Hawaii
WHO better to host the Kidney Foundation's Organ Donor Awareness show Nov. 15 at Diamond Head Theatre than Jim Nabors? The isle resident is once again his robust self after being the Nabors aids organ drive
beneficiary of a liver transplant. The DHT show will feature the cast of "Miss Saigon," but aside from numbers from that show (still playing through Nov. 28 at the Blaisdell Concert Hall) there'll be tunes from other Broadway shows as well. Greg Stone, who plays the male lead in "Saigon," has also played Jean Valjean in "Les Miserables," and he'll sing "Bring Him Home" from that work. Rocky Brown, an original Broadway "Saigon" performer, will also sing along with many others. For ticket info call the Kidney Foundation at 593-1515 ...
SPEAKING of the "Miss Saigon" cast, they've been busy doing not just great work on stage at the Blaisdell, but doing good work throughout the community. They helped raise $5,000 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS in a cabaret show at Hula's Bar & Lei Stand ... And Mika Nishida, the titular star of "Miss Saigon," will do a mini show and sign autographs at noon Friday at Borders, Ward Centre ...
Nothing to Loo's career
WHEN the Dean Witter part of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter celebrated the 75th anniversary of its Honolulu office recently, we mentioned that manager Paul Loo is only the third man to run that firm, following the late Richard Kellett and 92-year-old Jo Fuller. Loo says he's toted it up and realized that of his firm's four major competitors, he's outlasted 24 of their managers himself. Heaven knows how many his predecessors saw come and go ...AN opportunity for a Variety-style headline has come and gone. Yesterday's business page story about the Hawaii Tourism Authority's Diane Quitiquit stepping down was headlined, "Quitiquit resigns as HTA chairwoman." Anyone for "Quitiquit quits"? ... Russell Druce of Matteo's has lots of memories of the late Chicago Bears superstar Walter Payton, a frequent diner there when in town for the Pro Bowl or whatever. One night he told Russell, "Take a break. I'll relieve you." Druce stepped aside and in walked two women. Payton politely ushered them to a booth and pulled it aside so they could slide in. Later, Druce asked if they knew who'd seated them. "The maitre d'?" they guessed. Told it was Walter Payton, the two -- both football fans -- nearly died at not recognizing him ...
AMONG the 70 military personnel from the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard honored by the local council of the Navy League, two were singled out. The top winners, who got special plaques and free vacations at the Outrigger Waikoloa, were Lt. David W. Schmidt from SubPac and Aviation Mechanics Mate First Class Donna Marie Spaddy-Emory of the Marine Aviation Logistics Support unit at Kaneohe ...
Ten decades of keiki
NEARLY as old as the 117-year-old Star-Bulletin is KCAA Kindergartens of Hawaii, marking 105 years of existence next year. The founding families of the organization will be recognized at "An Evening in Old Hawaii" at the Royal Hawaiian's Monarch Room Saturday night. Rachel Inomoto, who is Mrs. Honolulu 1999, and Lani Stone Ka'a'a, Miss Hawaii 1991, are among those paying tribute and the emcee is Harry Soria Jr. of "Territorial Airwaves" fame, who'll feature music and dance of the past 10 decades ...
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