Wood Craft
If the Rainbows beat Oregon State today it will be a very Merry Christmas. June Jones, his entire UH football team, coaches and wives went to see the Princess Kaiulani's Polynesian show Sunday. It's produced by Jack "Tihati" Thompson and his "quiet" wife, Cha. The Afatia lights up
the ’Bows’ nightThompsons' son, Afatia, is a star UH running back. He is also a hot fire-knife dancer. Teammates roared as he lit up the room with his dance. And the gridders went wild when Cha put intense special teams coach Dennis McKnight on stage with 10 lovely Tahitian dancers. On Thanksgiving, the Thompsons had 35 players, who had no place to go, over for dinner. Right on! Go 'Bows! ...
Takaki is an inspiration
UH basketball freshman Lance Takaki, listed as 5-feet-4, may be the shortest player in Division 1 basketball. The fans chant "Rudy," "Rudy," to get him in the game when the 'Bows have a big lead. Coach Riley Wallace responds and sends Lance in for a minute. Rudy Ruettiger was a Notre Dame scout team football player. The movie, "Rudy," told his inspirational story. Lance played for Rod Ohira's Manoa Rangers baseball team and later became MPI's starting second baseman. At his MPI graduation, he told Rod he was going to UH and planned to try out as a walk-on. Rod thought he meant baseball and was shocked when Lance said basketball. Lance loves basketball. He is an inspiration to young athletes to pursue their dreams ...Randy Cadiente and Bonnie Tamooka, in the same foursome, both wound up with net 67s to tie for first in the Mini-Benny Birthday Tourney for Wobbly Golfers and Worthy Women Dec. 16 at Navy Marine golf course. They both carry 16 handicaps. Derrick Hilfer was next with net 69 and Robin Midkiff and Bobby Swan followed with net 71s. Alice Clay was head scorekeeper. Worthy Women helpers were Liz Perry, Laurie Tom and Robyn Schaefer. Clubhouse capers featured a jumping dance to "Jingle Bells" by Jimmy Borges and Sonny Beamer, backed by guitarist-singers Mihana Souza and Byron Yasui. Conne Sutherland and Midkiff danced hula. Golfers, as they became more lubricated, sang. Frank Steinmiller, Tim Smythe, Ken Dias, Itchie Miyasato, Roy Hiram, Ed Chang, Harry Hanchett, Stan Atkins, Corky Trinidad, Alex McLain, Allen McKeague, Oscar Kuwahara, Al Waterson and Margaret Murchie told tall tales. That's golf ... Yasui marked his 59th birthday Dec. 13 at Chef Mavro. He plays bass Jan. 22 with jazz guitarist Gene Bertoncini at the Academy of Arts ...
Ballet Hawaii can be proud of its "Nutcracker" which played the Concert Hall last weekend with the Honolulu Symphony. Stuart Chafetz conducted. Highlights included five fine visiting artists from the American Ballet Theatre and the featured local dancers. Anne Namba's costumes in vibrant colors were smashing. Staging by Pamela Taylor-Tongg and Michael Vernon was impressive. Prosecutor Peter Carlisle and Council member Rene Mansho portrayed grandparents ...
Champagne for Mai Tai
Chao Mein's Mai Tai Sing celebrated her birthday Wednesday at Mariposa. Helping Mai Tai turn "39" were two of her former Trappers staffers, Peggy Cowell and Karl Kimoto ... St. John has moved to the former Ann Taylor spot at Ala Moana Center, next to the Warner Bros. Studio store ... Philippe Padovani has opened a chocolate boutique in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center ...
Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin in the streets
of downtown Honolulu during World War II, writes of
people, places and things every Saturday.
E-mail him at bwood@starbulletin.com