Hawaii
AS we glide into the year 2000, questions arise. Do we call it "The Year 2000," for example? We never said "The Year 1999." Do we just say, "Here it is -- 2000?" Something to ponder ... April Masini, who separated from her entrepreneur husband Al Masini last year, is keeping on the go. Her slogan: "Blonde, yes; stupid, no." Those attending her pre-New Year's Eve dinner party last week were impressed with her new digs. She's departed the couple's $12 manse atop Masini momentum
rolls into 2000Hawaii Loa Ridge, and now is residing in a three bedroom apartment at the Kahala Beach. Among those noshing with the go-getting Masini were "Baywatch Hawaii" producer Greg Bonann and Channel 9's Kim Gennaula, who was accompanied by a new date -- her dad, Chuck Gennaula, visiting from Arizona. Also at the gathering was Rick Yune, star of the film, "Snow Falling on Cedars," and one of Cosmo's "Sexiest New Stars." April met Yune at the film festival last year, and has since became friends with his brother, Karl Yune, as well. The brothers are finding little time to devote to their Wall Street day jobs -- Karl just flew in directly from filming a Pepsi commercial ...
IT had to happen sooner or later: restaurateur Roy Yamaguchi, who's expanded his culinary horizons hither and yon, is planning to open a new eatery called Roy's in San Francisco in May. It'll be located at 2nd and Mission ... Meanwhile, Ronn Weigand, former co-owner of the Grape Escape in Waikiki, was in an auto accident last month. Both he and wife Brenda Boblitt suffered serious injuries, though their two sons escaped with just minor scrapes. To help pay for numerous operations and months of rehab, friends are holding a dinner and wine auction in St. Helena on Feb. 4. If you'd like to help, call (707)-235-3310 ...
Fatal error in judgment
WHILE I never thought for a minute that the feared Y2K bug was a menace -- I didn't even shut off my computer as a precaution -- Hawaii legislators apparently did. One citizen who wanted to contact some of our lawmakers found that his e-mail to all of them came back, "Undeliverable. Fatal error." Not so with the governor and lieutenant governor, however. E-mails to Gov. Ben Cayetano and Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono went right through. Perhaps our legislators wanted to take a few days off from hearing from those complaining about fireworks, etc. ...PROMOTERS of the Hawaii Theatre's next "Best of Broadway" offering say they were happy to see our proclamation that 2000 must be the Year of the Piano, what with the Honolulu Symphony bringing in four fine pianists for recitals early this year. The next presentation of Toronto's Ronald Andrew ("Les Miserables," "Miss Saigon," "Cats") is "2 Pianos 4 Hands," Jan. 18-23 ...
Return to Italy
WHEN Bob Jones planned his AJA trip back to the battlefields of Italy to mark Liberation Day, he set a maximum number of travelers at 35. It's not until April, and he already has 28 paid up. One big draw is that George Watanabe (Hilo High '53) is a historian who's lived in the district for 12 years and will take the Hawaii vets to the exact sites where they fought, and many died, defeating the German's vaunted "Gothic Line" defense. A statue and memorial to the 100th Battalion boys will be unveiled April 25, and for many, this will be their only chance to see it. Most are in their mid-80s ...
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