Hawaii
WITH yesterday being Memorial Day, it seemed a good time to mention "Titanic," the new musical offering at Diamond Head Theatre. Many were lost on board the real ship on its maiden voyage back in 1912. Nobody seemed lost in the DHT production, one of the musicals with the most strong voices and sure direction (by ex-"Titanic" Broadway performer Jennifer Waldman.) There are no songs you hum as you're leaving the theater, but quite a number that help propel the action toward the ultimate sinking. The show opened Friday on purpose, the same day the "Insiko" was sent to the bottom of the sea. Of interest, Bryan Bender, who plays the captain of the Titanic, is executive officer of the Coast Guard Cutter "Kukui." And Darren Server, who plays the first class steward, has a final line to a rich passenger, "It's been a pleasure to serve you." Darren has had his problem with ships -- aside from going down on the "Titanic," he also served up music as pianist on the "SS Independence," which was yanked from service locally. Don't miss this one ... The musical ‘Titanic’ is
a must-see at local theaterAS usual, lots of radio folks attended the 25th Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, but the past seemed to overwhelm the present. On hand was Kimo Kahoano, recently terminated by New Wave's KORL, Jeff Kino, just fired from New Wave's 93.1 KQMQ, Krash Kealoha, looking weak in a wheelchair but a big emotional favorite when given a Lifetime Achievement Award. Also getting the lifetime award was Tom Moffatt, who got a rousing cheer when he took off his jacket and showed off his old K-POI shirt. (That man throws away nothing !) ...
Still "Rockin"
FORMER rock 'n' roll jock Moffatt, who's now promoting shows, musical and otherwise, spoke to a World Wrestling Entertainment official who said "The Rock" -- whose wrestling card Moffatt is promoting at the Arena and quickly sold out Saturday -- had told him his match here was the most important in his life. Possibly because as Dwayne Johnson he grew up in Hawaii ... Incidentally, did you know what started out as the WWF had to change to World Wrestling Entertainment and its acronym to WWE because the other initials were registered to the World Wildlife Federation? ...
GLOBE-TROTTING Gulab and Indru Watumull are back from Cambodia, where they returned two sculpture heads which had been removed from that country illegally and ended up here. The Watumulls also went to Angkor Wat, which they'd never seen and greatly impressed them, and visited Vietnam ...
Beautiful People
WATCH People magazine to learn more about Miss Hawaii contestant Liane Mark. It doesn't so much deal with the contest as with Multiple Sclerosis, the biggest challenge Mark faces. Liane says she's doing well as she fights MS and continues her work to raise funds to search for a cure. The Miss Hawaii contest is on June 7, and the People magazine story, written by a People staffer who flew to Hawaii with a photographer, comes out Friday. It'll carry a June 10 date, but will be on the stands Friday. It can't hurt Mark's chances in the contest, but she's more appreciative that the Miss America Organization gave her the opportunity to raise awareness of MS ...
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