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Hawaii
THE musical question on NBC's "Today" show all last week was, "Where in the world is Matt Lauer?" Well, the answer is that last night and this morning he was on the Big Island, though he has probably left by the time you read Where’s Matt?
He was herethis to head for his next locale tomorrow. An NBC production crew has quietly been on the Big Isle for the past three weeks setting up Stop No. 1 of Lauer's weeklong excursion. So, aided by tons of lighting equipment, Lauer and Volcano Observatory scientist Don Swanson were trudging through the Big Isle lava fields. Thanks to a six-hour time difference, Lauer was on the air at 1 a.m. HST. Intuition (and spies) would indicate that the next stop on Lauer's tour will take him to Australia, where the 2000 Olympics will be held. NBC has the rights to broadcast the games and won't miss an opportunity to plug them. And don't be surprised if Hawaii's bantam boxer, Brian Viloria, who is Olympics-bound, plays a part in the telecast ...
WITH the Merrie Monarch Festival attracting the attention of most over the weekend, kumu hula Michael Pili Pang was showcasing his hula bi-coastal. He just completed teaching Hawaii expats Janu Cassidy, Kaohi Yojo and Allen Kam hula kahiko for an off-Broadway play called "Valley of Iao," written by Obie Award winner Lee Nagrin. It opened over the weekend and will play for three weeks, but Pang won't be there. His Big Isle-based Halau Hula Ka No'eau was performing in L.A. at El Camino College on the show's opening night. Before returning home, Pang will be in Seattle to judge George Naope's Northwest hula competition and then perform with Kahauanu Lake at a concert on May 10 ...
May Day here and there
THIS is the day when the Brothers Cazimero do their annual May Day concert at the Shell, and at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center. The two, who have recorded 34 albums, have released their third "Best of ..." album to coincide with the May Day shows ... Hawaii expats in L.A. commenced their sixth annual May Day in L.A. celebration on Saturday. The gathering was inspired by the "godmother" of the group, ex-Isle P.R. exec Tracy Larua, co-hosted by actress Kelly Hu, model Tiana Lucas and professional hula dancers Gina Aurio and Patti Bauman -- Hawaii folks all. Best part of the day, aside from the entertainment, was the island food served, much to the delight of all. Some 150 showed up, including sportscaster Rob Fukuzaki, actress Julia Nickson and choreographer Raymond del Barrio ...
Week-ender
STOPPING by the Kahala Mall Saturday I encountered show producer David Booth getting an earful of singer Mimy Chen, who sings Hawaiian music in Chinese. He has it in mind to include her in a future trip to Taiwan ... Also at the mall was Kanoe Cazimero bemoaning the fact that she and her twin brother Roland, are turning 50 in September. "Bozo," as Roland is called, I can see, but Kanoe? Never! ... Also strolling the Mall was insurance exec Bill Gleason who I ran into hours later dining at Indigo downtown. Two meetings in one day? "We've got to stop meeting like this," one of us said ... Also at Indigo were Robin Rodby, daughter of Dick & Joan Rodby of Kemoo Farm, with "almost" kissing cousin David Smith, who's off to Houston to help in the planning of a high-price gated community ...
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