Hawaii
Hundreds of pineapples
in the Big AppleCARNEGIE Hall manager Kimo Gerard reports more than 200 people showed up for the Hawaii Cultural Foundation's "Ohana Holiday Party" at the American Indian Community House in New York City. The gathering was to honor two real old-timers who've done much to perpetuate and spread aloha through the Big Apple. They were Aunty Betty Makia and Kalani Purdy. Aunty Betty was one of the famed "Lexington Girls," dancers in the Hawaiian Room of the Hotel Lexington back in the 1940s and 1950s. Her house was also open to all around Christmas time where the gift to all was aloha -- that and mounds of food. As for Purdy, he was born in Honolulu but has lived for many years in N.Y. and was a liaison with the HVB in the city. In 1958 he founded the Polynesian Registry to help locals and expats keep up with each other, and has watched it grow from 50 names to more than 1,000, and his newsletter, which started out at two pages, is now more than 30. The Hawaii expats lined up to honor these two spreaders of aloha ...
AMONG all the albums released this time of year, a couple stand out. One is "Instrumental Christmas Classics" arranged by Jack de Mello. It's a fine selection for playing in the background at parties. The other, "Hula Records' Hits," is a real rarity put together by Don McDiarmid. Where else can you find the likes of Gabby Pahinui, Kui Lee, Don Ho, Peter Moon & The Sunday Manoa, Genoa Keawe, Charles K.L. Davis, Eddie Kamae and the Sons of Hawaii, plus others equally as prominent in Hawaii's musical pantheon. Ten of the songs are from albums now out of print. It's a musical legacy of the past several decades ...
Now you see him...
MAGICIAN Carlos da Silva II is best known for making things disappear, but tomorrow he'll be making milk and cookies appear for kiddies brought to Victoria Ward Center to meet Santa. For the fourth consecutive year, da Silva will perform "magic of the season." It should be a real holiday treat for the youngsters ...THE great Frank Sinatra is no longer with us, but if you close your eyes, some say, Randy Smith's vocal style comes close. He'll be giving an early New Year's Eve show at 7:45 p.m. Dec. 31 at the Sheraton Waikiki. People can catch his show and then see in the New Year elsewhere, if they choose. If not, they can stay on and take part in the Latin music of Son Caribe from 9 p.m. until past midnight at a New Year's Eve Poolside Party ...
Light up the sky
MEMBERS of the Pacific Astronomical Society or just anyone interested in stargazing and the heavens should know that "Luma," which comes to the Hawaii Theatre Dec. 19 to 22 is affiliated with the International Dark Sky Association, which promotes outdoor lighting to maintain the view of the night sky for astronomical study. "Luma" creator Marlin -- who with that name you'd think would be more interested in the sea -- is a part-time Big Isle resident. He's a fan of the Keck Telescope and claims inspiration from Hawaii volcanoes, another source of light ...
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