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Hawaii
ONCE again there was a Christmasy ale station, uh, aid station, outside Murphy's Bar & Grill to greet the throngs of marathoners who pass by there Marathon merriment
on Nuuanu before heading to East Honolulu. And once again, Don Murphy was dressed like Santa, posing for pictures with camera toting runners, most of them Japanese. This year he was assisted by fellow restaurateur Chris Benson, who has both the natural beard and tummy required of Santa. C.B., as he is called, runs C.B. Henigan's in Los Gatos, Calif., and he flew over this year because his daughter, Melissa, was running. She could pass as a high school girl, but Melissa is a psychologist, though as I noted, hardly the picture of Frasier Crane ...
ANOTHER restaurateur flew in for the marathon. Rick Enos jetted in from California to help his Compadres G.M. Jesse Morta man the aid station fronting the Ilikai. He then went to the Blaisdell Center to cheer on manager Kellie Torres and her team in the gingerbread house-making contest, ending the evening by taking his crew to a holiday dinner at Diamond Head Grill, where manager Miguel Kegel accompanied singer Ginai on the bongo drums for some Santana music ... And speaking of drums, one member of the cast of "Stomp," opening Dec. 20 at the Hawaii Theatre, should feel right at home in Hawaii, though he's a New Yorker making his first visit here. His name: Taro Alexander ...
Ho boy
WAY back when Roger Carroll was a super popular and powerful disc jockey on KMPC in L.A. in the '60s, he was instrumental in getting Don Ho known in Hollywood, spinning his records and plugging his personal appearances in the area. Many years have gone by since their paths crossed again, but Roger and wife Beverly went to the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts the other night to see Ho and he reports the "old guy" still has it. Carroll emails, "The moment he walked out on stage (full house) he had the audience in the palm of his hand, complete control." He was also impressed with the hula dancing Powmaya and says Hoku, Don's daughter, "is going to be a big, big star." The two got together in Ho's dressing room after the show, just like the old days, and they shared laughs and memories ...SINGER Jimmy Borges, asked to perform with the Brothers Cazimero and the Honolulu Symphony, fresh from appearing with Jim Nabors, has memories of his own. He remembers in the early '70s when he played the main showroom of Knight's Inn in Kalihi -- Gabby Pahinui was in a side lounge -- and the Cazimeros used to drop by and take in his show. They had to stand outside, Borges recalled, because they were too young to get in where people were drinking ...
A grand turnout
More than 1,000 took in the Honolulu Boy Choir's annual Christmas Concert at Central Union Church. Among those in attendance were U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, HPD Chief Lee Donohue, Tony Ruivivar of the Society of Seven, who gave out awards to choir members Brian Chung and Todd Tashima, with the top award going to Iolani's Stevie McCall. The awards weren't solely for choral achievement, but achievements in school and the community at large. It was a great present to the community as well -- it was free ... By the way, the Boy Choir has updated its signature "Numbah One Day of Christmas." It's no longer "Twelve television," but "Twelve PlayStations." ...
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