people share the large office space with Tim Stanton's Pacific Rim Computers ...
'Menace,' Selleck shine
I watched "The Phantom Menace" with a boy who gave it a full 10 rating on a scale of 10. His younger sister thought it was "OK" and his mom gave it a 7 out of 10. I'll go with an 8. But the special effects are 100 on a scale of 10. They are fantastic ... Tom Selleck, as a fireman about to be divorced, is excellent in a supporting role in "The Love Letter." The interesting comedy is about several people in a small town who get worked up over a mysterious love letter. Kate Capshaw also stands out, as does Tom Everett Scott, who plays her young lover ...Michael Feinstein asked the crowd to request a Gershwin tune at his super Shell concert last weekend and two people seated far apart in different areas both yelled, "Someone to Watch Over Me." The two turned out to be Jimmy Borges and Shari Lynn, who will be singing Cole Porter songs next Saturday at Academy of Arts Theatre ... Salon Etc. co-owner Sue Hill had a birthday May 11 and says she hit the speed limit. Which speed limit, Sue? ...
It'll be a blast from the past Friday when singers Melveen Leed, Loyal Garner, Carole Kai and Nohelani Cypriano take the Sheraton Waikiki Ballroom stage to present "Waikiki, the Way it Was!" Kimo Kahoano is emcee. Augie Ray headlines an after-show dance party ... Mike Kelly wants to get Hawaiian members in his family tree together for a reunion June 26 at Ala Moana Park, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. He asks descendants of Samuel Kupihea and Mary Kahilulu Kaaikanaha, also known as Mele Hipa, to call him at 247-0498, Charley Warrington at 737-4420, or Thelma Gima, 685-3129 ...
Chef Alfred Vollenweider, owner of Alfred's, took a large group to dinner Sunday, including seven longtime employees. Vollenweider, being Swiss, took them to Swiss Inn, owned by Martin and Jeanie Wyss and Sharon Fujii ... Kahala Mandarin G.M. Jan Goessing has named Wolfgang Krueger resort manager and Christophe Vessaire Hoku's chef ... Kamehameha and UH grad Shanin Forsythe is new sales manager for Kaanapali Beach Hotel ...
UH's Jones, Sutherland win
If June Jones' UH football team can play as well as Jones can play golf, the 'Bows will have a winning season. Jones and Jon Sutherland, both 4 handicappers, teamed up to win the Francis Brown best-ball tourney low gross award at Waialae last Saturday with a 68. Taking low-net honors with 60 were Kuintin Uy and Fortunato Elizaga ... John Norris, with trumpet, sat in briefly with musicians Clyde Pound, Alwin Erub and Brien Matson and singer Loretta Ables at a recent dinner-dance at One Kalakaua Senior Living ...
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.