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Wood Craft
Sonny Kamahele was flabbergasted. "This was a real surprise for me," Sonny said, as he walked into the Halekulani's Hau Terrace Monday where 160 people were waiting. Sonny's 79th birthday dinner surprise was set up by his wife, Margaret, who also gifted him with a 2001 Olds Aurora. Sonny, the singer-musician who fractures the English language, was dazed. "I'm getting talkaless, I cannot speak," he said. "He's my laughter therapy," Margaret said. President Bill Surprise leaves
Sonny ‘talkaless’and Hillary Clinton sent a card. Mayor Jeremy Harris came and offered congrats. Jack and Cha Thompson gave him a carved drum. St. Louis sent him an honorary diploma. Puamana played favorite isle songs. Aloha Kekoolani and Eileen Nepomuceno danced hula. Harry Soria emceed in fine style. Jay Larrin gave the blessing. Sonny said he thought he and Alan Akaka, who picked him up, were going to play music for Mark and Diane Robinson's party. They did play music, joined by Kaipo Asing. Sonny's sisters, Iwalani Stone and Anita Roberts, brought the house down on a duet of "Leialoha Lei Makamae." Melveen Leed, Bucky Leslie and Ben Chapman sang. Emme Tomimbang got in on the fun ...
'Call it the BVDivas'
So Local Diva Loyal Garner tells Jimmy Borges, "You guys should form a group and call it the BVDivas." Many entertainers were at Ciao Mein's 9th birthday party last Saturday, greeted by Mai Tai Sing and Vital Dimonte. Cathy Foy, with keyboarder Althea Train and drummer Keoki Van Orden, sang her heart out. Jimmy warmed Mai Tai's heart, singing "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," her old town. Comic Pat Morita destroyed the same song. Divas Melveen Leed, Carole Kai, Nohelani Cypriano and Garner -- sounded much better. Mary Gutzi sang. Guests included Sydette Sakauye, Guido Salmaggi, Augie Rey, Pamela Young and Gary Sprinkle and Rene Mansho ... Mamo Howell's happy Rene wore a Mamo design on her recent Jay Leno guest spot ...Ed Hancock is leaving as Hoku's G.M. Kevin Hee will be in charge until a successor is named ... Kahala Mandarin guests may be able to spot Nicholas Cage and Christian Slater at the hotel. They're here filming "Windtalkers" ... David Mirisch, of the filmmaking family, and George Lazenby, who was James Bond in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," golfed at the Hawaii Prince Thursday and had lunch with golf director Garrick Iwamuro ... Hilton Village food and beverage chief Ted Sakai has been promoted to top assistant to Hilton Waikoloa G.M. Dieter Seeger. Ted recently became engaged to Cindy Taam during dinner at the Bali ... Mari Frey and Jon Sutherland marry at Wyoming's H.F. Bar Ranch today ... Another Dixie Grill opens tomorrow in Aiea ...
Coble, Heftel, Moffatt shine
Linda Coble's dynamic speech praising Cec Heftel and the impressive tribute to Tom Moffatt were highlights of the March of Dimes inaugural Iolani Awards for isle TV and radio last weekend at the Royal Hawaiian. Cec and Tom received Lifetime Achievement awards. Linda sounded like a world-class anchorwoman in tracing Cec's career. She said Cec put her on KGMB-TV news over news chief Bob Sevey's objections and later paid for her "eye job." Tim Tindall, who calls Cec his mentor, came here with him years ago. He said he was Linda's warm-up act. "You just kinda feel kinda nice and warm inside," Cec said about his award. He and Don Ho gave Tom his award. "I'm very honored, very happy," Tom said ...
Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin in the streets
of downtown Honolulu during World War II, writes of
people, places and things every Saturday.
E-mail him at bwood@starbulletin.com