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Hawaii
THE continuing saga of the Masini Manse: A couple of years ago an item here mentioned that "Rich and Famous" television producer Al Masini was putting his Hawaii Loa Ridge home on the market for $12 million. At the time I suggested he planned to spend less time here than originally intended and he felt it was too much of an investment for a part Masini manse
on market-time residence. Masini was quick to point out -- repeatedly -- that he had no intention of living anywhere else but Hawaii, and eventually he pulled the home off the market. Exit wife April Masini. With her divorce quickly finalized, the house is again on the market, as, indeed, is she. April has moved into her own luxury apartment and opened a personal management company. Al still plans to live in Hawaii, but no longer needs a $12 million estate. He's looking for a smaller place with no pool, since he has never once set foot in his Hawaii Loa pool ...
AN item here mentioned how Nephi Hannemann and Iva Kinimaka distanced themselves from Dick Jensen after the later placed ads for his Hawaii Terrace Hotel show featuring "Hawaii's Very Best." The erstwhile partners of Jensen thought the HVB term was to describe all of them equally, but when they became anonymous entities, they split. Now there's a new flap, with a veteran entertainer stating that Melveen Leed coined the term "Hawaii's Very Best" when she returned from Tahiti and began performing with other ex-Waikiki headliners. Stay tuned ...
Flyin' O'Brian
A BUSY boy is O'Brian Eselu. He's playing a key role in Pro Bowl festivities. For starters, he's choreographing the half-time show at Aloha Stadium for the big bowl game and is doubling as emcee, choreographer and show director at the welcome reception dinner on Feb. 2 at Lani Kohunua Estate, where Gov. and Mrs. Ben Cayetano will be on hand to greet the players. O'Brian, who has a full-time job at Paradise Cove, still found time to record a second album, "Maka," and is readying his new halau, Ke Kai O Kahiki, for this year's Merrie Monarch competition. Plus, he's been tapped to help with the choreography of the hit show, "Ulalena," in Lahaina. Whew -- tiring just thinking about it ...YOU'D think with the St. Louis Rams getting set to take on the Tennessee Titans in the Super Bowl Sunday, Rams running back Marshall Faulk would be totally focusing on that game. But no, Faulk called Scruples to alert Fred Piluso that he'd be here for the Pro Bowl and wouldn't mind judging a Thursday night bikini contest. The Kuhio Avenue club is always a popular spot for visiting Pro Bowlers, as is the nearby Nick's Fishmarket, owned by Pat Bowlen, who also owns the Denver Broncos ...
Drop in sometime
ONE final football fact: Ken Anderson and his skydiving pals again looked good on ESPN, making a perfect drop onto the 50-yard line at the Hula Bowl on Maui. Radio announcer Russ Francis was praising Anderson's exploits, perhaps just a bit prejudiced by the fact the two were high school buddies and Little League teammates. Earlier, Anderson had parachuted into Aloha Stadium dressed as Santa for the Aloha and Oahu Bowls, and he may also jump into UH home games this fall as the fully uniformed Rainbow Warrior. Anderson dedicated his latest leap to his dad, David "Whizzer" Anderson, recipient of a World War II Bronze Star and Purple Heart, who died on New Year's Eve ...
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