Hawaii
FEEL in the mood for spicy food, with every dish having a chili spice flavor ranging from mild to eye-opening? You might think about the "Chili in August" menu offered through Saturday at Orchids in the Halekulani Hotel. A class in chilis and food preparation using them was held at the hotel's Hau Terrace last week, with the magic heat from chilis applied to veal ribs, stuffed peppers, lamb chops, shrimp and, this may shock you, even crepes, ice cream and chocolate bomb. Helping guests understand what they were eating was Hector Valenzuela, who, after getting his Ph.D. at UH, became known as "Dr. Pepper." Exec sous chef Shawn Smith also aided in explaining how he prepared each dish. Everyone was encouraged to take home the colorful green, red and orange peppers adorning the tables, and Freddie Lee, husband of retired Island Holidays honcho Myrtle Lee, filled two large bags, prompting a pal to ask, "Hey Freddie, opening a pepper shop?" ... Halekulani peppers
palates with chilisI WAS among the thousands of folks completely charmed both by the singing and the young girl musings of 15-year-old vocal phenomenon Charlotte Church at the Arena Saturday night. How could you not love a girl who chose as her final encore, "Oh, Danny Boy." Enough to melt the heart of any Irishman and plenty of those not so lucky as well ... I don't like to think of Don Ho as some kind of surrogate brother-in-law, but my brother in Oklahoma reminded me that yesterday was Ho's 71st birthday, a date he remembers since it's also the 71st birthday of his wife. The only person I've ever found whose birthday is exactly the same date as mine is Margo St. James, who founded the hooker's union in San Francisco ...
Ready to serve
FORMER Island DJ Brock Whaley spent 17 years in Honolulu radio and TV, but when his wife, newscaster Karen Waygood, was hired by CNN in Atlanta, he accompanied her there and hooked on with Cox radio. They've been there for more than a year now, but Whaley just got a jury questionnaire from the Oahu courts. This wasn't one of those forwarded envelopes, but a dated letter sent to their Atlanta address. Here's Whaley's query: Have they upped the travel allowance for those who serve. "I'm only 4,500 each way. Just how many cents per mile does the court pay?" ...
Job security
PRETTY Sweetie Pacarro, who produces the "Perry & Price" show from the Hanohano Room of the Sheraton Waikiki each Saturday, serenaded the two during their latest broadcast. It was their 18th anniversary as an on-air team, so Sweetie welcomed them with "Happy Anniversary" in the style of Marilyn Monroe's "Happy Birthday" to JFK. It took them a few moments to regroup and re-comb their hair after Sweetie ran her fingers through it ... Kapena also stopped by to perform, a great fit as they too were celebrating their 18th anniversary ... But when ex-local postal worker John Tippen showed up atthe show to plug his book, "I Did It," about winning $12 million in Las Vegas, Sweetie directed him to the piano. Huh? Turns out she thought he was singer Jay Larren, who also appeared ...
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.Contact Dave by e-mail: ddonnelly@starbulletin.com