Hawaii
These birds are flying south
for the winnerWHEN THE Oakland Raiders headed south to San Diego for Sunday's Super Bowl against Tampa Bay, they flew Hawaiian-style. That is, they chose Hawaiian Airlines for the trip. Raiders honcho Al Davis is a big fan of Hawaiian and this is the third straight year that Hawaiian has provided chartered non-stop flights for the team's road games, including the Big One. The airline folks are looking forward to one more trip with the Raiders -- back to Oakland on Monday after beating the Bucs, and with the Super Bowl trophy firmly strapped into a first-class seat. Probably right next to Davis ...
NOW that he's retired and living in Maui, adman Jim Loomis is spending more time perusing the Star-Bulletin Web site, though he'll soon discover the best place to pick up the paper near his home in Haiku. He and wife Paula have bought four and a half acres of agriculture land in Haiku and will be building a house there. For now, the two are living in a small cottage about a mile away, so Loomis can be a constant pest to the builder. Their daughter, Ilima, a reporter for the Maui News, is there also. Paula, too young to retire, has taken on the duties of assistant director of the Sugar Museum ...
Hana better
THE Hotel Hana-Maui has always been a personal favorite of mine, and I'm sure it'll be even more so now that substantial renovations have taken place there. Travel & Leisure heaped kudos on the property and the work done by Maui designer Hunton Conrad. Work has already begun on Phase II, including the complete renovation of the 22 Bay Cottages, formerly known as the Garden Units. Next on the agenda is a state-of-the-art spa with an anticipated opening before the end of the year ...THE Honolulu Boy Choir director Ka'imi Pelekai is living up to his first name, which means "the searcher" in Hawaiian. He's searching for boys ages 7 to 14 to join the performing group. For more info, call 596-7464 ... A public relations exec was waxing eloquent about a new jewelry store: "I went to Agatha Paris yesterday and it's a great place. They were the first to do interchangeable earrings. In other words, you buy one backing and base and then collect different designs that fasten on to the base. Pretty cool!" The only thing odd about that assessment is that it came from a guy, David Patterson of PR Works, a happily married daddy. Just enthusiastic about clients ...
Spartan engagement
AFTER the Army formed the 100th (AJA) Battalion in June of 1942, the young men were sent to Camp McCoy, Wisc., for combat training -- about 1,500 of them, most of whom had never left the islands. The people of Sparta, Wisc., next door to Camp McCoy, took them in for dinner and community functions, making them feel at home. Now the people of Sparta and LaCrosse, next to it, want to have a kind of "last hurrah" reception for survivors of the 100th, most now in their 80s. Filmmaker Bob Jones, who's done video specials on the 100th, wants this one to come off to make it his personal legacy for the group. Call 734-7017 to sign up ...
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