Hawaii
Hapa fans a big deal
THE debut concert on a multicity tour of Japan for Hapa was Wednesday in Tokyo. Barry Flanagan and Kelii Kaneali'i were resting in their dressing room upstairs before playing the 1,700-seat Orchid Theater when they heard thunderous applause. Thinking their chanter had made an early entrance, the duo raced down to the stage, where they learned what the huge commotion was about. Two of Hawaii's biggest gifts to sumo, Musashimaru and Konishiki had entered the theater. The two were usered from the back of the house -- lots of luck fitting into those seats -- and placed in large prime seats at the front of the stage. After the show, the two sumotori hung out for hours with Hapa and their entourage, talking story. Their presence alone must have elevated Hapa in the eyes of the Japanese ...
FORMER New Yorker Flanagan put in a call to local promoter Rick Schneider from his hotel room, and Schneider took it on his car phone while driving down King Street. Flanagan was watching a Yankee game on TV -- all their games are shown live if Hideki Irabu pitches -- and the two reminisced yet again about how they loved going to Yankee Stadium in their youth, needing only a hot dog to make it complete. Sorry, but Tokyo room service was out of 'em -- how about a cold egg instead? ...
Twirling dervish
ALTHOUGH she was graduated from USC in 1997, Hawaii native Alithea Corter will be rejoining the Trojan marching band when they perform at the UH-USC football game Sept. 4. Corter will be the guest featured baton twirler for the band. An Iolani grad ('92), Corter was a member of the USA contingent that won the gold medal at the World Baton Twirling Championships in Amsterdam in 1990. Corter twirled her way with the Trojan band across the world for five years, ranging from the 50th anniversary of D-Day in Normandie, France, to the Three Tenors' concert at Dodger Stadium. She also appeared in the film, "The Little Rascals." In addition to appearing at Aloha Stadium, Corter will be at two rallies on Sept. 3, noon at Tamarind Park and in the evening at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel ...ANYONE have an old 1940s style Coke machine? Manoa Valley Theater would love to find one to use on the set for its upcoming show, "The 1940s Radio Hour." ... New Wave Broadcasting is in the new wave of putting women in key positions. Nikki Basque-Robinson has been named program director of KPOI and Jacque Gonzales-James is new program director at, uh, sister station KQMQ. Having two hyphenated last names in the column should make up for yesterday's item on the mono-monikered Hudson from 101.9 ...
COLUMNIST John Bohannon in the Contra Costa Times writes about how "Hawaii coaches teach poor values," blaming dirty tactics from Hawaii with keeping Benicia out of the Little League World Series. He names no names, however ...
You got game?
SEVERAL players from the NBA are at the Grand Wailea Resort and Spa this weekend for the "Who's Got Game Challenge." Demonstrating NBA skills and vying for a $100,000 purse are Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, Joe Smith, Anthony Peeler, Damon Stoudemeyer and Deltlef Schremp. The players will be on hand for an open practice and autograph signing tomorrow from noon to 2 p.m. in the Lagoon Courtyard. The show will be taped Sunday and aired on NBC Christmas Day ...
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