Hawaii
MAYBE Channel 7 should have started the Grammy telecast on a slightly less delayed basis -- say, 6:30 p.m. -- and then it would have ended at 10 p.m. instead of a half-hour later. Some of these award shows run longer than others, but you just had a hunch this one would go on forever when Alicia Keys accepted her first Grammy with a thank-you speech that ran well over the music the producers called up to chase her off. Some of the presenters were unintelligible, but some of the live performances were terrific, particularly "Lady Marmalade," "Drops of Jupiter" by Train and "New York State of Mind" by Tony Bennett and the song's author, Billy Joel. Not to say that Joel has put on weight, but he kept reminding me of Raymond Burr. They say TV puts 10 pounds on you. One oft-nominated Grammy performer, Steven Tyler, got warmed up for the ceremony by relaxing at the Four Seasons in Kohala, which one wag says has more stars than the Betty Ford Clinic. Oh yes, Tyler, resembling a not terribly attractive woman, also did some shopping at the Kona Wal-Mart and fit right in -- scarcely an eyebrow was raised ... Grammy show has highs
and lows but runs too longSOME sort of Grammy for chutzpah should go to the Honolulu Jazz Quartet in its initial KIPO-sponsored "Jazz Night" at Kapono's in the Aloha Tower Marketplace Monday night. Among the songs they performed was one called "Speed Trap," dedicated to the Scam-Cams handing out speeding tickets as fast as the checks can be cashed from those too busy/stupid to complain about the entrapment ... And another inducement to visit the Marketplace takes place on Wednesdays when customers can play "Hip Bingo," which they say is the "in" thing now in New York hotspots ...
Two Boilermakers
WHEN Joseph Yamaoka, GM of Bamboo, the newly renovated boutique hotel in Waikiki, spotted a name on his guest list, he knew immediately that it was the guy who plays defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers. How many other people with the name Chikezie Okeafor would likely find their way to Waikiki? He respected his guest's privacy until just before checkout when he stopped to tell him it was an honor to have him as a guest. It's not that Yamaoka is a 'Niners fan -- he can't stand them because his favorite NFL team is the Vikings. But Okeafor isn't only a 49er. He's also a grad of Purdue, as is Yamaoka. The manager even got the footballer to sign a Bamboo card that reads, "To Joseph. Go Boilers! Go Niners! Mahalo, Chike Okeafor #91." ...
Ever Wary
WHEN Ed Wary, owner of Auntie Pasto's and Dixie Grill, took a night off to go out with wife Tina, he left their 2-year-old, Madeline Rose, in the care of his 85-year-old mother, Nana, visiting from Massachusetts. When Maddy got into something with milk, she had an allergic reaction and Nana had to call the Warys to cut their evening short and rush Maddy to the hospital for a shot. Once home, Nana was so stressed out that she literally had a heart attack. It proved to be mild, and the Castle docs say she's now in better shape than ever ... Not so lucky was former Aloha magazine owner Rick Davis. He suffered another heart attack on Tuesday, and this one proved fatal ...
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