Hawaii
AS staffers at the paper gathered in the newsroom yesterday morning to hear the news they already knew, that the Star-Bulletin was publishing its last issue Oct. 30, the TV set showed KHON's Manolo Morales Frank Fasi in fine form
interviewing a smiling Frank Fasi in the HNA parking lot. Fasi was expounding on how there'll be no difference in the community since the HNA called all the shots and "Rupert Murdoch" had no say in anything. He was referring to Liberty Newspaper general partner Rupert Phillips, I suppose, but that's about as close as Fearless Frank ever gets to being right. No difference? Tell that to the theaters, arts organizations, music promoters, charities, churches, small businesses and other worthwhile enterprises who are vying for space to tell their story. And when there simply isn't space or if you run up against a "not interested," you have nowhere to go. Fasi may not understand it, but it's a sad day for Honolulu when it becomes a one newspaper town, regardless of which newspaper is the survivor ...
DON'T think the fact that I've been writing this column for 31 years -- and won't get to celebrate 32 in December -- leads directly into this next item. But Isle actress Tia Carrere has been in Toronto filming her first TV series, "The Relic Hunter." It premieres in Hawaii on KGMB-TV on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 10:30, following the news ...
Chun's Reece
KAWELA Bay, not to be confused with Chun's Reef, was the site of the bachelor party last night for art photographer Kim Taylor Reece. Artist Wyland provided his digs for the doings as pals gave Reece a memorable send-off down the isle of matrimony with fiancee Kanoe Chun. Arrangements were made to have eight dancers on hand, including three imported from Las Vegas. And with Alii Ale signed on as "caterer" for the party, you got the idea that the suds would be flowing. Reece has a day to recuperate before the nuptials tomorrow at Danny Kaleikini's Kahaluu wedding chapel. Danny plans to sing at the affair, with a huge blast to follow at Senator Fong's Plantation. Five bands are slated to perform ...MULLING his options these days -- sounds like a stock market day trader -- is singer Jimmy Borges. When he was Down Under performing in New Zealand with the Auckland Philharmonic, an international talent agency checked him out and has now offered him a 36 week engagement at a large hotel on the Las Vegas strip. Will he spin the "Wheel of Fortune" or would a regular Vegas gig put his career in "Jeopardy." My bet is he goes for it. Hey, it's nice to have choices! ...
CONGRATS to young Nick Holden. The Punahou grad saw a need and filled it, just celebrating his first year as owner/operator of the Cigar Co. on 12th Avenue in Kaimuki ... There'll be hula skirts all over the Aloha Tower Marketplace around 5 p.m. Sunday when 1,000 hula dancers are expected to gather and dance to celebrate the 73rd anniversary of the tower which was the largest building in Hawaii when I first arrived on the scene ...
David and Goliath
OVERCOMING an enormous size disadvantage, young Judee Mae Akina of Aloha Mixed Plate claimed the "Best Appetizer" prize in the eighth annual "Taste of Lahaina," winning out over numerous resorts and fine dining restaurants. It was a case of Little Shrimp vs. Big Fish when her Coconut Prawns with Mango Chutney Sauce won top honors ...
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