Hawaii
WATCHING that burned-out tanker, Insiko, being towed past Waikiki and Kakaako yesterday en route to Pier 24, the conclusion was inescapable that this was the strangest story destined to be on the Top 10 list for 2002. The story revolves around the skipper's dog, Forgea (or, as it is now known, Hok Get), left on board due to language difficulties when crewmen were rescued by the Norwegian Star. And how the Hawaiian Humane Society volunteered to put up $50,000 to rescue her; how a Humane Society dog handler from Montana flew up, but never got to the dog since Coast Guardsmen with food brought her out easily. So all is well, right? Not quite. The dog, which spent 25 days at sea alone on the Insiko, now has 120 more days of jail -- uh, quarantine -- time to look forward to. The owner? Says he's too busy to come to Honolulu to meet his mutt. Bizarre ... Hok Get survives ordeal
only to go to doggy jailCOMPADRES held a May Day reunion party of old employees and staged a contest whereby the winner of the oldest restaurant shirt brought in would win an all-you-can-eat oyster party. Anyone knowing Paul Robotti, original Compadres employee before taking over as GM of the Row Bar in Restaurant Row, won't be surprised to see him win. Robotti showed up with a 1984 aloha shirt bearing a Compadres logo, amazing current GM John Langan. To call Paul "portly" would hardly do him justice, but I'd like to see the number of employees Langan puts on shucking oysters until he's concluded his "all-you-can-eat" party ...
Next stop: Quebec
IF you're lucky enough to be in Waimea on the Big Island next Friday and Saturday, you can get a preview of the group about to hear shouts of "tres bien" in Quebec, Canada. It's the annual Hawaiian Dance Concert by Halau Hula Ka No'eau on May 10 and 11 at the Kahilu Theatre. This formal dance academy was established and is run by Michael Pili Pang. Because of the Quebec appearances, the troupe will not perform this year on Oahu and Maui, as in previous years ...FRIENDS of Rainbow Photo Lab's Brad Wong describe him as humble, quiet and hardworking, traits that aren't likely to change despite the fact he was featured in the Star-Bulletin's "At Work" feature recently. "People I haven't seen in years called me and my customers mentioned it all day," said the surprised Wong. He did take a large photo of the piece and sent it to his parents in Taiwan, saying they'll be surprised and proud to see their son doing so well ...
HERE'S one musical you just never tire of seeing: Lionel Bart's brilliant "Oliver!" -- which deserves its exclamation point -- opens to the public May 9 at Richardson Theatre, Fort Shafter. Stephanie Conching directs, and former Star-Bulletin staffer Mark Vogel is musical director for the work. It plays weekends until May 25 ...
Don't book 'em just yet
WHILE there are new moves to turn the CBS cop series, "Hawaii Five-O," into a feature film, don't bet your last dollar on it happening. There have been countless attempts in the past, all to no avail. And it's not easy picturing hardcore "Five-O" fans accepting anyone but the late Jack Lord as McGarrett. So stick it on the back burner ...
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