Hawaii
THE man once known on isle airwaves as "Mr. Bill," is back once again, only you have to be something of a genie to find him. Bill Thompson, who formerly managed the Smothers Brothers, is now Mr. Bill is back, sort of
associated with Pacstar and its seven stations, and until KHVH went off the air, was working there with his sidekick, "Ginco Baloba." People who listen to all the right-wing commentators on the station got suspicious when it went off the air due to a transmitter problem, and fans of Art Bell called en masse. Thompson told them in all seriousness that the station had been shut down by aliens irritated with Bell, and they seemed to buy it. Actually, boss Bob Longwell merely moved KHVH over to the 990 frequency on which I-94 simulcasts. There, clear as mud! KHVH should be on air shortly, if it isn't already, once a transmitter piece gets flown in from Nova Scotia -- which sounds as unlikely as the alien story. People also asked if morning D.J. Rick Hamada had died -- rumors do fly in this town. But he's just been under the weather, and with nursing back to health from his bride, KHON reporter Bernadette Baroquio, he should be back on the air soon ...
WHENEVER one of the culinary luminaries who flew to Hawaii for the annual "Cuisines of the Sun" event, Ming Tsai, introduces his wife, it provokes a double take. Her name: Polly Tsai ... If you think the game of backgammon is largely luck, how do you account for the fact that Rick Jacobson just won the state championship for the third time? Perennially in-the-money Joli Kansil finished second and Harry Tanouye, who won last year, came in third ...
Charley's anti-mayo
YOU hear the strangest rumors, one being the query if humor columnist Charley Memminger was going to be on "Baywatch." The answer is "No." (Now if it were "Bay Window Watch," maybe!) But he is going to be involved with Kala'i Miller, Hawaii's fireman-turned-performer who's a regular on "Baywatch." Miller also is going to be doing one-minute, on-location segments for producer Al and April Masini's new show, "From Hawaii ... Destination Stardom." And Memminger has been asked to write them. Some of those appearing on "Destination Stardom" will also be featured in the segments, which start shooting next week. If you're like me, you'll be waiting for Charley to sneak in his first anti-mayo reference, so vehemently opposed is he to the poor condiment. When a character in "Notting Hill" eats a jar full of mayo by mistake, it nearly caused Charley to go into convulsions ...THEY'RE still counting the take from the "Pigskin Pigout" at Murphy's Bar & Grill to benefit the UH football team, and organizer Don Murphy says they've already exceeded their once seemingly over-optimistic goal of $75,000. Coach June Jones has to be impressed over how eager Hawaii people are to pitch in ...
Singular sensation
SINCE writing once of those "Goddess Speaks" columns for the Star-Bulletin Today Section about choosing the single life, at least for now, Ikaika Communications owner Mona Wood says she's been asked to speak to singles groups, women's groups and even was asked to guest on a mainland radio talk show. In addition, she's been asked out on several dates and has been busy fielding calls and e-mails from interested parties, or those interested in partying. Ah, says she, "The power of the press." ...
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