Hawaii
INTERNET users and e-mailers worldwide regard getting spammed as being annoyed by unwanted solicitations. But in Hawaii, getting Spammed is akin to getting fed. It'll be even more widespread on Friday when McSpam is introduced under the Golden Arches of McDonald's. And if former Hawaii TV anchor Jon Anderson is to be believed, we're pikers in Spam consumption compared to people on Guam, where he's spent more than 25 years. They claim double the amount of Spam consumed to any other state or territory -- or country, for that matter. When it comes to Spam,
Guam puts us to shameIf you don't believe they're serious about their Spam in Guam, be advised that Anderson stopped off here briefly on his way to Minnesota, where he'll do his morning radio show live on Guam's K-57 from the Spam Museum at Hormel headquarters in Austin. That may seem excessive, but Anderson says NBC's Tom Brokaw will also be on hand, commemorating Spam's role in WWII. The event is tabbed the Spam Museum Jam. For his part, Anderson will bring along Mamasita's Pizza from Guam, and such items as Garlic Spam, Hot 'n' Spicy Spam and Turkey Spam. And a bit of Minnesota lore -- the only county in the Land of 10,000 Lakes not to have one is Austin County. No fish for those folks! ...
WHEN publicist Mona Wood took some friends to the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort to hear Genoa Keawe, she had to sit through one more telling of Auntie Genoa's story about how Wood talked then-food and beverage manager Tom Cross into hiring the songstress into performing in the lobby bar on Thursdays, which were pretty dead. It must have worked, says Auntie Genoa, because seven years later, she and her group are still performing there on Thursdays and doing great business. Taking her grandma's place for the final set was son Eric's talented daughter, Amanda Pomoika'i Keawe, who did some old-time favorites including Auntie Genoa's signature tune, "Alika," admitting she still can't beat grandma in holding onto those lengthy notes. They ended the night singing together ...
Back to Square One
ONE person who was particularly disappointed on hearing the breaking news about Jeremy Harris dropping out of the race for governor was New York Times reporter Drummond Ayres. As he related it to long-time pal Chuck Boller of the Hawaii International Film Festival, Ayres had been sent here specifically to cover the gubernatorial race and had just finished his piece on Harris when he heard the breaking news. As he related the frustrating tale to Boller, Ayres pantomimed ripping a paper into shreds ...
Honda to Ferrari
BEFORE marrying TV entrepreneur Al Masini, she was known as Charlyn Honda. She goes by Mrs. Masini now, but if she wanted to keep to the car theme she'd be Mrs. Ferrari. That's the big bucks machine she's now tooling around town in was a gift from husband Al. She'd admired the classic and pricey wheels during their European honeymoon. Meanwhile, Masini, a hands-on kind of guy, is building a specially equipped film room for her in the house he's building on Hawaii Loa Ridge, not far from the $12 million manse where he and ex-wife April lived ...
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