Hawaii
1971: Bette Midler’s
campy comedy attracts
vocal fansTHE WEEK THAT WAS
PHILADELPHIA is known as the City of Brotherly Love -- but not Next-Door-Neighborly Love, apparently. Former Honolulan Bob Arrow and wife, pianist Susan Starr, have been taken to court by their next-door neighbor, Dr. James Gaither, who wants Miss Starr to stop practicing between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Dr. Gaither says he's requested the halt of midnight recitals since late last year, to no avail. Critics all over the world have hailed Miss Starr's playing, but they didn't have to listen in the middle of the night. This lawsuit illustrates that there's no pleasing everybody, though Arrow hasn't been heard to complain as yet. (Oct. 8, 1969) ...THE local bus line in San Diego has a new ad campaign urging folks to "Take the Bus to Hawaii." No, they've not gone bananas -- the campaign claims that by taking the bus instead of a car, you save $1,233 per year, with which to go to Hawaii. A bit of free publicity for the isles. (Oct. 7, 1970) ... Aiea gal Bette Midler got a fine review for her Downstairs at the Upstairs act in N.Y. from Variety. The paper noted that, like Judy Garland, Bette's act has attracted "many gay specimens" who are "vociferous and appreciative" of her comedy and camp. (Oct. 8, 1971) ...
Don Robbs, who hosted a TV show for several years on Channel 4 before buying a radio station in Oregon, is returning to the islands. No definite job lined up as yet, but he's subscribing to the Sunday paper to check out both job and real estate possibilities. He expects to be back in the islands around the first of December, but writes, "If we are still here at Christmas, I will shoot down Santa's sleigh." Welcome home, Don. (Oct. 11, 1976) ...
THE 40th-birthday party of Chris Hemmeter Saturday night was easily THE party of the year. I mean, where else do you have an entire uniformed high school band march up just to play "Happy Birthday" and march off? A gigantic fireworks display costing who knows how many thousands of dollars climaxed the evening as "Happy Birthday Chris" was spelled out in fireworks behind the stage on which the Kailua Madrigals were performing. Meanwhile, Ken Alford's Dixiecats were performing in the hay-strewn American tent (followed by a disco group), and a string quartet played quiet music in the European/Contintental area while bartenders and waiters in black tie and tails poured champagne or whatever. The scene of the festivities was the Nuuanu estate of Henry Shigekane, Hemmeter's lawyer, and the Hyatt Regency's Sigi Brauer provided the various foods of which there were enormous amounts. A good thing, too, because there were 800 guests on hand, not to mention 200 performers. (Oct. 8, 1979) ...
IT must be costing Digital Equipment, the nation's second-largest computer company, a pretty penny to hold Big Isle meetings this week. For starters, they took over the entire Mauna Lani Bay Resort for 10 days! And to show their appreciation to hotel personnel, Digital flew in 500 lobsters and seven bushels of clams for a staff party. They couldn't book any space on interisland aircraft Friday because the planes were filled with bikes for the Ironman Triathlon, so Digital chartered a plane and then a helicopter to take the lobsters and clams from the Kona airport to the 10th green of the Mauna Lani golf course, where hotel execs unloaded the precious booty and began Kohala's most spectacular clambake and lobster feed to date. (Oct. 9, 1984) ...
Kris Kristofferson showed up to duet with Al Harrington at the Polynesian Palace last week. The "Blood and Orchids" star and the "South Pacific Man" go back to pre-college days when they worked together for a construction company on Wake Island. Kristofferson went on to become a Rhodes scholar and Harrington a teacher/entertainer. (Oct. 7, 1985) ... Construction workers are putting the final touches on the exterior restoration of the historic Gump Building in Waikiki. They'd better hurry, too, because the doors will be open for business on Saturday. Since purchasing the building last year, Louis Vuitton has been restoring the site to house the largest Louis Vuitton boutique in the world outside of Paris. (Oct. 7, 1992) ...
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.
The Week That Was recalls items from Dave's 30 years of columns.Contact Dave by e-mail: ddonnelly@starbulletin.com