Hawaii
THE scene: Saturday night, Honolulu International Center Concert Hall, Borodin in fortissimo. Enter stage right: One rat (referred to as "mouse" in intermission conversation), which circled the American flag in rhythm with the Polovtsian Dances and then exited stage right. Note: The violin section on that side of the stage is heavily on the distaff side. If the rat (or, if you insist, mouse) ventured further toward the center, there surely would have been some sour notes, or possibly some strolling violinists in the audience. (Dec. 31, 1968) ... 1973: Naked waiters and
lunch debut at Cione’s DunesSEATTLE Symphony conductor Milton Katims told tennis partner Kathryn Murray the anecdote about famous pianist Arthur Rubinstein being asked by his hostess to play after dinner. Rubinstein strode to the piano, played a quick arpeggio and walked away. "You didn't play very much," the brazen hostess told him. "I didn't eat very much either," countered Rubinstein. (Dec. 30, 1970) ... It was a coincidence, but two presidents met at Dan Look's Christmas bash last week. The two, Jim Yoshimura of Island Federal and Howard Hamamoto of Amfac Financial, are competitors with quite a lot in common. Both grew up on Hialoa Lane, attended McKinley High and the University of Hawaii together. Both had kids admitted to Punahou this year, both are the same age, and both have wives working at Bank of Hawaii. And yes -- they are good friends. (Dec. 30, 1971) ...
NAKED LUNCH: Thursday is the day that Jack Cione does his bit for the ladies or whatever by unveiling naked waiters at the Dunes, and featuring nude men in the lunchtime show. Well, we no longer blink when naked females are trotted forth, so why does this strike us as a bit gross? (Jan. 2, 1973) ... Imaginary conversation at yesterday's "ladies' day" luncheon at the Dunes. Customer to nude waiter: "Waiter, there's a fly in my soup." Waiter: "That's impossible. I'm not wearing pants." We didn't see the show, but Hot Dog Annie called and gave it a rave review. (Jan. 5, 1973) ...
AS the U.S. congresswomen arrived here en route to China, they were met by Women's Libbers passing out calendars. Kay Gayler, wife of Adm. Noel Gayler, accepted one with an innocent but telling remark: "Thanks very much -- I'll put it in the kitchen where I'll see it." (Dec. 30, 1975) ... Artist Guy Buffet, back in Honolulu from a painting spree in Maui, reports John McVie of the Fleetwood Mac rock group bought two large paintings of his from the Bryson Gallery. (Jan. 3, 1978) ...
COLONY Surf GM Hans Strasser was on his way home from Michel's the other evening when he encountered one of his guests, a visitor from Vancouver, B.C., in the lobby. Seems she had just had her purse snatched and called the police to report it. Strasser offered his condolences -- there was little else he could do -- and started home only to encounter a police roadblock around the corner on Diamond Head Road and a suspect already in custody. He raced back to the hotel, picked up the victim and drove her to the roadblock, where she identified the suspect and got her purse back with all valuables intact. At last, a happy ending to a purse-snatching story! (Dec. 31, 1979) ...
FROM a letter to the editor of the Star-Bulletin: "It has become of grave concern to me to see the new additions to the island hotels rising far above the accepted heights of the other construction in the Waikiki district. I am very pessimistic about the injury to the palm-swaying beauty if other hotels keep building up in the locality. ... We all certainly would like to see more hotels built to accommodate the tourists, but above all, we'd like to see the naturalness of Waikiki preserved. We hate to see it become another Miami Beach." As you may have guessed, the above wasn't written yesterday. Bob Corboy came across it in the Nov. 25, 1954, edition of the Star-Bulletin. Writer "P.K." was right on but his fears weren't heeded. (Jan. 4, 1989) ...
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