Hawaii
Emme’s island
and 9/11 moments
THERE have been some memorable "Island Moments" that TV magazine hostess Emme Tomimbang has shared with us over the years, but what sounds like the most memorable is the program she's put together about the 9/11 terrorism tragedy at the World Trade Center. Called "Hawaii to New York: The Aloha Spirit Lives," the hour-long special airs at 9 p.m. Aug. 22 on KGMB-TV, with a repeat 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25. It features Disguyz, who flew to New York to perform their original, "Our Nation In Song," which they wrote on 9/11. Emme interviews numerous people whose lives were changed by the 9/11 tragedy including locally raised theater director Jim Simpson and his wife, Sigourney Weaver, who said, "I went down to Ground Zero and helped serve food to volunteers, workers and those in need -- it changed my life." Simpson was affected also, and is directing a play on the event, "The Guys," which is slated to be a motion picture as well. Locally born and raised Dean Pitchford, whose sister was killed in the Trade Center, is also in the show ...THERE'S certainly no lack of Hawaiian music in the marketplace these days. And that includes the Aloha Tower Marketplace, where Chai Chaowasaree provides a venue for numerous isle musicians. Tonight, and every Thursday night in August, Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, probably the best female singer in Hawaii today, will demonstrate her vocal dexterity ... Meanwhile, Kalapana and Mana'o Company will be sharing the Sheraton Waikiki's Hawaii Ballroom stage Friday, Aug. 30, with comic Andy Bumatai ... And Hawaiian music performers and promoters Keith & Carmen Haugen, who saluted Na Leo and their new CD and Leon & Malia last Sunday on their KIPO "Music of Hawaii" show, are going to have a surprise guest this Sunday. They're featuring a new all-piano CD of Pierre Grill. He's not out of place since his CD is "Pua Lilia," and features all Hawaiian tunes ...
Bright ideas
RETIRED Castle Performing Arts Center head Ron Bright is anything but retired. He's directing a patriotic musical, "One Nation, Under God," featuring the Windward Christian Homeschoolers Aug. 23 & 24 at Faith Baptist Church in Kailua ... Gymnast Christine Berwin joined the Monkey and the Waterfall company this spring, though, in her words, "I'm not much of an actor." Since then she has won a Po'okela Award for her role in Peggy Hunt's "Eco-Circus" at Kennedy Theater, and will be doing another gymnastic turn in "Still on My Back," at the Arts at Marks Garage Aug. 22-31 ...
Kind of a Pedrag
FORMER UH hoops star, Pedrag ("Savo") Savovic, now a free agent NBA player with the Denver Nuggets, has been back enjoying the Hawaii scene and dropped by the 808 Challenge, a three-on-three tourney run by former UH basketball captain Nerijus Puida and PR Works' David Patterson. Feeling thirsty, Savo asked Patterson if he could borrow a quarter for a drink. Patterson's response was to the point: "What kind of an NBA contract did you sign where you have to bum quarters?" ...
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