|
Wood Craft Ben Wood |
Nainoa and Kathy will
chart a matrimonial courseMaster Navigator Nainoa Thompson proposed to KITV's Kathy Muneno and Kathy, who is also the Star-Bulletin's weather expert, said yes. They have been friends for years and started dating about a year ago. He has been married twice and Kathy once. Kathy is a volunteer with the Polynesian Voyaging Society. Nainoa taught her practical sailing skills aboard the Hokulea. Kathy was also on the Voyaging Society's fund-raising committee with KITV anchor Paula Akana and Elisa Yadao and others. Kathy is a longtime dancer with Kahai Topolinski's Ka Pa Hula Hawaii ...
Having missed Jasmine Trias in Honolulu last week, Gov. Linda Lingle met Hawaii's "American Idol" last weekend in Hollywood before leaving for Israel. Lingle was in L.A. accepting the Golda Meir Award when Jasmine was home on a whirlwind visit. The meeting took place at the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel where Lingle was being honored with an award from her alma mater, California State University Northridge. Jasmine was at the same hotel with her family and other "Idol" finalists. The show's producer, Simon Lythgoe, arranged the meeting. "Idol" Judge Paula Abdul is another CSUN alum ...
Symphony Ball raises more than $400,000
ONE OF THE MAIN reasons the Symphony Ball is always one of the best parties of the year is the orchestra itself and its fine musicians under the batons of Conductor Sam Wong and Pops Conductor Matt Catingub. This year's event at the Sheraton Waikiki, with Vicky Cayetano as chair, was the largest and most successful, according to Symphony President Stephen Bloom. More than $400,000 was raised for the Symphony and over 1,000 people attended, he said. Symphony Chair Carolyn Berry donated many items for the auction. The musical focus was on Broadway, heavy on Leonard Bernstein hits. Cathy Foy and Guy Merola sang "Tonight." The band played other "West Side Story" favorites before Matt took over. He and the orchestra had toes tapping with "On Broadway." Vicky's sister Ginny Tiu displayed her piano artistry playing "Impossible Dream." Rocky Brown and Jordan Segundo sang a strong duet of "This is the Moment." Jimmy Borges knocked out six mostly swinging numbers that dancers relished. The jazz trio of piano man Dan del Negro, bassist Steve Jones and drummer Sonny Froman closed things out ...
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 Wednesday and Saturday. E-mail him at bwood@starbulletin.com