Hawaii
PADDLING a surfboard is one thing, but driving a jalopy in a demolition derby is apparently quite another. When Kala'i Miller of "Baywatch Hawaii" and "Destination Stardom" agreed to drive in last Saturday's demo derby at Hawaii Raceway Park, he met with some resistance from his new manager, April Masini. The fireman-turned-actor tried to assuage Masini by telling her that Masini guards
Miller’s mugabout the worst injuries a driver in such an event could incur were "whiplashes, bruises, things like that." Masini put her foot down, and Miller took his off the throttle. Says April, "I just didn't want him to smash up his face." She's prepping him and other "Destination Stardom" performers for a taping tomorrow in Chicago for an upcoming "Jenny Jones" show to be aired later, and he'll present lei to Jones and the audience. April's final word on the subject: "I want him on Jenny Jones wearing beautiful Hawaiian leis around his neck, not some horse-collar of a neck brace." ...
Potential stardom
SEEKING stardom in Orlando, Fla., is Ikaika Kahoano, son of "Hawaii Stars" co-host and D.J. Kimo Kahoano. Ikaika is joining two dozen other young men from around the country to audition for what Lou Pearlman feels will be his next "super group." And since he's the guy who came up with Back Street Boys and 'N Sync, people pay attention when he speaks. The guys will audition for three days, then eight will be chosen to live together (in a "Real World" type locale) for a couple of weeks, at the conclusion of which five will be selected for the group. So think good thoughts for Ikaika ...WHAT goes around, etc.: When Thomas Ky first got started in the restaurant business in Hawaii it was with George "Cass" Castagnola in the Manoa Marketplace. He eventually ended up taking over the lease of the place, and in the ensuing years has opened several other eateries. When in Manoa, he got to know Larry Bowles, who at that time was the head chef at the eatery, and through the years has offered him jobs, most recently at his Assagio's in Kailua. Now Ky is readying a December opening for his newest Assagio's, this one in Ala Moana Center in the old Byron II location, and who should he select to be its general manager? You got it, the aforementioned Bowles ...
IT took a New Zealander to get so into Hawaiian royalty that she's written a number of books on the subject. Kristin Zambucka began back in 1978 with "Anoano: The Seed" (Mana Publishing) and with virtually no publicity, it's in its 11th printing. And now that the book is listed on amazon.com on the Internet, orders are coming in from around the world ...
Doktor in the house?
REMEMBER the old song that begins, "Doctor, Doctor." Well, the University of Hawaii has one, sort of. He's Professor Robert Doktor, who holds a PhD in business and organizational behavior from Stanford, thereby making him "Dr. Doktor." This was culled from a fascinating UH pamphlet, "Faculty Experts Reference Guide." Too bad the school's financial economics instructor, Dean Cost, doesn't run his department. People could ask for the Dean Dean Cost Cost List. And can't you hear the pidgin being spoken in Hugh Folk's industrial relations class? There's a marketing Hook (Ralph) and a marketing Huff (Leonard) and don't overlook decision sciences professor William Remus, who is doubtless someone's Uncle ...
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