TheBuzz
TheBuzz
The space between Club Safari and Club Memories at 1356 Kapiolani Blvd. is open under new management. Hey voter, new in town?
Jokingly called "Club Tanonaka" in a Monday news release, it is the "Dalton for Hawaii" headquarters from whence Dalton Tanonaka is seeking the Republican Party nomination for lieutenant governor.
"I'm half Korean," he said, and doesn't want his Korean constituents to take the winking reference to neighboring hostess bars as an offense.
The space used to be a clothing store, Tanonaka said. "We have a couple dressing rooms turned into closets."
This evening the headquarters of "Dalton for Hawaii" hosts a grand opening coffee hour at 6 p.m.
It will open with some networking and "pupus and stuff and then I'll give a short message," Tanonaka said, "and then we'll see where it goes."
A karaoke machine will be standing by at the ready in case Tanonaka's platform puts a song in anyone's heart.
As for whether the coffee will be served by hostesses: "We're going to have Dalton do it personally. We're a low-budget operation," Communications Director Jennifer Li said.
Whale of a fund-raiser
Soroptomists International West Maui has "something to spout about" -- its Whale Mania Maui fund-raiser for next whale-watching season.Taking a cue from mainland organizations' fund-raising efforts -- such as Horse Mania in Lexington, the Big Pig Gig in Cincinnati, Cows on Parade in Chicago and LizArt in Orlando -- Whale Mania will raise funds through commissioning and auctioning whale art which is to be displayed around Maui.
A few businesses and individuals have already stepped forward to help launch the fund-raising effort, including registering and maintaining the Web site at www.whalemaniamaui.com.
Funds donated by sponsors will supply artists with a commission and the cost of materials.
The whale art can be displayed at sponsors' places of business and in February 2003 the pieces will be auctioned.
Auction proceeds will be divided -- half to a charity of the sponsor's choice and half to fund Soroptomist scholarships and awards on the Valley Isle, according to Jeanne Simanek, member of the larger Soroptomists International of Maui.
The West Maui chapter is "smaller, so we help them out on big projects," she said.
The organization will produce and distribute a map of locations where the whales are displayed to encourage residents and visitors to "walk around Maui," and support the businesses which are supporting the arts and the community, she said.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com