Honolulu Lite
The staff parade from the News Building to the new Star-Bulletin offices at Restaurant Row was over, the blessings completed, and staffers old and new scattered -- some immediately working on the next day's paper, others down to the various Row watering holes to raise a glass to the Brave New World of Hawaii journalism. Clink! This
Lite’s for BudThat was only a week ago today, and I was one of those who headed to Jose's Cantina to toast to the future. I sat at the open-air bar with Brett Uprichard, managing editor of Island Business magazine but better known by many for his photography that has appeared for years in Honolulu Magazine.
We talked about the old days, which you are apt to do when the new days are upon you. As we talked, Brett noticed several veteran staffers sitting at a round table in the corner of the restaurant. Business writer Russ Lynch was there. So was Dave Donnelly, along with editorial columnist Bud Smyser, his wife Dee and a few others. It looked an awful lot like the old "Round Table" at the Columbia Inn, the renowned gathering place for decades for journalists, politicians and local characters.
The Columbia Inn closed just weeks before the Star-Bulletin moved. People wondered, Where would everyone congregate without the Round Table?
As Brett looked over at the group in the corner of Jose's, he said, "Hey, that looks like the new Round Table! I've got to get a picture."
He unpacked a tiny electronic digital camera and walked over to the round table. Just as he was about to take the picture, an amazing thing happened: Bud Smyser started to get up, saying he didn't belong in the picture. I was reminded how humble Bud was. After more than 50 years as a leader in Hawaii journalism, he was still just this cool, down-to-earth guy who didn't want to get into anyone else's picture.
Of course, Brett knew that if anyone deserved to be in such a historic photo, it was Bud. And so did everyone else at the table. They forced Bud to remain in the shot and in good humor, Bud stood and smiled or the camera.
On their way out, Bud and Dee stopped at the bar to say good-bye. He greeted me with his usual jolly "Hullo, Charles!" He was one of those guys who made you smile; you just felt good when he was around. As I shook his hand, there was no way I could have known that would be the last time I would ever see Bud Smyser. A few days later, the 80-year-old editor accidentally fell at home and hit his head. He later died in the hospital.
I'm looking forward to getting a copy of the final photo Brett took of Bud. It will remind me that life is short and the best you can do is live it with honor, good humor and dignity. Bud Smyser did that and more. It will also remind me that it's good to toast to the future, but great to appreciate the present.
Charles Memminger, winner of
National Society of Newspaper Columnists
awards in 1994 and 1992, writes "Honolulu Lite"
Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Write to him at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin,
P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, 96802
or send E-mail to cmemminger@starbulletin.com.
The Honolulu Lite online archive is at:
https://archives.starbulletin.com/lite