Hawaii
ISN'T IT IRONIC that Dick Jenson has agreed to do a benefit for the Farrington High football team -- an organization he was once booted out of. But Dick will be at the Shell, June 7, for the team benefit along with Farrington alumni Nephi Hannemann and Earl (Tani) Takaoka, plus Al Harrington, a Punahou grad who was a teammate of Al Espinda, the current Farrington coach. Should be a great show for a good cause. (May 19, 1971) ... THE WEEK THAT WAS
1974: It’s good to be king...
on the island of OahuMauna Kea Beach Hotel guests, normally a taciturn bunch, are nonetheless whispering behind their hands these days, "Isn't that the guy from 'Blazing Saddles?'" And indeed it is -- the movie's writer and producer (and yes, he even acts up in it), Mel Brooks, is guesting at the Big Isle resort with his beautiful wife, Anne Bancroft, who is suddenly less recognizable than he. Also at the Mauna Kea -- and wouldn't a business deal between them be a natural -- is producer Hal Wallis, a regular visitor to the hotel. (May 19, 1974) ...
MAUI'S potato chip king, Dewey Kobayashi, has received more than 3,000 orders (and checks!) since he appeared on the cover of Parade magazine. Kobayashi, who already had more orders than he can fill, and who is loathe to expand his operation for fear of ruining it (Bravo!), has returned all of the checks. More than 50 people simply sent the check and advised Dewey that they'd be willing to wait, no matter how long, for their chips. And now that tour buses have discovered his factory, Kobayashi had to erect a sign announcing a two-bag limit per person. (May 19, 1976) ...
DEAN Witter Reynolds stockbroker Paul Loo has some good news and some bad news for his gas-hungry pals. The good news is that he and wife Vi have just purchased a gas station. The bad news is that it's located in Walnut Creek, Calif. (May 17, 1979) ...
Judge after judge was called to testify in the ticket-fixing trial of Fat Boy Okuda, prompting Judge Thomas Kaulukukui Jr. to ask from the bench after No. 7 was called, "Off the record, am I the only judge working today?" The jury cracked up. (May 25, 1989) ...
AS the community mourns the passing of Tommy Aguilar, who came to Hawaii with "A Chorus Line" in 1979 and put down roots here, friends of the actor/director continue with plans for Sunday's "Anyone Can Whistle" show at the Waikiki Terrace Hotel. Among the performers: Tony Ruivivar from the Society of Seven is flying in early from vacation to participate in the show-stopping "Phantom of the Opera" number; the Brothers Cazimero will open the show, because they have to board a plane to Maui, where they'll perform later in the day; and Loyal Garner is singing before she heads to the Monarch Room to conclude her engagement there. Tommy was so very helpful to me during the production of "Mame" I directed for the Army Community Theatre two years ago. He seemed so energetic staging major musical numbers, you'd never have guessed he was suffering from the effect of AIDS. (May 14, 1993) ...
"The Week That Was" recalls events culled from Dave Donnelly's
three-dot columns over the past 30 years. Donnelly continues to write his
Hawaii column Tuesdays through Fridays in the Star-Bulletin.
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.Contact Dave by e-mail: ddonnelly@starbulletin.com