Hawaii
FLASH: Gov. Ben Cayetano caught with his pants down! Well, sort of. The governor was an honored guest at Friday's big "Aloha" gala at the Four Seasons Hotel in Osaka, Japan, and when introduced by the emcee, he was nowhere to be found. Heads craned to look, but he wasn't in his seat. He was announced a second time by the emcee, now somewhat puzzled, but again failed to take the podium. After the third introduction, Gov. Cayetano flew through the door and took the mike, apologizing and mumbling something like, "You wouldn't believe where I was." He was in the restroom when the intro came. You know what they say about politics - timing is everything ... Gov. almost a no-show
SEEMS the governor was in the receiving line at the black-tie event, along with wife Vicky and Big Isle Mayor Steven Yamashiro, Maui Mayor James Apana and Kauai Mayor Marianne Kusaka. I guess he figured he had time for a quick trip to the benjo before getting introduced. The Brothers Cazimero played and dinner was prepared by Hawaii's Philippe Padovani and ambassador Tom Foley, in his speech, said while he has to represent all states equally, it gave him particular pleasure that Hawaii is one of them. Disc jockey Kamasami Kong figures he had the best seat in the house. He was seated between Mie and Kei, two "lovely and leggy" Japanese singers and dancers, known collectively as Pink Lady. He reports that the governor and HVB honcho Tony Vericella made a special visit to their table to meet the women and invite them to Hawaii ...
Political magic?
SITTING at adjoining tables at the John Hirokawa "Magic of Polynesia" show last week were Mayor Jeremy Harris and former congressman Cec Heftel. The two spent time chatting after the show, and it's almost a certainty that politics came up. Heftel is moving back to Hawaii after selling his broadcast empire on the mainland, and he's a tireless workaholic. It wouldn't surprise me to see him run for office again, even though he's in his 70s. The two also chatted with Hirokawa after the show. Each of them could use some magic - Harris with his budget and Heftel with a potential campaign ...CITY Councilman Mufi Hannemann refutes remarks printed here of Mayor Harris stating that the councilman wanted to eliminate his entire staff, leaving him to answer his own phone and type his own letters. "As is his penchant of late," writes Hannemann, "nothing could be further from the truth." Hannemann says seven positions in the mayor's office would have gone untouched, and of the nine cuts suggested, seven of them were already vacant positions. Hannemann adds that he agrees with my "voodoo economics" comment about real property taxes going up as the value comes down. Testimony on tax rates will be heard Wednesday at the Council meeting ...
Check spears at the door
PEOPLE entering the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington today were doing double takes. There, on the steps of the Capitol, was a troupe of singing, dancing, bare-chested, spear-carrying, scarily painted Polynesian warriors. It was a performance put together through Polynesian Cultural Center president Lester Moore and U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye. Let's hope they didn't give Sen. Strom Thurmond a heart attack thinking they're Down Under lobbyists ...
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.