Hawaii
Irish need more
luck staging paradeTHEY USED to post signs in places like Boston and New York which read, "Irish Need Not Apply." Apparently that philosophy has traveled across the country and the century and ended up in Hawaii, because the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, which has staged Paddy's Day parades for years here has been told there are no funds available to hire cops, put up signs etc. It will cost in excess of $4,000 to do what the city has chosen not to do, in readying this grand old Irish tradition. Of course they were able to fund a Martin Luther King Day parade -- how politically incorrect do you think these people are? Some hard-headed Irish insist the parade will come off, cops or no. Jack Sullivan, who dresses like a leprechaun in the parade, says, "They won't be wanting the curse of the shillelagh on them." According to Mike McManamon, a marching band from Texas plans to fly in as scheduled. It would be nice if our cultural melting pot extended as far as the Irish ...
That's our Guy: The head bartender at the Chart House, Guy Maynard, celebrates his 25th anniversary at that spot. The restaurant celebrates its 35th anniversary this year (as I will at the Star-Bulletin in December) and the Chart House hiking group, of which Maynard is co-founder, marks its fifth year as well ...
Pip Pip, Pippin
AS he did last year when his musical, "Footloose," was produced as a fund-raiser for St. Louis High School in Mamiya Theatre, Dean Pitchford returned, this time to watch "Pippin," the musical in which he appeared in more than 200 performances for director Bob Fosse on Broadway. Pitchford, one of the nicest guys in showbiz, watched the show with St. Louis president Fr. Allen DeLong, and at intermission granted a lengthy interview with Jonathan Dang, a Saint Louis student reviewing the show for the Star-Bulletin. It was also an anniversary for Pitchford, his 12th with the same "significant other," who also took in the show. Pitchford announced his anniversary gift would be a massage. "Where?" came back the question. "At the Kahala Mandarin," came the reply, bringing on swoops of "Let's pack." ...HINT to radio stations -- '60s music is still hot. "Beehive," which opened last week at Manoa Valley Theatre has seen its phone fly off the hook. It's already been extended and now comes word a another week's extension of the show in which seven local women perform the oldies hits. "Beehive" is now slated to run through April 6 ...
Dire news
IT was a historic and heartfelt meeting at the Shorebird the other day. A local Kailua resident, George Dire, and a Portland woman who'd been stricken with leukemia, Denise Deon, met face to face for the first time. The two, who had been corresponding through email, met when Deon had to come to Hawaii on business. Seems Dire had been flown to Portland where he donated his bone marrow to Deon, saving her life. It was very touching, report those who were there, seeing the lei-decked twosome enjoying lunch and taking photos of the occasion ...
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