Hawaii
Yacht blessed
with new nameTWO years ago, Roy E. Disney had Kahu William Kaina fly to L.A. to bless his yacht, Pyewacket, as it was about to embark on the 1977 Transpacific Yacht Race. Disney emerged victorious, so naturally when he built yet another Pyewacket, he called on Kahu Kaina to do another blessing. But when the Hawaii Kahu found out that the name was that of the Siamese cat in "Bell, Book and Candle," a comedy about witchcraft, he demurred. Kahu ended up giving the boat a Hawaiian name of his own, Kamakualani, which he says means "Heavenly Father." ... There've been some major changes in the life of Carole Whang Schutter. The ex-wife of attorney David Schutter and widow of millionaire playboy Monte Goldman, who shot and killed himself, Carole has become a born-again Christian. She's just written a book called "Miracles Happen," sub-titled, "A Prayer Guide for Desperate People." Her message is simple -- no matter how bad things are, there's always hope ...
Books and more books
THERE'VE been a spate of books with a Hawaii base of late. Former isle sportscaster and anchorman Bob Basso has written, "If B.S. Were Concrete, I'd Be Route 66." One chapter deals with KHON in the pre-Joe Moore days when it was, in Basso's words, "the world's most inept news station." Considering he was the anchorman, that's saying something. He also devotes a chapter of Eddie Sherman. Professional courtesy? ... Librarian Dan Cisco has written the encyclopedic "Hawaii Sports," containing more than most people would ever need know on the subject ... And Dr. Terry Shintani's new "HawaiiDiet" has the interesting advice on the cover, "Eat all you want." Is that why so many Hawaiians are nicknamed "Slim"? ...THERE was no mention of it in his obit yesterday, but flamboyant producer Allan Carr, who died of cancer at 62, used to have a home on Diamond Head. The producer of the movie "Grease," and the Broadway show, "La Cage aux Folles," used to tell folks he was four years younger than his actual age. Tres Hollywood ... And sorry to hear of the death yesterday morning of Mary LaBochetta, mother of Vicky Marino, whose husband, Habilitat founder Vinny Marino, describes her as "like a second mom to me." She suffered from Alzheimer's ...
SINGER Amy Gilliom will be missing all the Fourth of July festivities this year. She's taking off Saturday for Japan with the Brothers Cazimero for a five-city tour. Meanwhile, singing partner Willie K will be putting the finishing touches on his and Amy's third album together. The two will team up again for a show at the Aquarium on Aug. 5 and then head for a gig at Whittier College in California two days later ...
Jet-setter
MAUI businessman Jim Hickey has to do an awful lot of inter-island travel, jetting back and forth between Honolulu and the Valley Isle almost daily. But you can look for him to make trips even more frequently now, and not just to Honolulu but to Las Vegas, the West Coast and Tahiti. Hickey was the high bidder in the Symphony Ball auction, snapping up the unlimited First Class travel pass anywhere Hawaiian Airlines flies for one year. Needless to say, Symphony Exec Director Michael Tiknis was ecstatic when the bidding closed out at $9,500. Meanwhile, Hickey is probably shopping for suntan lotion and contemplating his next trip to Papeete ...
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: ddonnelly@starbulletin.com