Hawaii
WHILE 24 Americans aboard that U.S. spy plane were forced to land in Hainan island and detained by the Chinese, at least one Hawaii resident was in Hainan and moving about freely, enjoying the tropical island. She's Teri Eads, wife of the senior pastor of the three Aloha Christian Fellowship churches in Hawaii. He's teaching at Beijing University and has had the opportunity to travel all over China. Pastor Don Eads reports via Ead-mail that his wife says however beautiful Hainan is, it's no match for Hawaii and that tourists from America there are routinely overcharged. But more importantly, Pastor Eads says contrary to published reports, the Chinese people do not like their government's stance on the spy plane incident. You can hear more of what he has to say in June, when he'll be home for a month before returning to China. Pastor Eads will be doing speaking engagements on U.S.-China relations, the area where he's studying for his master's degree ... Eads-ing around
island of HainanIF the Eads name sounds familiar, it's probably because of earlier items about Michael and Angel Eads, who are close to graduating from the University of Hawaii. Remarkable, since they are 17 and 15 respectively. Then there's Hoku, their younger brother, who's with his parents in China. He is the top student in his class at the International Academy of Beijing, though he's only been there a month. Hoku, who is only 7, has already tested out of the 8th grade and will probably be in college before you know it, most likely earlier than either of his siblings ...
Young swingers
THE swinging Wongs, mother Gayook and her thirtysomething kids Jennifer & Matthew -- who look for all the world like teenagers -- have been conducting a series of swing dance evenings weekly at the Kapiolani Bandstand, rain or shine. They're primarily designed for beginning or intermediate dancers, and the next two are April 18 and 25. But the Wongs are not simply let-the-good times-rock-'n'-roll-type of folks. They're also using swing dance to teach pre-teen socialization and leadership skills. The program, called "Pre-Teens: Swing Into Adolescence," consists of lessons and exercises conducted through Hui Malama Ohana Youth Services Centers. The Wongs, operating as JMG Inc., use swing dance to teach team-building workshops in the corporate and public sectors. Great way to get the staff together to both have fun and work together. For more info, call Gayook Wong at 236-4082 ...
Soft serve millions
WAS it just me, or did others get the idea that the guy who won the $2 million-plus on the Regis Philbin thing was served up a series of softballs? For the first time, I knew every answer, often before they posted the four possibilities, including the final two questions. I wouldn't exactly yell "fix," but the guy is coming out with a trivia game show, and if it's shown on ABC, you'll have to wonder ... Then there was the pretty, intelligent looking UH student who told a TV interviewer that lack of work during the strike was a "distracter." She looked Bushed, as in George W. "Distraction," perhaps?
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