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Hawaii
WE'RE at that point in the calendar when we can say "back in the last century" and still mean two weeks ago. But there seems to be a bunch of items crossing my desk dealing with things more like 30 years ago. Take Major Robert L. Silva, who just retired from the Honolulu Police Times have changed
Department where he was commander of the Records and Identification Division. In cleaning out his desk he came across an item here from May of 1970 about his appearing before the Oahu Grand Jury dressed in the hippie attire he wore as an undercover narcotics cop. At the time I wrote one wag found a defect in his disguise: "He didn't smell." Silva writes that he didn't acknowledge the item at the time because he was trying to be "invisible," but sent along a photo of himself in hippie gear, complete with wig, fake moustache and mutton-chop sideburns, plus a current shot of what he looks like now. Quite a contrast ... THEN there's legendary island music maker Jack de Mello, now living in Las Vegas. He read in the Star-Bulletin online edition about ex-Canlis' G.M. Lloyd Samaha being in town and seeing what had become of the landmark Kalakaua restaurant. He emails, "During my last trip to Honolulu, I too, blinked at the empty lot that held Peter's Palace." He also remembered the original restaurant Peter Canlis had in the old house across from Kuhio Beach. "Great memories, great food," writes de Mello. "Unique feature of the restaurant was down the back steps outside. The only five star lua of its day." He adds that Samaha gave him a great Christmas gift many years ago -- the famous Canlis salad dressing recipe ...
Stick to English, please
THERE was a funny item in the New York Times the other day about a reporter entering Starbucks and seeing the day's special listed as "Cafe Ole." He suggested to the young man behind the counter it should read "au lait." The youth insisted it was correct, adding " 'Ole' is the Spanish spelling." ... The above reminded Bob Jones of a local buffet where he was given a slice of roast beef, and the carver asked, "Would you like a little au jus with that?" Pronounced "Oh, juice," of course ... I recall when Ron Daugherty owned O'Toole's and was featuring prime rib. He heard a radio commercial for the special and called to demand it be redone. "They mis-pronounced it -- it's supposed to be "Oh juice," he insisted. For once the radio guys had it right: "Oh zhu." ... IT'S a good thing no saloons have to be torn down to make way for the construction of a new Wal-Mart store on Keeaumoku. Otherwise we might see a headline with a variation of the most egregious of cliches based on sports: "Construction of Wal-Mart razes the bar." Or if a small church had to be moved: "Leveling the praying field." Etc. ...
Tee hee it up
DID you see the item here that 92-year-old Dr. Ralph Cloward claimed he wanted a sex change operation in two years because women live six years longer than men and he wanted to see 100? Gene Axelrod did and suggested to a duffer of a golfing pal that he might consider getting the same operation, quipping, "If you hit from the women's tees you might see 100." ... Who needs Regis Philbin to become a millionaire. You can win $1 million on the Big Isle this week at the King's Course at Waikoloa in ECOMM2000's "Hole-in-One Golf Shootout." Anyone can enter today or tomorrow. Call 1-877-WAIKOLOA for more info ...
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