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Last year, uneasy due to the volatile nature of the stock market, she decided to take her public company private, which has turned out to be wise, given recent stock market panics.

She's happy to have made the move. "I feel I don't have to think about the price of the stock anymore," she said earlier this year when she was in Hawaii to mark her boutique's grand reopening at a new spot in Ala Moana Center.

"It can be quite devastating if you work very hard and the stock price does not reflect your efforts, and apparel companies have not done as well as dot.coms."

A better reflection of her efforts will be at the Associated Chinese Women's "Timeless Elegance" Fashion Show taking place Saturday at the Sheraton Waikiki. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. and individual tickets to the luncheon event are $45. Call 988-6197 to reserve. Tickets will also be available at the door.

On view will be designs from St. John's Cruise and Spring collections, and proceeds from the event will go toward scholarships.

Gray didn't exactly plan a career in fashion, and said her initial involvement was "silly."

"I was trying to impress my fiance by showing him how little I spent on clothing, when in reality, I spent all my money on clothes.

"I hated to sew. There was not much to do but knit something."

Of course, St. John today is known for its knits.

And that first dress has indeed proved timeless. Gray says, "That dress could be worn today. In fact, there are some designers today creating things similar to what St. John was doing 37 years ago."

DeSoto Brown Collection

Waikiki wonders

"Waikiki Wedding," starring actor/crooner Bing Crosby, right, had its world premiere at the Waikiki Theatre in 1937. See the movie in its original format, as presented by vintage film collector Steve Fredericks, tonight at the Bishop Museum.

The screening is the center of "Celebrating Waikiki Theatre!" from 7:30 to 9 p.m. today at the museum's Atherton Halau. The program is part of a series of events scheduled by the museum in conjunction with its "Aloha from Waikiki" exhibit. "Aloha from Waikiki" runs through July 4 and explores what made Waikiki what it is today. It highlights the old Waikiki Theatre, "Hawaii Calls" radio program and more.

The exhibit will be open tonight 6:30-7:30 p.m. for those attending "Celebrating Waikiki Theatre!" In addition, a brief talk on the history of the theater will be given by Lowell Angell, an expert on old theaters. Admission is $5 general, $4 for members; children under 4 will be admitted free.

For more information about this program and others celebrating Waikiki, call 847-3511.

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City and County of Honolulu
Fun for the keiki will include a giant inflatable slide and other rides.

Saturday festival
in Haleiwa

Everyone's invited to the "Haleiwa Hoolaulea" town fair, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, to celebrate what is great about this North Shore community.

Scheduled events include:

Parade of city vehicles and electric cars, 11 a.m. from Weed Circle, ending at Alii Beach park. The vehicles, including a fire and bucket trucks, rescue boat and ambulance, will remain at the park until 1:30 p.m.
Rides on the Baywatch Scarab boat from 11:30 a.m. at Haleiwa Harbor.
Easter egg hunt for children 10 and under, 3:30 p.m., Liliuokalani Protestant Church.
Entertainment, a petting zoo, keiki games and arts and crafts at North Shore Marketplace. Also, a booth where families may videotape their vision for the next 25 years for inclusion in a time capsule at the Kapolei Civic Center.

Snack booths will be set up at Alii Beach Park and Haleiwa's restaurants will be open for business throughout the event. Free trolley rides will transport Hoolaulea visitors from one Hoolaulea site to another. For $1, Honolulu dwellers can ride special Haleiwa Hoolaulea buses from Honolulu Zoo and Hale Koa Hotel at 8:30, 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. The buses will return at 4, 5 and 6 p.m.

In addition to the Hoolaulea, a concert benefitting the Ke Ala Pupukea Bikepath and Waimea Arboretum Foundation will take place 8 p.m. to midnight Friday at Waimea Park Pavilion. And on Saturday, there will be a bike ride along the Ke Ala Pupukea Bikepath and an Earth Day ceremony at Ehukai Beach Park.

Click for online
calendars and events.

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