Hawaii
NO sooner did producer Domingo Los Banos get the rough cut of his documentary about Filipino vets in World War II, than he went to a Hospice community and got permission to show it to one of the 1st Filipino Regiment vets. A rough-cut showing had already been slated for those who could get to it, but this man was bedridden, and Los Banos wanted him to see it. He skipped a UH football game and showed the man the film. After the viewing, the vet, who was very weak and unable to speak, looked at Los Banos and gave him as enthusiastic a shaka sign as he could muster to signify his approval and gratitude. Los Banos gave thanks he made the Hospice visit when he did because two days later, the vet died ... Filipino WWII vet gets
private showing of filmWITH Dec. 7 just three days away, there's much interest in veterans of World War II and particularly the Pearl Harbor attack. Dick Spangler is back in town this week with MilitaryWorld.com, the group that picked up the tab for some 25 financially strapped survivors who otherwise couldn't attend the ceremonies. Spangler is using the opportunity while here to interview survivors for his book on Pearl Harbor and a detailed documentary ...
THERE'S an "old timer's party" of a different sort slated for Murphy's Bar & Grill Thursday evening. These aren't necessarily vets of the war, but of the communications industry skirmishes. Hard to believe founder Ted Sturdivant actually qualified as an "old timer" when he started the thing years ago ...
Faking it
ACTRESS Tamlyn Tomita ("Joy Luck Club." "Karate Kid II") stopped by the Perry & Price show at the Hanohano Room to talk about the movie she's filming on Oahu, "True Love and Mimosa Tea," which also stars Hawaii's own Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa and Elizabeth Lindsey. Tomita's love interest in the movie is her real-life boyfriend, L.A. actor Greg Watanabe. He told the hosts he didn't have to act to be in love with Tomita, but Tamlyn got a laugh when she said she had to dig way down and go far into her past to get that loving feeling for her co-star ...CHRISTMAS came early this year for D.K. and Lori Kodama of Sansei Seafood, with the birth of their first child, Brie -- hey, it could have been Gorgonzola! Christmas came early for the baby, as well, since dad was in New York promoting Hawaii Regional Cuisine and came home with a planeload of baby clothes from Bloomingdales. Too bad there's no best-dressed list for babies ...
E-mailings
FROM Erika Matich, who I mistakenly thought was Miss Hawaii when she was but 14: "My mom, Marci Matich, told me that she and I were in your 'The Week That Was' column a few weeks ago. What a treat to be reminded of that time in our lives. I can hardly believe it's been nearly 20 years. As I sit in a newsroom in frigid Denver, you brought me back to Hawaii -- if only for a few minutes. Thank you for that!" ... Retired Isle anchorman Bob Sevey writes from Olympia, Wa.: "I love your Sunday column. It's filled with items about people whose names I recognize.The daily column reminds me how long we've been gone and how elderly we've become. However, being able to read it beats the alternative." ...
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