Hawaii
AFTER a long career as organist at St. Andrew's Cathedral and former senior master at Iolani School, John McCreary chose to retire. Well, that didn't last long. New York gig for organist
He's now taking a vacation from retirement and on Sept. 1 will become interim organist and director of music at St. James Episcopal Church on Madison Avenue in New York City. It's a prestigious position, and McCreary has agreed to stay on until a permanent replacement is named. Only then can he return to continue puttering in his Nuuanu garden. St. James, incidentally, has quite a music program with eight choirs, four childrens' choirs, three adult choirs and even a handbell choir. McCreary will also be in charge of the "Friends of Music" program at St. James, after which he may be a candidate for their infirmary. (Old jazz joke.) ...
WHILE we're on Madison Avenue, the winner in Rafael Hotels' anecdote contest showed that group owner George Rafael (onetime G.M. of the Hawaiian Regent) and islander Ray Bickson, now G.M. of the Mark Hotel on Madison Ave., continue to demonstrate the Aloha Spirit in N.Y. The winning entry, from one Richard Sanderson of Brighton, England, tells how he and his wife, rushing to a cocktail party, asked the Mark concierge to book a table at their favorite restaurant. He got a busy signal at the restaurant but assured the couple he knew the restaurant and a table would be reserved in their name at 9 p.m. When the Sandersons arrived at the restaurant, they found a sign reading "Closed for Refurbishment." But waiting for them there was a doorman from the Mark, umbrella in hand, who apologized and escorted the couple to what they described as "a wonderful little restaurant" around the corner. Aloha! ...
First Experience
THE first "Baywatch in Hawaii" sequence has wrapped on Kauai, and producer Greg Bonaan, eager to have it come off just right, directed it himself. Hawaii's Stacy Kamano ended up having a substantial, starring role in the episode, despite the fact she'd had no previous acting experience. But then, acting experience never did play a major part in "Baywatch," or Pamela Anderson might never have been chosen. Stacy is definitely watchable, so she should fit right in ...WHAT'S in a name, you ask? When I met STAR 101.9 morning show D.J. Hudson for the first time, I learned Hudson is her real first name and she was named for the river and not the car. She even told me her real last name, and I can understand why she doesn't use it. Now that she's engaged to Joe Rock Star lead singer Steve Hott -- also his real name -- she's seriously considering using "Hudson Hott" on the air. Cool! ... Barbara Paris recently signed off an e-mail to an old friend with her name and the explanation ("used to be Stuck -- it's much better in Paris than to be Stuck.") ...
Barbie is 40
THIS is more than just the 100th anniversary of the birth of Noel Coward and the anything-but-Cowardly Ernest Hemingway. It's also the 40th anniversary of Papa Hemingway blowing his brains out in Ketchum, Idaho, and in what is certainly a coincidence, it's also the 40th birthday of Barbie, the most popular doll ever. Barbie will be a major part of the Hawaii All-Collectors Show '99 this weekend at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall and many of the dolls will be on view along with accessories through the years ...
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