Hawaii
SURE and the day Irishmen (and women) wait all year for, St. Patrick's Day, is tomorrow, but some people got the jump on it. One was David King, the who created, produced and composed the music for "Spirit of the Dance," where a huge cast is performing at the Hawaii Theatre through Sunday. He and wife Sophie made the long flight from London and arrived at the Kahala Mandarin in advance of the show. No sooner had King checked in and plopped onto the bed than he turned on the TV and saw the Hawaii Theatre featured on the Hawaii Public Television fund-raiser. He made a quick phone call and donated 10 tickets to "Spirit" to KHET, which used them to help their drive ... Getting the jump on
St. Patrick’s DayAfter the opening, the cast held a party to celebrate at Murphy's, and seemed to still be loaded with energy. That's what comes from the fact they range in age from 18 to 22. King says only about 30 percent of the dancers in his six companies are Irish, but most of the rest are British who learned Irish dance at a very early age.
That was brought home when I chatted with Toni McCormick, a member of the new sales staff of Oahu Publications, who was there as a guest. She had her 6-year-old daughter, Alexandra, with her and I asked the youngster if she wanted to be a dancer. "I AM a dancer," Alexandra proclaimed. I asked what kind of dancing she did, and whatever I expected, it wasn't the answer she gave me: "Jazz." Mom chimed in that the talented youngster also did Irish and Scottish dancing. Maybe a future cast member? ...
Shamrocking right along
ANYONE else find it appropriate that on the week leading into St. Patrick's Day the fact that the new president of the University of Hawaii, Evan Dobelle, comes here from Trinity College. OK, so it's the one in Hartford, Conn., and not Dublin, but the name's the same ...ONE member of the "Spirit of the Dance" audience, Cheryl Niggle, says the show made everyone in her party feel Irish, but she and Ginny Dunn, administrative assistant to the theater's Sarah Richards, bragged that they have that privilege all year long. She's a member of Clan Hagan from Cleveland, and was puzzled the other day when a woman walked into her Serendipity Books shop and asked for a psychic reading from Erin. She explained that she didn't have anyone named Erin working there. "You must. Your sign here says 'Erin Go Bragh.' " ...
Spring into action
THE models in Ala Moana Center's Spring Festival this weekend will put a spring in your step. Participating in the Spring Hair Fling will be Miss Hawaii Billie Takaki, Miss Chinatown USA Jennifer Hong, Miss Aloha Hula Tehari Gonzado, Miss Oahu International Jodi Ching, Ms. Hawaii United States Lori Navares, Mrs. Hawaii Pohai Au, Miss Hawaii Teen Amilia McFarlane, Miss Hawaii Junior Teen Mahealani Yadao, Mrs. Oahu Lisa Bangloy and Mrs. Waikiki Kajanda Love. And two "weather girls," Trini Kaopuiki and Ku'ualoha Taylor will also take part in a big hair demonstration Sunday at noon. Rodney Vilanueva will emcee. The models will all wear flowers in their hair for spring ... Now for my fellow folks of Irish ancestry, have a fun but safe St. Patrick's Day ...
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