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Hawaii Dave Donnelly |
1969: Waikiki
association
gives Ala Wai
a good scrubbingMEN of the Waikiki Improvement Association spent the day yesterday cleaning out the Ala Wai Canal. Bob Rinker, Howard Donnelly (no kin) et al. dredged up such items as tires, mattresses, bicycles and even a water heater. Howard took three showers after his mucky experience, took a dip in the pool, drenched himself in cologne and still couldn't stand to be around himself. (Aug. 28, 1969) ...
FORMER manager of the Kaanapali Beach Hotel (once called Sonesta) John Burgos is now in Spain, where he's in charge of four hotels. He went there via Copenhagen, of which he writes, "Something new has been added in Danish freedom. The girls are sunbathing on the beach topless -- quite acceptable in progressive Denmark." Which prompts us to wonder if there's a market there for Danish pasties. (Aug. 28, 1970) ...
DOWN Under, a reputable newspaper called the Australian got caught with its Bridges down and in one report on the dock strike, referred to native Australian Harry Bridges as "Lloyd," apparently confusing him with the star of the old TV series "Seahunt," which is a big hit on Aussie TV. "Both Bridges," one local observer opined, "are equally all wet." (Aug. 27, 1971) ...
LOVE this story related by Star-Bulletin Fiji correspondent Lynn Thomas: A young Fijian was undergoing pilot training in Great Britain and became lost on his first solo flight. He radioed an airport control tower and explained his difficulties. "Where are you from and how high are you?" asked the tower operator. The young man answered, "I am from Fiji and I am 5-foot-10." (Aug. 29, 1973) ...
FUNNY scene across from the Alexander Young Building demolition site: The mannequins in a window of Bartley's Town & Country are all dressed in hard hats ... Which reminds me, pianist-songwriter Paul Page was attending Billy Gonsalves' luau at the Blaisdell Center when he came across a VW Bug with two bumper stickers: "Save the Alexander Young Building" and a faded "Fasi Gets It Done." (Aug. 25, 1981) ...
LOOKS like sometime Honolulu resident Allan Carr has a certified smash with his Broadway production of "La Cage aux Folles." It's received generally rave reviews, and Variety, the show-biz bible, says, "It's an audience-delighting smash that will run for years." The reviewer goes on to say: "Credit for the final product belongs to the principal producer, Allan Carr, who makes a spectacular Broadway managerial bow. He had patience and determination and is obviously a shrewd matchmaker of creative talent as well as an imaginative promoter." (Aug. 29, 1983) ...
LOOK who's becoming a fan of the city's bus system: former bus company owner Art Wooloway, who was persuaded by Jake Urner to hop the bus downtown on their way to lunch at Wo Fat ... Wooloway related to his luncheon companions that he'd not ridden a city bus since "small-kid time," to which Red Morris quipped, "I didn't know they had buses way back then." (Aug. 30, 1989) ...
WHEN Pat Saiki spoke to the Honolulu Rotary, many felt it was more of a campaign speech than a talk on the Small Business Association as billed. Saiki called attention to her new hairdo and dress style and quipped, "I'm now a woman of the '90s." She got high marks from Rotarians for her speaking style: witty asides, short answers, frequent gestures. She got two standing votes of applause. One was for the speech itself, and the other for being the first woman member of Rotary in Hawaii ... And speaking of firsts, Blood Bank CEO Dr. Julia Frohlich is the first woman to chair the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii in its 134-year history. Will we ever get to the point where we won't have to run "first woman ever" items? (Aug. 24, 1993) ...
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
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
