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Hawaii Dave Donnelly |
1969: Tight fit on
airline seat belts a
sign to start a dietJUST back from Kauai where perfect weather greeted us along with perfect hosts, Lyle Guslander and his Grace ... Why is it, we inquired of our seat-mate on board our Aloha Airlines plane, the seat belt always needs adjusting to fit around me? Glancing at my paunch, he deadpanned, "Maybe the airline industry is trying to tell you something." ... Oscar-winning costume designer Edith Head on muumuus: "They're the kindest costume ever made for the female figure." Strangely enough, Edith is a great sports fan. When we chatted, the conversation invariably turned to sports. And Miss Head may well think of me as something of a seer, too. I told her that Arts & Letters would win the Belmont and why. And A&L came through. (June 9, 1969) ...
A WAG noticed yesterday's headline, "Marijuana-Spiked Brownies Used Successfully in Glaucoma Test," and asked, "Next: Girl Scouts?" (June 13, 1973) ... Last Friday, we noted the following: "It's the end of an era. No longer will you be able to watch Lippy Espinda talk about '29 years in da same location, bruddah.'" We were referring to Lippy's projected move to a location near the airport from his gasoline station landmark at Kalakaua and Kapiolani. But in one of those strange twists of fate, Lippy dropped dead the day after the item appeared. It IS the end of an era in a way. Lippy Espinda was always selflessly giving of himself to emcee events, cheer you up with the latest joke and generally bring joy along with him wherever he went. It just won't be the same without turning on the TV and seeing Lippy say, "Shaka." (June 10, 1975) ...
INTERESTING to note that when Tempest Storm filed for bankruptcy the other day, she gave her age as 43. And when the stripper, who often worked in Honolulu, was in an income tax flap in 1971, she was also listed as 43. Looks like she hasn't aged (to speak of) in the past seven years. (June 13, 1978) ...
WHEN former Boyd's owner Dick Boyd told pal Russ Francis that his parents, both in their 80s, were coming to Hawaii for a visit from their California home, Francis suggested hiring a Silver Cloud Rolls-Royce to greet them. Trouble is, nobody made the arrangements, so Francis did the next best thing: He put on a chauffeur's hat, drove his OWN Rolls and Boyd to the airport. "Mr. Boyd this" and "Mr. Boyd that" all the way home. The parents, until they read this, will probably think son Dickie is the most successful man in Hawaii. (June 13, 1979) ...
FORMER Sports Illustrated exec editor Dick Johnston was in the Press Club the other day and presented Citizens Against Noise founder Joan Hayes with a suggested bumper sticker: "Joan Hayes Wears Hush Puppies." (June 9, 1980) ... You get the impression that new isle residents Art and Dottie Todd are here to stay. The "Chanson D'amor" couple have a new album out entitled "I'll Never Leave Hawaii." (June 10, 1980) ...
CPA to the Stars Leonard Mednick, noted here about "From Hawaii With Love 1986" playing around the mainland, related that only two people have been introduced on all three of the beauty contest shows that have been filmed. One was Ron Rice, owner of Hawaiian Tropic, sponsor of the show, and the other was Mednick himself. Seems he's the guy who counts the votes and is the first to know the winner. (June 12, 1986) ...
IT'S been a busy year creating commemorative logos for designer Clarence Lee. First, there was the symbol for the Chinese Bicentennial. Then Lee's alma mater, Iolani, needed a symbol on the occasion of its 125th year. Bishop Museum sought him out to create an image to celebrate "A Century of Discovery," and his latest effort is a logo in honor of Punahou School's 150th year. It's fitting that all come in 1989, which marks 25 years in business for Clarence Lee Design & Associates. (June 13, 1989) ...
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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