Hawaii
Dave Donnelly
THAT'S Cho biz: Comic Margaret Cho, who appears tomorrow night at the Waikiki Shell, talks about her mom in her comedy routines, but never seems to mention her father. Maybe because he's some kind of competitor, having authored the book, "1001 Jokes for Public Speaking." Or perhaps he just steals from her without attribution. Ah well, it's a family affair. Margaret got an early start as a comic, winning an amateur contest in S.F. nearly 20 years ago, and earning a slot opening a show starring Jerry Seinfeld. This, at 16 years of age ... There’s no business
like Cho businessIF George W. Bush hadn't picked this particular time to blow Saddam Insane into Oblivion -- a little town near Kirkuk -- the SARS epidemic might be getting more notice in the press. Dalton Tanonaka had the fear of SARS brought home when attending a meeting in Singapore in his role as president of the Pacific Basin Economic Council headquartered in Honolulu. He says there's less concern of SARS in Singapore than in the affected regions of Hong Kong and China, though he was handed a mask as he got off his United flight --all flight attendants were wearing them -- but he never did wear his. Tanonaka, who's covered the Far East for various news organizations, says despite the few masks and health warnings seen in Singapore, business is hurting, with hotels running a paltry 10 to 15 percent occupancy, and the famed Orchard Road shopping area noticeably quiet ...
Board meetings
PLAYING tomorrow night and Sunday afternoon at the Hawaii Theatre is "Opus Cactus," an "outrageous invention" of Moses Pendleton, described as "an awe-inspiring dance/illusion show." Call 528-0506 for ticket info ... "Beehive" finally closes Sunday after a six-week run at Manoa Valley Theatre. One cast member, Tricia Marciel, had been charged with lining up entertainment for Big Brothers Big Sisters "Gourmet Affair" at the Hilton Hawaiian village April 19, took advantage of the closing to line up the "Beehive" cast to appear at that fund-raiser. For ticket info call 521-3811 ... And Irish playwright Conor McPherson's funny, yet spooky, tale of life in a rural Irish pub, "The Weir" opens April 16 at TAG's Yellow Brick Studio, 625 Keawe St., with an all-star cast. Call 722-6941 for reservations. It subsequently plays Thursdays through Sundays until May 11 ...HERE'S an oddity: The Hawaii Theatre box office opens today for a May production of "The Vagina Monologues" and they haven't even announced a cast yet ...
Merry Marriotteers
WITH just about every Marriott G.M. in the Islands at Ko Olina for the grand opening of the company's new time share resort, Ko Olina Beach Club, there were smiles all around. Gov. Linda Lingle, plus numerous legislators, City councilmen and Waianae Coast community leaders heard Stan Brown, V.P. of Marriott International Pacific Islands, describe it as "a 5-star resort, equal to the best hotels that you can find in Hawaii." ...
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.
The Week That Was runs Sundays and recalls
items from Dave's 30 years of columns.Contact Dave by e-mail: ddonnelly@starbulletin.com