Hawaii
With a song in your
heart-shaped boxJOY ISSUPPOSED to be what Valentine's Day is all about, but something a bit different has been added to the Waikiki Joy Hotel's two-night "Serenade Your Sweetheart" romance package. Not only do guests get a Guavalada Smoothie from Cappucinos, arrival champagne and a CD of Hawaiian love songs in your room, they also get one hour of karaoke in GS Studios along with a cassette tape for recording love songs. The boutique hotel is located across Lewers Street from the DFS Galleria. And no, Simon Cowell won't be on hand to judge your possibility of becoming an "American Idol." ...
BY the way, Hawaii's finalist in the "American Idol" contest, Jordan Segundo will sing on the national TV show Tuesday, and his mom, Judi, is hoping all Hawaii gets out the vote for him. One easy way to vote is through an exclusive agreement between the show and AT&T Wireless -- with text voting. That gets around inevitable busy signals ... And while John Meletia of Ewa Beach might have received a "thumbs down" from the irascible Simon when he sang, "Always and Forever" to his girlfriend, Liane Quintana of Hawaii Kai, on Perry & Price's Hanohano Room show, he got a thumbs up from her -- it was his way of proposing marriage ...
New C&K
IF you just glanced at the ad for the Brew Moon's Valentine's Day show, you might jump to the conclusion that Henry Kapono is teaming up with Cecilio Rodrigues that night instead of minding his own store. But look carefully and you'll see that performing will be "Cecelio & Kompany" at 7 and 9 p.m. ... They're having a luncheon show for Valentine's Day Friday at the Royal Hawaiian's Monarch Room. Performing will be Danny Couch (just out with a new CD), Jerry Santos & Friends and Raiatea Helm, "Molokai's Sweetheart." ...For those who couldn't wait to limit their celebration to Friday, Compadres last night featured "Hot Sauce," and not just on the tamales. That's the group featuring Rolando Sanchez and Judi Palmeira ... Developer John Michael White just used the last of his inter-island coupons and bought an e-ticket on Aloha. It was only then that he learned that Aloha has substantial discounts for people with AAA Club cards, but you have to ask for the discount rather than assume it'll come automatically. White found a coach ticket with no advance purchase normally goes for $75, but is $68 with the AAA card. And a first class ticket is discounted from $125 to $96 ...
Island reggae
A GROUP of students from Hawaii and recent University of Washington grads formed a pickup band last year to play at a UW luau, and they've become a yearlong success story, winning a big battle of the bands competition that's brought them actual cash. The band, which plays reggae and calls itself Mystic Rising, is made up of Daniel Pak of Kaneohe, Angela Manke (Kailua), Kiley Sullivan (Kailua), Pai Pongsupaht (Honolulu), Sean Mikell (Maui), Jason Youn (Honolulu) and Jonny Miller from the Seattle area. How'd he get in there ...
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