Hawaii
JUNE is traditionally the month people start thinking about weddings, particularly of the "Royal" variety. No, we're not talking about Prince Edward and Sophie here, but a local royal wedding with Woody Allen overtones. To explain: Patrick Fujioka and Colleen Sullivan have tied the knot, and both appear in Lisa Matsumoto's "The Princess and the Iso Peanut" opening July 9 at Diamond Head Theatre. Fujioka plays King Yuichi, and Sullivan is Princess Alexis. You'll have to see the show to appreciate it fully ... Royal nuptials of our own
AND about to take on a new name -- hell, take on a name, period -- is Hudson, the mono-monikered morning D.J. on Star 101.9. She's wearing a rock on her ring finger, a gift from boyfriend Steve Hott. Hott hasn't actually proposed in so many words, but said he wanted to make sure the ring fit before he did so. Hey, Independence Day would be a great time to take on a new life partner. The two met when Hott was a Chippendale dancer and Hudson interviewed him on the air. He must have had all the right answers. Hott is now the lead singer for Joe Rockstar ...
INCIDENTALLY, it's that time of year again for attorney Brad Coates, selected as "Hawaii's Best Divorce Attorney" by Honolulu magazine and author of the book, "Divorce With Dignity." Each year he figures it appropriate for his law firm to send out "Happy Independence Day" cards -- trying to put the idea of freedom into someone's head? ...
Bushed
THE Fourth of July always means one of Hawaii's best known expatriates, Guido Salmaggi, will be returning from his Florida home to sing the National Anthem for the Outrigger Canoe Club Regatta as well as the annual Pearl Harbor AT&T Hawaii fireworks spectacular. He's been belting "The Star-Spangled Banner" at both these events for the past 15 years. Guido got to sing the anthem for Florida Gov. Jeb Bush two weeks ago, which made three members of the Bush family who've heard him, ex-President George Bush and wife Barbara being the others. He's hoping that if George Jr. gets elected he can make it a fourth, bringing to 11 the number of presidents he's regaled with his rendition ...WHILE we're on the subject of presidential hopefuls (if "hopeful" isn't overstating it here), localite Mary Winpenny found herself standing elbow-to-elbow with Steve Forbes while collecting an award at a business function in Washington and took the opportunity to castigate him for the scathing evaluations of Hawaii's business climate printed in Forbes magazine. Winpenny, as publisher of Island Business, figured that title gave her credentials to accost Forbes and suggest he visit the islands himself to witness progress being made here in health-care and high-tech fields. She even offered to be his personal guide, and he made note of that fact on her card ...
Happy 40th
ON Saturday, the 40th crossing of the Transpacific Yacht Race gets underway from L.A. and once again, Roy E. Disney, nephew of Walt, will be sailing Pyewacket. But this is Pyewacket III. He won the race two years ago aboard the second of his yachts named for the Siamese cat in "Bell, Book and Candle" (not a Disney film, incidentally) but figured he needed a sleeker version this year. His biggest competition will be the 2-year-old Zephyrus, which might have won last year if it hadn't broken a mast ...
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.