Wood Craft
Don’t expect secret service
from Kim’s CIASurf's up, at least regarding surfing products, especially women's Hawaiian fashions, board shorts and T-shirts by national designers, according to Kim Medeiros, owner of Central Island Agency, or CIA. Things really took off after "Blue Crush," the movie about women surfers, she said. Some of her models had small parts in that picture. Kim also produced a segment picturing women surfers in Hawaii for National Geographic's swimsuit issue, now on the stands. Yes, even that staid publication has a swimsuit edition. As for her agency being known as CIA, she says it has its recognition pluses but she sometimes gets calls for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. Some are wild. Kim will soon open a new office in Chinatown. She has a branch office in Beverly Hills. Some of her CIA models over the past 22 years include John Travolta's wife Kelly Preston, Tia Carrere, Malia Jones and Gail Elliot. She also reps surfing stars Garrett McNamara, Myles Padaca and Dick Brewer ...
Musical feast at Moana
It will be a night of nostalgia and memories when Dreams of Old Hawaii, with leading Hawaiian performers, is presented along with footage of the "Hawaii Calls" show Friday at the Moana Surfrider Hotel's Banyan Court, site of the old, much loved "Hawaii Calls" show. The lineup includes Nina Kealiiwahamana, Mahi Beamer, Iwalani Kahalewai, Beverly Noa, Gary Aiko and the Kamehameha Concert Glee Club. The concert is produced by UH Music Dept. graduate students ... No doubt Kainani Kahaunaele would like to reach the lofty heights these solo stars have achieved and she is off to a good start with her first CD "Na'u 'Oe" ...The Hale Aina awards reception is always one of the best parties of the year and Sunday's, hosted by chef Wayne Hirabayashi and the Kahala Mandarin, more than lived up to expectations. Hoku's at the Kahala was named restaurant of the year. The food and wine extravaganza, with leading chefs, restaurants and wine distributors participating, raised $15,000 for culinary arts programs at UH community colleges. Event co-chairs John Alves of Honolulu magazine and Tom Mullen of American Express and their team deserve praise ... Hats off to Paul Brown and all involved in the Alzheimer Association benefit that raised $72,000 ...
Birthday greetings
Happy Birthday to Puna "The Senator" Titcomb who turned 74 Wednesday at his daughter's home in Las Vegas. Puna was Mr. Excitement in isle boxing rings in the early 1950s. He has cancer but he's still punching out jokes hard and fast. Puna shares the same birthday with his friend, Pete Pavao, also 74, another former boxer, who operates the Shoe Shine stand at Macy's Ala Moana ... Michele Matsuo-Mossman celebrated her birthday Thursday at the packed luncheon Escada fashion show at Waialae Country Club. Michele's table mates Mariese Montano-Smith and Pam Campbell along with Dora Cheng and her group sang birthday greetings. Holly Gorence was beaming at the luncheon because she shot 93 at Waialae earlier ... Local girl Lola Tsang's jade collection for L. Rafael is on display at Neiman's through Sunday ...
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