Hawaii
HE didn't set out to ride a succession of buses around the island, but that's what Japan tourist Susumu Togawa found himself doing. The self-described "serious home craftsman" set off on a quest for City Mill, but though the company is celebrating its centenary this year, not everyone, apparently, knows City Mill has a serious fan
where to find one of its stores. After a series of bus rides took him to Waikele, Pearlridge and Hickam Air Force Base in search of a City Mill outlet, Togawa found himself at the police department before giving up and getting a ride to the airport. Togawa revealed his plight in a fax to Hawaii Remodeling publisher Jim Cook, whose magazine set off his adventure in the first place, and asked assistance in ordering something by mail. Cook did him one better -- he showed the fax to City Mill's Carole Ai, who tossed in $50 worth of free merchandise. Cook has added a year's subscription to his magazine. Even better, he offered to meet the "serious home craftsman" on his next trip and personally escort him to any of the seven City Mill stores ...
NOT everyone knows that Jon Nakamatsu, the Van Cliburn award winning pianist who hails from California, has strong Hawaii ties. His mother, the former Karen Maeda, is a Farrington grad who lives in Kalihi, and both sets of grandparents also make Hawaii home. So the pianist should have a good cheering section when he performs with the Asian Youth Symphony Aug. 27 at the Waikiki Shell and Aug. 28 at the Blaisdell Concert Hall ...
Chees and Lees
IT was William Y.S. Lee of the Iolani Class of '53 who was named Alumnus of the Year, and not William Chee as reported here the other day. But the mix-up is understandable in light of the fact that Chee, president of Prudential Locations, has a son also named William Chee who's a senior at Iolani. And as for William Lee, they pop up all over the Iolani landscape. There is a grandparent named William Lee, a former parent named William Lee, a ninth grader named William Lee and another William Lee who graduated from Iolani in 1949 ...PANGS of regret will probably sweep over me with this item also, but two years after partnering with Pittsburgh's Dance Alloy to meld hula and modern dance, Kumu Hula Michael Pili Pang from Waimea is again bringing two very different dance forms together. This time, the Royal Chapter of the Hawaii Ballroom Dance Association will take the stage at the Hawaii Theatre tonight and tomorrow during the intermission of Halau Hula Ka No'eau's "Huliau," a new dance piece based on the childhood of Kamehameha. The connection: Michael Pili Pang's mother, Violet Pang, is a member of the Royal Chapter. Jitterbugging to follow? ...
Lots of pluck
AFTER playing for eight years at the Moana Hotel, harpist Pumehana Davis was left, well, out of pluck, when she was released from that steady gig. But when Teddy Lee of Hong Kong and Isabelle Pretti of Draguinan, France, became engaged, so, too, did the harpist. Davis was engaged by Lee's mother, Honolulu CPA Dianne Merritt, to perform at the couples' wedding in Provence, and then take part in the reception which followed at the elegant Chateau de Berne. Merritt arranged the entire trip for Davis and her husband, David Wadsworth, and even rented her a harp. Davis still performs Sunday brunches at the Hanohano Room. It's not Provence, but it'll do ...
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