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Hawaii
ORCHESTRATING the operation of Hawaiian Airlines is Paul Casey's full time job, one he handles with aplomb. But when he Casey’s got
stage presencehad to take baton in hand and guest conduct the Honolulu Symphony in a rendition of the airline's theme song, "Wings of the Islands," at the Roberta Flack Waikiki Shell concert, he admitted to being on the nervous side. Still, Casey proved up to the task, conducting with flair and enough body language that pals of his in the audience, noting a resemblance to the gyrations of Ricky Martin, began chanting "Ricky! Ricky!" ... And Ron Wright, Continental Airlines' main man in Hawaii, is flying high himself these days. Wright was beaming over Continental's making a clean sweep of Frequent Flyer magazine's customer satisfaction study. Continental finished No. 1 for long distance flight for the fourth consecutive year as rated by J.D. Power & Associates, and this year jumped from No. 3 to No. 1 in the short haul category as well ...
THOSE who are close to President Bill Clinton are commonly called "FOB's" for Friends of Bill. Feeling like she now belongs to that group is Myers Advertising honcho Jean Myers. She was the woman who presented Clinton with the multistrand lei he was wearing in a Star-Bulletin photo taken at the fund-raiser for U.S. Sen. Dan Akaka in Washington. As the President shook her hand, Myers reports she was held captive by his gaze and mesmerized by his charisma and charm. She felt as if she were the only other person in the room. And in the reception line, Myers stood next to Clinton and handled introductions for him. "I can understand," she said afterward, "why he's the President!" ...
Merrily we Row along
ONE person who seemed to be particularly beaming at the grand opening party of Chef D.K. Kodama's Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar in Restaurant Row Wednesday night was Andy Friedlander. He's the guy responsible for renting out space in the complex and Kodama has taken on a huge area. In addition, the expansion of Ruth's Chris Steakhouse is nearing completion and the space once occupied by Casa Donaldo is soon to open as Baci. The sign advertises a May opening, but June is more likely since a grease tray has to be installed. In any case, the Row seems to be on the road to recovery from a stagnant period. Friedlander is particularly beaming over the signs on the Row's ground floor, home to Sansei, Ruth's expanded space and Baci as well as the salon Chop. And who is responsible for the signs? Why, none other than graphic designer John Oszajca, whose son, also named John, is engaged to be married to Lisa Marie Presley ...
Naked truth
ON a rare visit back to the Islands she once called home is Stephanie Woods, one time model and dancer for Gypsy Norton who now lives in Florida. She took in the Sansei opening and on meeting Honolulu magazine's John Heckathorn and John Alves, let it drop that she was the first model to appear nude in the magazine. Her face wasn't visible in the artistic shot by glamour photog Alma McGoldrick and she was sure she'd managed to remain anonymous. Then came the call from a certain bearded columnist who told her, "I'd recognize that belly button anywhere." (She was a belly dancer, I hastened to add.) Both Johns seemed unaware of the shot but indicated some back issue examinations were in the offing ...
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