Hawaii
YOU don't think every penny counts? Don't tell that to Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana. He became the first person to initiate American Savings Bank's newest check cashing automated teller machine at the new branch in the Kahului Wal-Mart. Not only does the ATM dispense cash withdrawals and accept deposits, it also cashes checks -- to the penny! After a quick lesson from American Savings' CEO Constance Lau, Mayor Apana stepped up to the ATM, hit the right buttons, inserted a sample check for $1.31 -- and to his surprise, out came a dollar bill, a quarter, a nickel and a penny. The clever new machine also dispenses $5, $20 and $50 bills. Incidentally, the new Wal-Mart American Savings is the bank's third new branch this year and its 70th overall ... Penny cashed is
a penny earned
for Maui mayorAFTER learning that Continental Airlines had become the official carrier of the NBA, the airline's local rep, Ron Wright, ran out and bought a Knicks jersey. As part of the partnership between the Knicks and the airline, Continental will donate 5,000 frequent flyer miles to the Firefighter and Patrolmen's Widows' and Children's' Fund for every free throw made by guard Allan Houston this season. And if he has another year like last year, more than 1.5 million miles will be donated ...
COMIC Fred Ball (aka "Good Old Professor Fun") reports he was thrilled to get a call from Marcel Marceau when he was in town for the French Festival. "The phone rang," said Ball, "and when I picked it up, no one spoke, so I knew it must have been Marceau." The famed mime was probably down at Compadres downing a margarita or two, to which he gave a "thumbs up" ...
Up a tree
IF you're wondering who that beret-clad accordion player at the French Festival was, his name is Wallen Ellingson. That name brings a smile to me since we started called the late whiskey drummer Warren Johnston "Wallen" after a local Columbia Inn waitress couldn't say "Warren." As for Ellingson, he's taken his share of jibes for playing accordion (as most squeeze-box players do) but remembers when it was a pretty cool instrument before Elvis popularized the guitar. But he gets by during the French Festival and especially during Oktoberfest, but the rest of the time admits he's out on a limb. You see, he's a professional tree trimmer ...THE Austrian Ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Peter Moser, will be joining the Austrian Consul General in Hawaii, J. Hans Strasser, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the first Austrian Consulate in Hawaii in 1976. Festivities will be Nov. 30 at the Honolulu Academy of Arts ...
Retired stepping up
THEY may be officially retired, but members of the Hawaii Chapter of the Retired Officers Association -- members are from all the services -- are working together to promote their third annual "Helping Hawaii Foodbank Help Hawaii." It'll be held Nov. 17 at Hickam Air Force Base and a full Thanksgiving menu is only $10 per member and guest, and all are encouraged to bring food donations. Musicians from the Pacific Fleet Band will entertain and there'll be a silent auction with every dollar collected going to the Foodbank. For more info, or to make a donation, call Roxanna Faith at 488-0185 ...
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