Hawaii
Open pretty exciting
for golfWHILE a great many golf tournaments are real snoozers, the British Open of 1999 will go down as one of the most exciting ever. It was repleat with great shots, horrible decisions, unreal recoveries and a three-man playoff that looked like it was being played by Larry, Curly and Mo, with all three missing the first two fairways and the first two greens. The Scottish fans were among some of the most boorish ever shown on TV, much like their soccer hooligan brethren, even doing "The Wave" as the three contenders strolled down the 18th fairway. A Scotsman, Paul Lawrie, won on his home soil after waiting more than two hours from the time he finished his round until the playoff began. The delay was largely due to the misadventures of Frenchman Jean Van Velde, who looked for all the world like a handsome version of actor Jacque Tati on the links. One of the commentators gave up the patented TV impartiality and called his decisions stupid. But exciting? You bet -- about 100 time more exciting to me than the women's soccer win over China in the World Cup ...
AFTER learning about the blind golfer making a hole-in-one on TV, former legislator Terrance Tom, himself sightless, went to the driving range to try his luck at hitting the ball. When word of his new adventure reached Maxine Murashige of the Aloha Golf Shop, she visited Tom at his office, and left him a gift -- a Callaway Titanium Driver. She also left him a note, written in Braille ...
Kennedy memories
THE news of the missing plane piloted by John F. Kennedy Jr. brought back a rush of memories for isle actor Don Pomes. It was about 35 years ago, some eight months after the assassination of JFK, that John-John, as little John. was then called, attended a performance of "The Fantasticks" off-Broadway with his mother. A few days later, it was reported in Earl Wilson's column that John-John, when asked what he liked best about the show, said, "The Indian." That was the role Pomes was playing at the time, and he put the column in his scrapbook ...THERE'LL be a contingent of about 200 USC alumni who'll be traveling in style when they come to the islands for the Bruins' season-opening football game against the UH Rainbow Warriors. These alums are taking a one-week cruise around the islands on the S.S. Independence, leaving on Aug. 28 and returning on game day. When the ship docks at Pier 10, the alums will be met by the USC Marching Band, who'll be here to play at the game. The group will then enjoy a two-day post-game tour of Oahu, hoping to have a victory under their belts ...
THE Stanley Kubrick film, "Eyes Wide Shut," is an eye-opener, full of sex and nudity. Oddly enough, the one person you might expect to be heavily into it, star Tom Cruise, is scarcely involved at all. Best role in the film is a cameo by Alan Cumming, who played the randy emcee in the "Cabaret" revival ...
Microsofties
IF you've been reading about the Microsoft billions, you might like to know that Hawaii is benefiting a tad from it. Nathan Myhrvold, the company's technological guru, is taking a leave of absence and is planning to build a home on a 38-acre parcel of Kona Coast land north of the Mauna Kea that he just bought for $11.2 million. Paul Allen, second only to Bill Gates among Microsoft billionaires, reportedly already owns a $12 million home in Kohala ...
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