Hawaii
World peace goes
better with sugarWHILE I WAS never one to think tea drinking could promote world peace, there are those who do. I suppose if our world leaders stopped making or looking for weapons of mass destruction and instead had tea together, it might ease tensions. Genshitsu (Soshitsu XV) Sen, former grand master of Urasenke, is one who does believe, and he'll be presented with a special award at the East-West Center's annual dinner meeting Feb. 12 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Sen is being recognized for his global promotion of the culture embraced by the Way of the Tea and of world peace. There'll also be a silent auction preceding the meeting in which you can bid on all sorts of unique items such as a 70-year-old Indian bronze figure. Have a cuppa on me ...
THE guys at Hawaiian Fire Surf School -- hunky firemen who teach surfing at Kala'eloa - have been getting lots of attention these days. Aside from articles locally such as the one in MidWeek, they've been featured on E!'s "Wild on Hawaii" episode, and also interviewed as part of a "Good Morning America" Hawaii special. They leave tomorrow for Sapporo, Japan, for the annual Snow Festival. What do local boys know about snow? Well, they were chosen to be part of the sculpting team for the entry from Hawaii ...
April year 'round
DESPITE her lawsuit against her former law firm, April Masini continues to help promote Hawaii and its performers in show business. This week ABC began its second season of the isle-based "Last Resort," hosted by Masini protégé Kala'i Miller. Now she's taken on a new campaign, mentoring showbiz hopeful Nicole Caprio. She gave Nicole extensive advice on preparing a resume and put her through hours of mock interviews, readying her for the real thing. After her regimen, Nicole said "interviews are a snap now -- I'm prepared for anything." It must have worked, too, because the isle lass landed a job with "The Shield," this year's Golden Globe winner ...IT was no surprise, since Ruth's Chris Steak House first opened its doors in New Orleans, that Pro Bowl'er Joe Horn of the New Orleans Saints, opted to dine there the other night ... Pianist Ron Miyashiro has signed on to play Saturdays only beginning tomorrow at Davey Jones Ribs. Manager Perkin Lee's a big fan --Miyashiro used to perform at Tahitian Lanai when Lee was manager ... And Don Humphrey and the Geezers will be doing their country thing on Sundays at the Smoke House on Hobron Lane ...
Who's cuckoo now?
THE infamous Nurse Ratched is played by Bridget Kelly in the Diamond Head Theatreproduction opening tonight. Before auditioning, she got great advice ("Go for it!") from James Whitmore who, after reading Ken Kesey's book wanted to option it, but "my good friend Kirk Douglas beat me to it." It won an Oscar, but not, alas for Whitmore. Six degrees of separation? Whitmore is married to actress Noreen Nash, who's the mother of UH prof Lee Siegel, Bridget's "significant other." ...
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