Hawaii
IF you're a fan of the piano, mark July 8 on your calendar. That's when Pianomania is set to take place at 1 p.m. and again at 4:30 p.m. at the Hawaii Theatre. The Hawaii Music Teachers Association is presenting more than 350 piano students performing, some coming from Hawaii and Kauai as well as Oahu. (Too busy surfing on Maui, or what?) Both concerts will feature about 260 performers playing in ensembles, utilizing up to 14 pianos. Who knows, you may discover the next Diana Krall or even Ignacy Jan Paderewski. It was the great Polish pianist who came up with the epigram all these young students should commit to memory: "If I don't practice for one day, I know it; if I don't practice for two days, the critics know it; if I don't practice for three days, the audience knows it." ... Pianomania converges
on Hawaii TheatreONE young man who made it to Broadway, only to be taken before his time, was Francis Ruivivar, brother of Tony Ruivivar, leader of the Society of Seven. The SOS showroom at the Outrigger was the scene of a music-filled send-off to Francis, who died at the age of 40 last week of leukemia. Performer after performer paid tribute to Ruivivar, who starred in two Broadway shows, and the cliche held true -- there wasn't a dry eye in the house ...
WE visited with promoter Kimo McVay and his family at Kaiser's Critical Care Unit and it was somewhat surprising to see his wife, Betsy McVay, more or less in charge of the situation from her wheelchair. She suffers from multiple sclerosis and for the past few years, Kimo has been looking after her. Their two daughters, Lindsay and Melissa, were there with their husbands, the latter having just arrived that day from the mainland. Kimo managed to get out a few words, but we all had a good laugh over the fact we could talk about him and he had to take it without the comeback, his trademark. Betsy hopes to eventually get her husband settled in a hospice where he'll have better care than she can give him under the circumstances ...
Taco Grande, por favor
NEW Compadres G.M. John Langan jumped at the opportunity to host the second annual Aloha Airlines Maverick Football clinic, a benefit for Parents and Children Together. Langan attended the Joe Namath football camp when he was in high school and never forgot the experience. Kids from around the state are attending the two-day camp at Iolani School for coaching from a large group of NFL'ers, and they'll help the pro grinders put away the tacos and whatever at the big dinner tonight ...
Musical weekend
THE Esprit Nightclub in the Sheraton Waikiki is having a grand-opening party tonight and tomorrow featuring a dynamite duo, the band Honolulu coupled with Tino & The Rhythm Klub. The party will introduce the two newest members of Honolulu, original Krush member Bobby Gonzales and Amado Cacho, formerly with H-3. Rhythm Klub leader Tino Ibach got some national attention when he went to the finals on Dick Clark's show, "Your Big Break." For more info, call the Esprit at 922-4422 ... And don't forget it's Del Courtney with Jimmy Borges and his 14-piece big band playing swing for dancing Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Blue Tropix ...
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.Contact Dave by e-mail: ddonnelly@starbulletin.com