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Wood Craft Ben Wood |
$118,000 raised at
Alzheimer’s benefit
eventDancers had a ball as they jammed the dance floor at last Saturday's Alzheimer's Association-Aloha Chapter benefit at the Hilton. The event raised a whopping $118,000 to help Hawaii's 20,000 Alz-heimer's patients and their families. Rubber Soul dished out solid Beatles music for the party, that had a '70s theme. John Doty's JMD Beverages donated dinner wine and vodka for the martini bar. John and wife Tina always have a good time dancing at these things as do Chris and Mary LaVoie. Mayoral candidate Duke Bainum and wife Jennifer attended. Mary Louise Blackburn, a singer of old Hawaiian favorites among other songs, was among table sponsors. The Gender Benders did dance routines. Pamela Young and Al Franz gave a dance exhibition. Co-chair Paul (the hair guy) Brown, who donated many silent auction items, was having too much fun ...
'Trekkie' joins art exhibit
Allison Manaut, at the Alzheimer's benefit, spoke in glowing terms -- and for good reason -- about the Academy of Arts exhibition, "Japan & Paris," April 8-June 6. Paintings by such artists as Picasso, Modigliani, Matisse, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, Cezanne, Monet and Corot, on loan from 28 of Japan's museum and private collections, will be displayed. "Star Trek's" Hikaru Sulu, in reality George Takei, who does the voice-over for the exhibit's audio, is expected to attend the opening. Tickets, $15 for adults and $10 for kids, are going fast, according to the academy's Charlie Adlinger ...The UH football program will get a boost from the fund-raising Na Koa Ed Wong Memorial Golf Tourney April 20 at the Hawaii Prince. Entry deadline is April 2. June Jones and his coaches always provide a boost for this tourney, said Na Koa Prez Don Murphy. Entry fee for a three-person scramble team is $525, or $175 for individuals. Hawaiian Airlines is the lead sponsor. Call Ben Yee at 734-6194 to enter ...
It was like the old Kahala Hilton days when Connie Kissinger got up to sing with pianist Kit Samson Thursday in the Ala Moana Hotel's Mahina Lounge. They performed together in the Kahala's Maile Lounge years ago. Connie's mom, Dorothy Burger, and aunt, Rhoda Goo, danced to Connie's vocals with Dan Kinoshita and others. Kathy Mitchell also sang and cut flashy dance steps. Former Maile Room chef Martin Wyss was across the hall cooking specialties from the Swiss Inn which he owned for 18 years. His fans, including his wife, Jeanie, and Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi, dined there Thursday ...
Geev 'um, girls!
There wasn't anything exciting in last Tuesday's "American Idol" show. Either country is not the forte of the contestants or they were playing it too safe. Melveen Leed's country vocals would have wiped them all out. Jasmine Trias and Camile Velasco had best open up and give it their all, with more emotion, on Tuesday. And what was that middle-finger business from sharp-tounged judge Simon Cowell all about in the last show? Actually, Simon is a key to the show's success ...Check out Wood Craft on Wednesdays as well as on Saturdays in the Star-Bulletin's Today Section ...
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
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
