Hawaii
OFF to the Orient on her Narcissus Tour is Lala Tai. She was queen of the Narcissus Festival last year and is preparing a book on the event called "The Narcissus Festival of Hawaii." Only 18, Lala is the sixth daughter of Robert Tais. Her sisters are named Dodo, Rere, Mimi, Fafa, Soso and Sisi, plus there's Octavia, Roy Uranium and Rex Satellite Tai. (June 24, 1969) ... Speaking of old hometowns, ours has come in for some more publicity. The Associated Press reports that "Nixon and Agnew were sworn into the U.S. Navy Friday morning." They were Barry Nixon and Alice Maria Agnew (neither related to the prez or veep) and both enlisted in our birthplace, Keokuk, Iowa. (June 28, 1971) ... 1969: The Narcissus Tour
sets sail for the OrientWANT to read more about the extent of Japanese investment in Hawaii? Then pick up either Time or Newsweek. The current issues of both news magazines have articles on the subject. Time's is entitled, "The Japanese Invade Hawaii," and Newsweek's is called 'Hawaii's Wave From the East." As Time's story points out, there should be no official hue and cry since the "State government invited the splurge by spending $1 million at Japan's Expo '70 in Osaka to promote investment in the Islands."(June 28, 1972) ... Jim Nabors has spent so much money bunking in suites at the Kahala Hilton over the years that he finally decided to buy his own apartment just down the road at the Kahala Beach. Hope the Kahala doesn't have a financial reversal as a result of the lost income. The friendly Nabors gave Mad Greek diners a treat the other night when he took the stage with a number of others and made like Zorba. (June 17, 1974) ...
AFTER besting Kapalua's Tom Rohr in Waialae's President's Cup golf tourney, Paul Spengler, Sr. got a telegram that arrived the day after the U.S. Open. It read, "Congratulations on your easy victory over Rohr at Waialae. Mine wasn't that simple. Aloha. Hale Irwin." The Open winner represents Kapalua on the PGA tour and loves to tease Rohr. (June 28, 1979) ...
LOVE Match: Argentine tennis star Guillermo Vilas is a firm believer in foreign affairs. For example, he skipped the prestigious Wimbledon tournament for nationalistic reasons, and instead flew to Maui with Princess Caroline of Monaco. If you'd like to check the pea under the mattress, the princess was in Room 27 of the Pioneer Inn. (June 30, 1982) ... Attorneys are expected to know the difference between right and wrong, but Stephen Okano has to go one better: he has to know the difference between White and Wong. Her partners are David White and Donald Wong in the firm Okano Wong and White. (June 26, 1984) ...
KAHALA-Kai photo concession owner Henry Woltag has been living the life of an English country gentleman for the past several years, but recently moved from England to Malibu, separated from wife Cella, and has recently been squiring Zsa Zsa Gabor around the Hollywood party circuit. And how exciting has your life been lately? (June 27, 1986) ...
IF you pass by the corner of Bishop and King streets today, say happy birthday to Harmon Lum. It's the 60th birthday for Lum, who's been selling papers at the corner six days a week since 1952. Friends say he never misses a day and has never taken a vacation ... At the big Chaminade fund-raiser at David Schutter's huge Kahala estate, Aston Hotels honcho Andre Tatibouet won a Rolls Royce and promptly donated it back to the school. Now that's a grand gesture. Incidentally, attorney Schutter has a Rolls of his own with a license plate reading, "SUE EM." He also has a red Ferrari with similar personalized plates: "LITIGR." (June 29, 1989) ...
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.Contact Dave by e-mail: ddonnelly@starbulletin.com