Hawaii
CURSES, foiled again. Did you know the Honolulu Club has its very own resident fencing instructor? And he's Chock full o' guts. That would be Colin Chock, who must yawn each year when the state foil championships roll around. He just won for the sixth time in the past six years ... Bear with me: Local entertainers Ben Vegas, Sam Kapu Jr. and Imua were joined on Ala Moana's CenterStage Saturday by a host of DJs from 93.1 the Q, as the station is called, for the fourth annual Teddy Bear Roundup. Prevent Child Abuse sponsored the event and set as a goal the collection of 2,935 teddy bears, one for each confirmed report of child abuse in Hawaii last year. The goal was exceeded when 3,561 bears were donated and distributed to family shelters, children's hospitals and other organizations that help families in crisis ... Gotta be on guard
against boredomHOLDING a workshop on public relations at the recent OHA small-business conference was Mona Wood. She was impressed with the entrepreneurs ranging from a kayak tour operator to someone wanting to open a native Hawaiian bank. One guy who showed up was Patrick Barrett, who's challenging OHA in court. Wood didn't know what to expect when she saw him there but found him to be a perfect student and gentleman in her session ...
Flush with roaches
HARD to believe the Roach Bowl, conceived by promoter Kimo McVay in 1982 as a logical tie-in to a comedy routine about roaches his then-client, Andy Bumatai, did in his act. (Could that really have been nearly 20 years ago?) Anyway, Bumatai plans to resurrect the routine Saturday night at the Sheraton-Waikiki, when he returns to the stage after a lengthy layoff (retirement?). Bumatai will be appearing with Kalapana and Summer and Michael Paulo. This has inspired McVay to bring back the Tournament of Roaches, long a Columbia Inn Round Table mainstay. Former President George Bush had an entry in the first race with the divinely inspired name "Yellow Roach of Texas" -- you're welcome. Now McVay would like the current president, George W. Bush, to sponsor a roach this year. He even has a name for it: "Dubyaroach." ...
You call this harmony?
The Sounds of Aloha Barbershop Quartet plans to use its harmonizing skills to spoof the disharmony of our presidential elections at its annual spring show, April 27 and 28 at the Hawaii Theatre. The group was founded in 1947, and the 80-member group sings not just four-part barbershop quartet standards, but Hawaiian hapa-haole songs as well. Featured guests in the "political harmony" section of the show are national a cappella champions the Gas House Gang and Hawaii's only female barbershop quartet, Na Leo Lani Sweet Adelines. Preview the group for free at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center Springtime Festival Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m., along with performances by Azure McCall and the Honolulu Jazz Band. Goodies for the kiddies as well. For info call 922-0588 ...THE sport of kings returns to Waimanalo April 29. Polo begins its 15th season at Waimanalo with a polo pony parade and John and Lita Cook's pa'u riders ...
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