Hawaii
MOVE over, Gino, here comes Pumpkin. When he was mayor, Frank Fasi used to revel in taking "First Dog" Gino on pet walks. Making his public debut on Sunday is Pumpkin, the new golden retriever who has the run of the house at the home of Mayor Jeremy Harris and wife Ramona. He'll be joining more than 1,000 pets being walked by their owners in the Hawaiian Humane Society's ninth annual PetWalk. After the walk in Kapiolani Park, which begins at 8 a.m., there'll be other events such as the "Walk the Dog" obstacle course. I like this one, where owners take their pets on a leash and, carrying both a bag of groceries and a glass of water, must open a gate, walk to a mailbox, pick up a newspaper and return. The one who spills the least amount of water wins. The other feature I'd like to see is the demonstration by the Red Cross of "mouth to snout resuscitation." ... Kapiolani goes
to the dogs
FORMER isle newscaster Bob Basso has shown through a number of "self help" books that he has a wild sense of humor. His newest book, due out shortly on Sligo Press, is called "Confessions of an American Speaker: If B.S. Were Concrete, I'd be Route 66." He took the subtitle from his dad's dying words when Basso asked what the old man really thought of him ...
Off to see the lizard
SINCE creating Moki the Gecko picture books, author and performer Bruce Hale has a new lizard coming out in print: "Chet Gecko, Private Eye." Harcourt Brace will publish a series of mysteries featuring the P.I. and Harvey Entertainment has signed to develop them into an animated TV series ... That reminds me of the comic character Corky came up with for his late strip, "Aloha Eden." A recurring, tap-dancing lizard was named Jose Gecko ...LOCALITE Marie Helvin, now a famous fashion model in London, was written up in the Sunday Times of London for her visit to Scotland's Holy Island. She'd read about the island, site of a multifaith retreat center run by Tibetan Buddhists, and booked to go there. She told Lama Yeshe Losal, "It's so beautiful and peaceful here. It reminds me of my home in Hawaii." Later, after Marie planted a cherry tree in memory of her sister, Suzon, who died young in a tragic accident, she told a nun there, "I swear I just heard Suzon say, 'Me ke aloha pumehana,' which is Hawaiian for 'Until we meet again.' " The nun, who'd planted a tree for her sister, who also died young, replied, "How strange. My sister Shirley just said, 'About bloomin' time, too.' " ...
IF you're a regular viewer of "Days of Our Lives," keep a close watch in the near future, and you should see scenes from Hawaii. The cast and crew was gathered over the weekend at the Ihilani Resort, doing some filming ... G.M. Charlie Park and Sanford Nojima at the Mauna Kea were thrilled to see the Robb Report, in its "Best of the Best" issue, rate the Mauna Kea as the No. 2 luxury resort in the world, just behind Tahiti's Bora Bora Lagoon Resort ...
Long Beach jam
WHAT an entertainment lineup promoters had over the Memorial Day weekend at the Aloha Concert Jam Festival across the bay from the Queen Mary in Long Beach, Calif. For a bargain $19-$29 per day, you could enjoy the offerings of Cecilio & Kapono, Hapa, Amy Gilliom & Willie K, Peter Moon Band, Halau O Na Ali'i, Donna & Kaui Brown, Shaka, Kalika, Island Breeze, Merv Oana & Diamond Head, Kua'ana, Keni, Mokokai Jubilee, Kimo Harris & Friends and more ...
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.