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Wood Craft Ben Wood |
Reporter Sally Apgar
leans on people, vehicles
for a storyStar-Bulletin intrepid reporter Sally Apgar, not the shy type, will lean on people and even vehicles to get a story. After the Christopher Aki verdict Wednesday, Sally saw two jurors in a black SUV with tinted windows that was slowly exiting a courthouse second-floor parking ramp. She walked in front of the vehicle and called out to the jurors, who didn't want to talk to the press. So she leaned on the SUV, leaving the driver no choice but to stop. The driver stopped, but the jurors would not talk about the verdict. As for taking the risk of leaning on the car, gutsy Sally said, "That's standard operating procedure" ...
I spent a bit of Mother's Day with Longhi's bartender Wilder Paikai, 47, while he was having his pau hana drink after a busy day. Wilder's mom, the late Sarah Kahoano Paikai, had 17 children -- nine boys and eight girls -- over 24 years from 1932 to 1956, all with the same husband, James Paikai. Now that's really a Super Mom. Wilder is pure Hawaiian and is also a Hawaiiana instructor. Entertainer Kimo Kahoano is his cousin ...
Uli Cutter marks birthday at Mandarin, Bistro
About 40 of Uli Cutter's friends gathered on the Veranda deck at the Kahala Mandarin to celebrate her birthday last Saturday. Among those singing "Happy Birthday" were party organizer Jany Cataldo, Peter Rockford Espiritu, Nora Meijide, Kristin Zambucka, Wanda Watamull, John Magauran, Debby Cheeseman, Kevin Brewer and Jeff and Vicki Hossellman. Nora and John ordered champagne for all for a party windup toast. Diehards continued on at the Bistro ..."American Idol" judges tried their best to eliminate Jasmine Trias with their slashing criticism Tuesday night that brought the Maryknoll student to tears. Judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson, in particular, ganged up on Jasmine and trashed her. But it backfired on them. They didn't count on "local power" and Hawaii residents pulling for the underdog. Those judges have a lot of thinking to do, as do the executives who put on the show. Another big surprise was LaToya London getting the boot. I thought she was the best singer in the competition. I caught part of Jasmine's interview with Perry and Price yesterday morning and the Maryknoll senior handled herself quite well ...
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Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin in the streets of downtown Honolulu during World War II, writes of people, places and things every Wednesday and Saturday. E-mail him at bwood@starbulletin.com