Hawaii
SOME 850 people were being treated to dinner at the new Capitol building by the proud contractor, Lloyd Martin, when it became apparent to everyone that the place leaks frightfully. So much water came in during the rain, in fact, that Alex Castro is pushing for the state to rename the Capitol building Likelike Palace. (March 18, 1969) ... Some 50 gals in the Waikiki Bank of Hawaii building wore pink dresses yesterday in honor of Don Genhart, affectionately known in hotel circles as "Mr. Think Pink." The Royal Hawaiian sales manager was moving his office from the Bankoh building to the Royal proper, and was totally unprepared for the pink sendoff. Don was wearing yellow and brown yesterday. (March 19, 1971) ... 1971: Raindrops kept falling
on heads at new CapitolAFTER reading in a nostalgic Mainland publication that "Ish Kabibble, ex-Kay Kyser singer-trumpeter, died, probably in California, several years ago," Merwyn Bogue (the one and only Ish Kabibble) wrote the editor and told him that like Mark Twain, reports of his death were greatly exaggerated, and that he's alive and well and VP of World Marketing-Hawaii land sales company. (March 20, 1973) ...
LATEST reported streakers (and it's nearing the point where it's an item if someone DOESN'T streak) were at the St. Patrick's Day Parade, duly captured on film by crack TV crews; through the International Market Place this past weekend; and earlier on, a trio of unattired men streaked across the set of KITV's 6 o'clock news report to qualify as the first TV streakers. All right, enough already. After all, baseball season is getting under way, and as everyone knows, three streaks and you're out. (March 19, 1974) ...
WHAT could be more fitting than, in the words of the Western Airlines commercial, "The 1812 Overture -- With Cannon." That's who the Honolulu Symphony is pitching to conduct the orchestra at the superchic "Symphony in 4/4 Time" at the Hyatt Regency, April 8. Frank Cannon, that is, the TV character created by actor Bill Conrad. Conrad has conducted orchestras in other cities for fund-raisers, and indicated on the phone yesterday he'd love to conduct in Honolulu. (March 20, 1978) ... Gene Axelrod is happy he didn't remove the Notre Dame sticker from his bumper, which had been put there as a gag: He's a Purdue grad. Seems a policeman stopped him for speeding the other day, but when he noticed the sticker, he remarked that he had a son going to Notre Dame himself and let Axelrod off with a warning. Talk about the luck of the Irish. (March 19, 1981) ...
HOW fitting it was that on St. Patrick's Day, the final threesome to tee off in the Women's Kemper Open at Kaanapali were all Irish. I had an inkling that someone of Irish descent would walk away with the LPGA crown (and Waterford Crystal award) on Paddy's Day, but if the truth be known, I was leaning toward Patty Sheehan. Or possibly Pat Bradley. But there, sinking a 15-foot putt on the 18th hole to edge Bradley for the winner's share of the pot was Jane Blalock. What's that, you say? She's not Irish? Sure she is, me boyos. "My mother's father came from Country Cork," Blalock told me before her win, "and I'm going to take her back there this fall. I'm really looking forward to it." The $45,000 prize money can go a long way toward helping the Kemper winner make the trip. (March 18, 1985) ...
HERE'S another example of why you should double-check any bill you receive. Yesterday we itemed about Don Over discovering his water bill was $1,000 more than it should have been. Now Mary Poole reveals that when she checked her latest pediatrician's bill, there was an $87.36 charge for a circumcision. Since the patient in question was Poole's 2-year-old daughter, Kate, she found the bill a bit out of line, but not before getting a chuckle out of it. Says Poole, "Kate didn't even cry." (March 22, 1991) ...
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