Hawaii
Eastwood on
camera in HiloIT sounds like a tale set in the old West: "Clint Meets the Duke." In fact, this encounter did take place in one of the Westernmost towns in the U.S. - Hilo. The rumors were flying all over Hilo that Clint Eastwood, actor, director and sometime mayor (of Carmel, Calif.) was in town. He was reportedly spotted at Longs and Taco Bell - a likely story. But then up strode a man who affirmed that not only was Eastwood in Hilo, but that he'd bought gas at Duke's Shell Hilo with his credit card. Duke McBeath, owner of that and three other stations in the Hilo and Puna area, also has videotape from his security camera that clearly shows Clint at his station. And the actor thought he could escape the papparazzi in Hilo - fat chance ...
BLUE Hawaii? Yeah, right. It's come to light that at the recent ADA Convention, when the folks at Mentadent wanted to create a giveaway to dentists visiting their booth, the Convention Center's Debra Benton came up with an idea that brought a smile to their faces. "Sip a Smoothie" was created using cups with two separate chambers, Blue Macadamia Nut Kona Coffee granita on one side and white vanilla on the other. Over 1,000 gallons were consumed, and at one point two big bottles of food coloring had to be flown in to keep up with the demand ...
Double eights
IF you're one of those people who consider the number "8" lucky, and "Double 8" even moreso, you should have been at the Kahala-Mandarin Saturday night. Stopping off at the Lobby Bar after a sumptuous feed at Alan Wong's, I found Loretta Ables filling in for Shari Lynn, who was otherwise occupied. After a set with her and the Alan Arianeta Trio, pianist Les Peetz sat in at the keyboard, and then came a remarkable sight. In walked the legendary Martin Denny, who's been making music in this town since 1954 ...DENNY was pushing his lovely wife for life, June, in a wheelchair and then sat and the two took in the music. When Loretta spotted him, she called him up and Denny, who's going through a kind of resurgence this days, hobbled with a cane over to the piano. Once there, however, he could have been 25, playing flawlessly through three numbers with the group. It should be pointed out that Denny is 88, the same number of keys on the piano. On Friday, Denny will be on stage at the Hawaii Theatre after the screening of the film, "Breakfast of Champions," in which his music if featured throughout ...
WEDDING bells are about to ring for restaurateur Ed Wary (Auntie Pasto's and Dixie Grill) and Tina Reyna, former manager of Rodeo Cantina when Wary owned that as well. And while it may not be everyone's idea of an ideal honeymoon, Ed and Tina plan to visit Italy in the spring with his children. And if they can do a little research for his Auntie Pasto menu, so much the better ...
Boys night out
THE Honolulu Boy Choir is celebrating its 25th anniversary by offering a free concert 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 at Central Union Church. It'll be called "The Merriest Hawaiian Christmas," and they're making it merrier by not charging an admittance fee. The choir's exec director, Blake Nuibe, says he'd like to add his name to the growing list of those who are hoping the Star-Bulletin doesn't close down. Nuibe says he has a special sentiment for the paper, having been named carrier of the year in 1967 on route #RC 188. See how good news boys succeed in life? ...
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