Hawaii
YOU just never know who's reading this column. Last week, the day after an item here about the Bank of Honolulu auction, including a safe that couldn't be opened, containing who knows what, representatives of the FBI and the FDIC showed up at the old bank headquarters. They'd heard about the safe, and given it belonged to millionaire Sukamto Sia, wanted to have a look inside. That's why they brought a safecracker along with them. He cracked the safe and the officials removed some bank papers, but left behind packets and packets of filled moneybags. And what were they filled with? More empty moneybags. One more shot at a possible fortune down the drain, and Geraldo Rivera needn't show up. Auction supervisor Paul Klink said the auction was a huge success ... FBI discovers moneybags
but no money in Sia’s safeSPEAKING of SS (as pals of Sia call him), the former Bank of Honolulu honcho is holding an engagement party a couple of days after Valentine's Day to announce officially that he and his girlfriend of 11 years, Kelly Randall, are going to get married. No wedding date will be announced ... Former Honolulu Symphony official Bob Sandla and wife Mary Lou popped in from their Florida home to visit their son, who still lives in Hawaii. They saw lots of old friends while lunching at Murphy's, including longtime adman Marty Schiller and Ray Sweeney of Sweeney Communications ... Isle businessman Jim Salter found himself in the seat adjacent to new Colorado Rockies outfielder Benny Agbayani during a brief jaunt to the mainland, and when he was returning a couple of days later, who should plop down in the seat next to him but the one and the same Agbayani. What are the odds? ...
Hawaii 5-0
HARD to believe, but promoter Tom Moffatt is celebrating his 50th year in the arts in Hawaii this year, and a tribute to him will take place Feb. 9 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village as a fund-raiser for Manoa Valley Theatre. It was at a theater in Manoa, Farrington Hall on the UH campus, to be specific, where Moffatt was first mentioned in the paper when he opened in Sean O'Casey's "Juno and the Paycock" in January of 1952. For decades a DJ, and now a promoter, Moffatt as a young UH student had a full head of hair -- now gone -- but his love of showbiz goes on. Tickets to the MVT tribute to "Uncle Tom," emceed by TV news anchorman Joe Moore, can be obtained through the theater at 988-6131 ...SPEAKING of Moffatt, he's still promoting away and on Feb. 17, is presenting at Blaisdell Arena Chubby Checker (aka Ernest Evans), Dee Dee Sharp and Hawaii's own Yvonne Elliman, who gained national fame as Mary Magdalene in "Jesus Christ Superstar." ... Preceding that rock show will be another, presented by Hot Lava Entertainment, starring the Isley Brothers, which will take place Feb. 9, also at the Blaisdell ...
Valentine goodies
It's "La Feste de San Valentino" at Cafe Che Pasta at Bishop Square Friday from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Those who drop by can sample Italian antipasti and vino, and perhaps find a Valentine gift from the likes of local goldsmith Paolo Migotti, artist Luigi Fumagalli, and items from Gucci, Prada, Dolce and Gabbana & Fendi ...
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