Hawaii
WHEN Osaka D.J. Kamasami Kong was in Honolulu recently, he was asked by a nightclub promoter how to get Japanese visitors in to see his show. Kong suggested having a smoker's show called "Smoker's Paradise," catering to the Japanese tourists who smoke -- 35 percent of adults and half the men. A deal could be made with a Japanese tobacco company to promote the show in Japan and hire young ladies in uniforms to pass out sample cigarette products for those attending the show. Kong, who doesn't smoke but who recognizes the Japanese penchant for it, felt ahead of his time, when on Monday the Mainichi Daily News came out with a story headlined " 'Trippin' smokers to breathe easy." It went on to detail how Nikko Travel will offer tours for smokers, especially on carriers which still allow smoking, or perhaps on special charters. Many now are passing on a trip to Hawaii, and with Waikiki nightclub business down among visitors from Japan, this may be a way of increasing it without offending non-smokers -- creating "Smokers Only" shows ... Idea could catch fire
More than 1,000 people attended the Mrs. Hawaii pageant at the Ilikai, and saw the title go to Mrs. Koko Marina, Dede Guss. The mother of three beat out 21 other married women to take home the title and more than $25,000 in gifts and prizes. She'll represent Hawaii in the Mrs. America pageant, slated for the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Sept. 14 ...
Jill of all trades
IT was a snap talking former child prodigy pianist Virginia Lum into performing a special concert July 14 at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. She'll be in town anyway, to celebrate the 80th birthday of her mom, Muriel Lum-Pang. "She had me when she was 58," deadpans the versatile Lum. In addition to her piano work, Lum is a trial-appellate attorney at the Department of Justice where she defends our tax dollars by representing the U.S. against disgruntled airplane builders, representing the FBI, etc. She was also instrumental in planning U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno's "Kids Day at DOJ" with her own three budding attorneys, 10-year-old Colette Cecile (math whiz, pianist, flautist), Marielle Christine (8-year old artist-violinist), and Justin Robert (5-year old cellist/karate kid.) Lum will play both solo and with the Gailliard String Quartet in a Chamber Music Hawaii Concert at the Academy of Arts at 7 p.m. She boards a plane that same evening to Salt Lake City to play a solo piano concert in the acoustically perfect Mormon Tabernacle Hall. Then it's back to D.C. and an appearance in court the next day. Whew, I'm exhausted ...DON'T think of figure skating champ Kristi Yamaguchi as a "Party of Five" type gal. When she dined at Maui's Sansei Seafood Restaurant in Kapalua this week she came in with a party of 26 ... And word is getting around. When hot New York chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten got off the plane in Maui, his first words to pal Shep Gordon were, "Take me to Sansei." Owner D.K. Kodama was thrilled, since he'd never met Vongerichten before ...
Winning isn't everything
WHEN Roy E. Disney's "Pyewacket" comes across the finish line in the Transpacific Yacht Race, the defending champ's boat will be greeted in championship fashion whether it wins or not. Aaron Placourakis is hosting the dock party for Disney with champagne, maitais and cuisine from Sarento's Top of the I ...
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