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Hawaii Dave Donnelly |
Taking it easy far
away from the warHE didn't want the kind of media circus that so often occurs when war heroes return home after being injured, so Antonio Navares, son of former City Councilman Tony Navares, spent time here in relative solitude after being repatriated from Iraq following his being shot there. Antonio was in the forefront of an incursion into enemy territory when a fire fight erupted. He got in several shots of his own before a sniper hiding off to the side shot and hit him in the hand. He was sent home to let his injury heal, but now is off to rejoin his unit, what he was waiting quietly in Hawaii to do ...
LAST Sunday's "The Week That Was" column reprinted an item from 1969 in which hotel man Howard Donnelly helped out a group of execs cleaning out the Ala Wai Canal and being unable to escape the ensuing stench. Well, my sister Dorothy White, who lives in a retirement village in Issaquah, Washington, knew that Howard resided in the same community, and though she didn't know him, phoned to tell him about being in the news in Hawaii once again. She reports he was very pleased and vowed to look it up on the Star-Bulletin site on the Internet ...
The Simpson guys
TWO people who took in the opening night performance of TAG's "The Guys," about firefighters who'd lost their lives in the destruction of the World Trade Center on 9/11/01, were Jack and Ann Simpson. It was their son, Jim, who runs an off-Broadway theater in New York, who first presented the play a mere three months after the terrorist attack, and featured his wife, Sigourney Weaver, as one of the two characters. They'd seen Jim's production in New York, but the Simpsons were still visibly moved by the local production at the Yellow Brick Studio on Keawe St., directed by Brad Powell and starring Eric Nemoto and Frankie Enos. There was an emotional impact in the situation, Enos trying to help fireman Nemoto compose eulogies of the men he lost and, at the same time, learn something about them ...WHY am I not surprised: When late, late show star Craig Kilborn brought out his eight man writing staff to introduce themselves, all eight were young white guys ... Spotted recently at Alan Wong's restaurant was actor Richard Chamberlain, in with friends; actor Sean Astin in town for a wedding, as described by restaurant manager Charly Yoshida as "one of the nicest guys who might encounter ... very cordial and friendly."; And singer Paul Anka, recognized particularly by older generation diners. Funny, I still remember Anka as a 16-year-old Canadian here for his first concert, stepping off the plane and asking, "Where are the broads?" ...
Idol Stars
HAWAII'S contribution to "American Idol," Jason Segundo, didn't win, but is treated as if he did. He and singer Sonya Mendez, a judge on "Hawaii Stars," were both asked to pick stars from another realm -- Island Princess' new line of flavored macadamia nuts. Jason favored the Maui onion and honey roasted, while Mendez placed curry and sweet chili atop her list. And what advice did the seasoned Mendez give to the young Segundo? Easy -- "Go nuts." ...
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
