Wood Craft
Jon de Mello, the Mountain Apple boss who wears interesting fashions, attended last night's Gucci Ala Moana fashion show and was asked if Iz's "Facing Future" CD was his biggest success ever as a producer. "I'll go a step further," said Jon, "it's the biggest success ever for Hawaii. And it's not over yet. But it's all Iz, not me." Jon added he was happy to be connected with the blockbuster. Guests sipped champagne and other beverages and gobbled pupu from Current Affairs as models Claire Unabia, Audrey Martinez and Matt Krohmer displayed fashions. Gucci's Susan Brubaker of N.Y. and Beverly Hills helped isle Gucci chief Sharleen Perreira ... De Mello calls Iz’s CD
biggest at Gucci show
Watch that dervish
People in the front row were afraid whirling dervish dancer Valerie Payton would whirl herself right off the stage during Islamic entertainment at the naming of the Doris Duke Theatre last week at the Academy of Arts. The old Academy Theater has been renovated. Duke's Islamic-styled retreat at Diamond Head opens for tours in November. The Academy's Showcase fund-raiser chairwomen Jaci Keeler and Leila Diamond are cooking up surprises for the gourmet food and wine event and art sale Aug. 18. Tickets are $75. One of the few items to be auctioned is a Dale Chihuly glass sculpture valued at $32,000. Some 200 works of art by regional artists will be for sale. The art sale is free and open to the public next Saturday ...Chai Chaowasaree's Aloha Tower restaurant continues to be a home for leading isle entertainers. We're lucky he's still operating his dinner showroom here. Hoku winners Ernie Cruz Jr. and Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom had the stage last weekend and were filmed for KFVE's "Hot Hawaiian Nights." Billy V and Charly Espina of KCCN FM 100 were there as hosts. Chai and KCCN G.M. Mike Kelly were there to see all went well. The singers, appreciated by the applauding crowd, were backed by bassist Jack Ofoia and guitarist Chino Montero. A highlight was the hula of Alana Jade Yee, 9, Miss Keiki Hula 2002, who danced "Aloha No Kalakawa" as Amy sang. Daniel Ho and his group followed. Amy will be there Thursday ...
Standing tall at Morton's
Morton's assistant manager Zyron Schoniwitz and bartenders Lance Buckeldee and Chris Dunlap all stand over 6 feet but hostess Jessica Sudduth looks them straight in the eyes. When she's wearing heels, they have to look up to her. That's because Jessica, a former UH volleyball starter, stands 6-feet-2. She is now on the beach volleyball circuit. She also paddles for the Waikiki Beach Boys. Bartenders Lance, who is writing a book, and Chris serve drinks on what is probably the most expensive bar top in Honolulu. The highly polished red oak 24-foot-long slab cost $22,000, according to G.M. Greg Omotoy ...The Campos Cup round-robin polo event was held last week in honor of former player Tommy Campos, a Honolulu Polo Club official. Beachcomber Realty won. Kimo Huddleston of Beachcomber was named the cup's Most Valuable Player. Alice Lombardo was named the year's most improved player. The Wahine Challenge match will be held at the Waimanalo field Aug. 18 ...
Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin in the streets
of downtown Honolulu during World War II, writes of
people, places and things every Saturday.
E-mail him at bwood@starbulletin.com