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Hawaii

By Dave Donnelly

Thursday, August 23, 2001


Chef Michel, 94, going
fishing in Alaska

THE man many consider the father of fine French cuisine, Auguste Escoffier, lived into his 89th year, something of a miracle considering all the rich food he prepared and consumed over the years. But he has nothing over Hawaii's own French chef extraordinaire, Michel Martin, who founded Michel's in Wahiawa and moved into the Colony Surf before departing to open Chez Michel's first on Kalakaua Ave. and later in Eaton Square. Michel is now 94 years old, and is hardly slowing down. He leaves tomorrow for his annual two-week fishing trek to Alaska, after which he returns to Honolulu for a week before taking off on a holiday in France. We should all be in such hearty shape ...

LAVOSH maker to the stars Rolf Winkler and former Beethoven's Fifth and Sugar Bar owner Peter Birnbaum are scarcely in the same league with Martin. The two were part of a full house of folks lunching at Mariposa in Neiman-Marcus Tuesday, and Birnbaum returns tomorrow to his new home in Molokai where he can settle into his retirement. Oh, he might participate in the pushing of the mule down the main street of Kaunakakai, but that's as active as he'll get ...

AND speaking of being in shape, the staff at the Honolulu Club practices the regimen it preaches. In training for the elite Kona Ironman Triathlon on Oct. 6 are spinning instructors Raul Torres and Chris Tang, physical therapist Jaco Van Delden and fitness instructor Tanya Florin. The pressure is really on Van Delden, who's entered in the competition for the first time, while Florin has done it three times, Tang has competed six times and Torres has a whopping 10 finishes ...

Slam dunk

SOME members of the press and airwaves seemed a bit miffed that ex-NBA great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar gave them comparatively little time when in town to help promote his Montego Joe's Caribbean Festival through Sunday. After spending time with the kids and their families at Ronald McDonald House, Abdul-Jabbar spoke with the press, but few were aware that after they left, the basketball legend then quietly called on sick kids hospitalized at Kapiolani Hospital. He didn't leave until shaking hands with all and passing out photos, which he autographed for the kids. The Montego Joe's fest is a benefit for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawaii, as well as Worknet, a local organization that trains at-risk young people for the culinary profession ...

TONIGHT'S your last time to see and hear Abe Lagrimas Jr. and a jazz ensemble before he departs to Berklee College of Music in Boston. His group will perform tonight beginning at 8 p.m. at Studio 6 in the Musicians Association Bldg. at 949 Kapiolani. You can also check out a feature on Lagrimas in this month's issue of Honolulu magazine ...

Ho Ho

QUESTION: Is Don Ho, who just turned 71, responsible for daughter Hoku becoming a national musical presence, or is she keeping him afloat? Possibly a little of both. At any rate, both dad and daughter are pictured on the cover of the September/October issue of Amateur Chef magazine. Chefs Don Maruyama (Waikiki Parc) and Sam Choy, hardly amateurs, are also featured in the magazine ...



Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.

Contact Dave by e-mail: ddonnelly@starbulletin.com



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