Wood Craft
Zulu receives gift of life
from dead friend'Hawaii Five-0" regular Gilbert "Zulu" Kauhi rushed from the Big Island to St. Francis Hospital Monday to receive a kidney transplant. He learned that morning a kidney was available. Dr. Alan Cheung performed the transplant the same day. Dr. Gene Wong, Zulu's doctor, was on the scene. When told the kidney was from Edith Fernandes, who died Monday, Zulu was shocked. She was the wife of Gino Fernandes, who ran Zulu's dressing rooms when he was performing at C'est Si Bon and Duke Kahanamoku's. Zulu called Wednesday and was cracking jokes. He is down to 226 pounds from the strapping 268 he weighed when busting down doors on "Five-0." He went swimming three times a week to keep his strength up so he could be strong enough to handle the surgery when called. Zulu also walked the picket line with striking Big Isle nurses ...
Levy cruises into the '80s
Ex-Symphony Board Chair Bob Levy's 80th birthday was Monday. He held a dinner for 80 people last Saturday at the Pacific Club, sharing his party with wife, Dee, who turned 65 two weeks earlier. Symphony officials held a surprise party for Bob at Jim Nabors home last week. Gov. Linda Lingle proclaimed Monday Bob Levy Day and attended the Pacific Club party with Mike Strada. Bob was the youngest-ever merchant marine captain, getting his master's papers at age 21. Four of his ships were sunk by the enemy in World War II. That's Hollywood stuff. "I invited people who don't drink too much," joker Bob said at the Pacific Club. Asked how a sailor like him could land a classy beauty such as Dee, he said, "I don't have a girl in every port," then added, "there are five ports I haven't gotten to yet." Upbeat Stuart Chafetz was emcee ...Morton's president John Bettin made a two-day whirlwind trip from Chicago to check out the steakhouse here this week. Bettin, 47, started from the ground up, mopping floors in a Chicago hospital kitchen at age 16. He later learned everything about the restaurant biz, much of it at a chain called Houlihan's where he rose from cook to VP. He's been with Morton's 4 1/2 years and tries to visit all 65 Morton's once a year. Bettin believes better decisions can be made when he sees what's going on. He says the focus at Morton's is to make a good product better ... Brian Urlacher, Chicago All Pro, had 15 people in for dinner at Morton's recently ...
Gridders stake out Ruth's
Ruth's Chris Lahaina location was host to all Hula Bowl players after last Saturday's game. The day prior, the Wailea spot was the site for a KSSK broadcast by Michael W. Perry and Larry Price. Joe Montana, the great 49er quarterback, and actor Tom Arnold were recent guests at the Wailea eatery. Past and present NFL stars Eric Dickerson, Marcus Allen, Warren Moon and Tony Gonzales hit Ruth's at Restaurant Row ... Mike Hogan, operations manager for Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies, celebrates his 50th birthday tonight with about 20 friends at Ruth's Chris at the Row. "It's Mike's favorite," said his wife, Anna Meng, party-giver and head of Neiman's fine gems department ...
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