Hawaii
MAORI singer Rhonda is that rarity, a woman not afraid to admit she's turning 50. To celebrate, she's presenting a show, "Rhonda and the Children of the World" on Nov. 18 at the Dole ballrooms, and releasing a CD, "Children of the World," simultaneously. Rhonda wrote the show along with her ex-husband, Jock Ruddock, and it features a variety of musical styles ranging from Polynesian to Broadway to Rock 'n' Roll ... Speaking of kids, HMSA Sr. V.P. Cliff Cisco, who reluctantly answers to the nickname, the Cisco Kid, has a new rhyme: "Anything free ... tickles me." He's referring to the Sept. 11 Member Protection Program, which extends free health coverage to kids for up to three months. Cisco says it can help laid-off parents make it through the holidays with one less thing to worry about. "Now," says the Kid, "if only someone could outlaw the giving of the 10-pound fruitcake at Christmas." ... Isle artist is young at heart
and it’s making her singNOT one, but two plays open tonight on the Windward Side and they're as different as day and night. HPU opens the musical version of James Joyce's "The Dead" on its Windward campus theater, running through Dec. 9, and the Lanikai Mortgage Players resume their periodic performances tonight at the Lanikai Community Center with the melodrama, "Skulduggery Sails the Atlantic." Localite Nelson Shreve wrote the work about the "S.S. Gigantic" -- any resemblance to the Titanic is unavoidable -- and the "mellerdrama" description of the play is a hoot: "She made her maiden voyage but didn't come across." It plays there for two weekends ...
Art and all that jazz
JAZZ lovers have been looking forward to this one: The annual Sunset Jazz evening at La Pietra on the grounds of the Florentine estate of the late Walter & Louise Dillingham on Nov. 18. It's a great place to lay out a picnic, lie back and listen to the music of Gabe Baltazar and vocal stylings of Shari Lynn and Jimmy Borges. You can let your imagination run wild: You're guests of the Dillinghams at one of their elegant parties, and enjoy dessert, wine or soft drinks and coffee. One difference is it'll cost you $25. But if you come in the afternoon before the music starts, you can get in free and check out the artworks of Hiroshi Tagami and Michael Powell, wood-turned bowls by Scot Sullivan, glass art by Babs Miyano-Young and ceramics by Lois Miyana Tselentis. The art show and sale takes place on both Nov. 17 and 18 ...THE wedding taking place on the Diamond Head Theater lanai tonight is between Josh Harris, who plays Daddy Warbucks in the upcoming "Annie," and Jennifer Parales. I referred to her earlier this week as Francis Perkins, the character she plays in the musical ... Mimi Chen's CD featuring Hawaiian songs in both English and Chinese got a nice mention in the national publication Music Connection ...
Weekend feed
PEOPLE lunching at Auntie Pasto's on Beretania Wednesday were surprised when Mayor Jeremy Harris dropped in for a bite. He was probably getting a preview of owner Ed Wary's cuisine, since he's one of those spearheading the big Waikiki "Sunset on the Beach" tomorrow and Sunday with food, entertainment and movies ...
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