Hawaii
I'LL bet you had no idea just what a big deal rodeo is. It might help if you knew that the "Big One," the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas beginning at the end of the month, will feature the best of rodeo pros vying for a $10 million purse. Thousands of fans will be in attendance, and Hawaii will have its own representative. Rodeo circuit
a barrel of funLaurien Hokuli'i Helfrich-Nuss has been selected as Miss Rodeo Hawaii and will compete for the national title of Miss Rodeo America 2000. Laurien has great credentials to go with her title. The 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Hawaii is a 1998 grad of Waiakea High and has been riding in rodeo, Western and English shows, plus racing events and pa'u parades for 15 years. Laurien earlier represented Hawaii in national events as State Barrel-Racing champ and was 1997 Hawaii High School Rodeo Queen. Anyone interested in helping sponsor her can call the Miss Rodeo Hawaii office at 259-5991 ...
LET'S hope for good weather Sunday, when Shari Lynn, Jimmy Borges and Gabe Baltazar gather to perform jazz on the lawn at La Pietra. People can come early and bring picnics, and the show itself at the old Dillingham Estate gets under way at 6 p.m. Dessert, wine and soft drinks are included in the $25 price, with the money going toward the school's financial aid program. La Pietra was picked because Shari is now teaching music there ...
Pass the turkey
HE began his days in football as a passer, and clicked with a Mouse (college coach "Mouse" Davis) to develop a run and shoot offense that has brought him football fame (in the NFL) and fortune. We're talking, of course, about UH football coach June Jones. So what will this celebrated man of the hour be doing on Thanksgiving? Breaking bread with the governor? Schmoozing with boosters? No, Jones will again be passing, only this time it'll be turkey rather than pigskin and he'll be coaching a team of about 30 volunteers in dishing out a luncheon feast at the River of Life Mission from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jones will also carve the first turkey, assisted by City Council Chairman Jon Yoshimura (who represents downtown) and U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Beryl Robertson. Music will be by Tennyson Stevens, breaking in the Mission's newly donated piano ...NORMALLY I leave to others the job of politically correct gender oversight review, but here's one for them. Back in May of 1997, the ILWU dropped gender from its name and became the International Longshore & Warehouse Union. So why, the PC Police should ask, does the "Voice of the ILWU" newspaper still announce it's published by "Hawaii Local 142, International Longshoremen's & Warehousemen's Union?" ...
Tahiti in Waikiki
NO, not the island, the singer! She's Tahiti Fernandez, and beginning this Friday and Saturday will be singing along with Augie Rey in his performances at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki. It doesn't hurt, of course, that Tahiti is Augie's daughter, but it's more than nepotism. She's sung with dad on numerous occasions and always was well received by guests, so, Augie felt, why not feature her on a regular basis? A recent grad of Castle High (and another in a long line of musical talent produced by the remarkable Ronnie Bright at the school's Performing Arts Center,) Tahiti is now at Kapiolani Community College when not recording ("Home Grown," etc.) or singing with dad ...
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