Wood Craft
It was memory time in the Ala Moana Hotel's Mahina Lounge Wednesday night when singer-bassist Russ Trinidad, who has been living in Florida, sat in with his former band leader, pianist Kit Samson. Musicians and singers who have been with Kit over the years performed. Singers included Kathy Mitchell, Maria Naylor, Kimberlie Bradford, Steve Lucas, Bobby Roberts, Armando Suarez and Al Romero and his hula dancing daughter, Maxine. Musicians joining in were Rocky Holmes, Miles Jackson and percussionist Butch Nichols. Many guests from Kit's days at the old Kahala Hilton were in the audience, savoring the abundance of talent ... Kit, Russ swing down
musical memory lane
Honors for Eddie Kamae
Ukulele master, filmmaker and all-around good guy Eddie Kamae will be inducted into the Ukulele Hall of Fame at the hall's museum in Upper Montclair, N.J., Sept. 9. Eddie is the only living person to be inducted. Arthur Godfrey will also be inducted with Eddie. King David Kalakaua was the inaugural inductee. Others in the hall include Samuel Kamaka Sr., Manuel Nunes and Ernest Kaai. Eddie can't make the trip so UH Music Professor Byron Yasui will stand in for him and solo on the uke. Eddie's film, "The Sons of Hawaii: a Sound, a Band, a Legend," will be shown. Eddie formed the Sons in 1960. Kamaka's grandson Chris, Bryan Tolentino and Asa Young will perform Sons of Hawaii songs ...OnJin Kim is happy most the construction in front of her Kamakee Street restaurant, OnJin's Cafe," near the Ward Theaters complex is wrapped up so lunch and dinner customers won't avoid the area. "They said the roadwork would take two months, but it took six," said OnJin, former chef at Bagwell's and Hanatei. OnJin's food, presentation and service are outstanding. Food and wine prices are reasonable ...
Jimmy Blaisdell, 86, Roosevelt football coach in the early 1940s, is home from Texas for a Blaisdell family reunion with wife, Molly. A gathering with former players was held at the home of Charlie and Mary Warrington last weekend. Attending were Mike Topolinski, Tommy Unger, Paul Fernandez, Cliff Faria, Dexter Dickson and James Kula. Blaisdell's team won the high school championship in 1943 ...
Wahine polo challenge
Polo at Waimanalo tomorrow features the Wahine Challenge, 3 p.m., with two women's teams -- Wicked Wahines and Divas -- battling for the trophy. Sponsors are Beachcomber Realty and Prosperity Corner. Entry is $3 ... Former KGMB-TV sports anchor, Neil Everett, now with ESPN, will be on the station's Sports Center today at 1 p.m. and at noon next Saturday ... The Academy of Arts Showcase, the academy's major fund-raiser, is scheduled tomorrow, but the Showcase preview art sale is open to the public today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Art is priced from $100 up. Showcase chairs are Joyce Tomonari and Stephanie Hee ...Cheers to Escada manager Mariese Montano-Smith, who has a birthday Wednesday ... The Frank B. Shaner Hawaiian Falsetto Contest will be held at the Hawaii Theatre next Saturday... Sad to learn of the Monday death of June Denny, 72, wife of pianist Martin Denny. June suffered from emphysema and osteoporosis for years ...
Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin in the streets
of downtown Honolulu during World War II, writes of
people, places and things every Saturday.
E-mail him at bwood@starbulletin.com