Hawaii
The coolest
T-shirt on campusIT isn't every day you see retired Punahou president Rod McPhee in a T-shirt but he had one on at the Fourth of July anniversary party at Compadres marking Lisa Josehson's 20th anniversary as publicist for the Mexican eatery. McPhee's shirt, which he bought in Aspen, has "USA" on the back and on the front, "Bin Laden Sucks." Quipped Mcphee, " I can't wear it on campus." ... Back in 1974, Kailua author Harriet Gay came out with "The Juilliard String Quartet," a biogaphy of the chamber music ensemble. Vanguard Press published it and the book sold for $12 a copy. Now, 28 years later, its value seems to have escalated - used copies are offered for sale on amazon.com at prices up to $145. So if you found one at the Friends of the Library booksale, you probably made out ...
WHEN ILH executive secretary Clay Benham died in May, it was just a few days fom his annual trek to the Kentucy Derbe in Louisville with pals Neil Everett, Tony Selitto and Russell Dung. Benham's widow, Marian, encouraged the remaining trio to make the trip in Clay's memory, even if it meant missing his local memorial service. All agreed it was what Benham would want, so it was off to the races. Last week, Everett was in town taking some time off from his ESPN desk, and he joined with Sellitto and Dung at a lunch with several other Benham friends like attorney Rich Turbin and Trey Garman at Murphy's. Owners Don & Marian Murphy had decided to memorialize Clay's favorite table and had come up with a bronze plaque honoring him. All his pals took turns hammering the nails that fastened the placque to the table. Inevitably, some diner nearby complained about people "making all that damn hammering noise." He should be so recognized. And quickly!
Bright lights
IT was a smiling Ron Bright, for whom the theater at the Castle Performing Arts Center is named, attending the world premiere of "Lilo and Stitch" at the El Capitan Theater in L.A. He was with wife Mo, and son Clarke Bright and wife Lynell, whose Kamehameha Elementary School Choir performed the two songs they sing in the smash hit movie at the opening. As for Clarke, he got to present a lei to actress Jodie Foster on the red carpet ... The Brights also took in a perfomance of "The Lion King" at the Pantages Theater, where former CPAC performer and Bright prodigy Jewl Anguay played the lead role of the adult Nala ...
Lam/Chops
FORMER Isle newsman Chapman Lam is back in town and soaking up some Hawaiian music in Waikiki. He's been teaching English in China for the past four years. And did you know that Lam was born in Beijing? He was brought here as a small child. Now, will he pull a Dalton Tanonaka and run for public office? ... The Four Freshmen will perform as part of the upcoming jazz fest, and though the group is in its 53rd year, so many personnel changes have taken place that the current Freshmen are about one-third the age of the originals ... Others on the program at the Outrigger Wailea are 13-year-old sax player Alex Han, singer Tierney Sutton, Eric Marienthal and Herbie Mann, plus several local jazz artists ...
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