Hawaii
THERE could well be a parking nightmare at the Blaisdell Center tomorrow and Saturday, what with surprise Grammy nominee (for best album) Diana Krall performing in the concert hall and Sir Elton John in the arena. One person who'll find parking to see Stars converge at Blaisdell
Sir Elton is Emme Tomimbang. She's been pals with John's longtime personal valet, Mike Hewitson, since she was in high school and he was road manager for the Dave Clark Five. Hewitson recalled the arena by its former name, "Honolulu International Center" or "HIC." Hewitson, who keeps up with Clark, reports the former rocker is now an entrepreneur in England and is producing a new musical called "Time," in London, which stars David Cassidy. Hewitson also has at least one other local tie; he and actor Jason Scott Lee became friends years ago and he plans to fly back to London to attend Lee's premiere performance in "The King and I" at the London Palladium on May 3 ... CONGRATS are due to piano teacher Ellen Masaki of Thayer Piano Co. She's been named the first recipient of a newly established "Teacher of the Year Award" for 2000 by the Music Teachers National Association. She'll receive roundtrip airfare to Minneapolis (where the award will be presented March 29), four nights at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, and tickets to various events while she's in town ...
Aloha plus
WANT to know why Danny Kaleikini is known as the "Ambassador of Aloha?" Here's one typical reason: Paul Masuoka, of Masu's Plate Lunch, was a bit under the weather and short of help just after the new year began, and Kaleikini paid him a surprise visit. Danny noticed some trash had piled up, and proceeded to gather it all up and take it out to the dumpster. Just a regular guy, that Kaneala. He then proceeded to order and eat one of Masu's hearty plate lunches, and insisted on paying for it as well, despite Masu's protestations. Now that's aloha ... KOREAN comic Margaret Cho's slated run at Diamond Head Theatre sold out so quickly it's been extended, Jan. 19-22. As my friend Victor Las Vegas, the honorary ambassador from Mexico, likes to say, "That's Cho business." ... When advertising and marketing exec Juiliana La Reaux was in her eighth month of pregnancy, friends insisted she must be carrying twins. She wasn't, but it might as well have been the McCoy Septuplets. When baby boy James Robert La Reaux checked into this world on Dec. 30, he weighed 10 pounds ... ANYONE besides me notice film director Robert Minghella's oh, so subtle "Rosebud" homage to Orson Welles toward the end of "The Talented Mr. Ripley?" My date didn't and, looking around me, I doubt very few if anyone did. It's a most thought-provoking film with many twists and turns, and some wonderful performances, whether you catch the nearly subliminal message or not ...
Music Man
THE Sony Open takes place at Waialae next week, and Sony chairman and CEO Norio Ohga will be here for it. He's doing double duty, however. Besides creating the electronic means to help millions enjoy music through recordings, tapes, CDs, digital audio and video and on and on, Sony's boss also is a student of music. He'll be guest conductor with the Honolulu Symphony Jan. 12 at the Concert Hall when cellist Yoko Hasegawa performs Dvorak ...
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