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Wood Craft Ben Wood |
Cameo roles by stars give
Chan’s new film a boostAnyone wanting to escape from the ugly Mideast news and the bombing and killing that goes with it should go see Jackie Chan's fun-filled remake of "Around the World in 80 Days" that opens Wednesday. There's plenty of combat in the film but it's between Jackie and dastardly villains and it's good for laughs. Cameo roles by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rob Schneider, John Cleese and Kathy Bates, among others, make for more fun. Jackie, 50, came to town for the film's Hawaii Premiere at the Blaisdell Concert Hall Tuesday, a benefit for his charity foundation, and for the official opening of his Jackie's Kitchen restaurant at Ala Moana Center. He posed for photos with VIP guests at a backstage reception and was the star of a show onstage before the film. He sang in various languages and did a duet of Elvis' "Can't Help Falling in Love With You" with Nohelani Cypriano. Linda Coble was an excellent emcee. Jackie took questions Wednesday at the restaurant. His partner in the local venture is Robert Cortes. Jackie said he wants to film "Rush Hour 3" in Hawaii. He said he trains every day to keep in shape and that he wants to be an actor who can play diverse roles -- but also an actor who can fight ...
Ko Miyataki returns to lead Rehab Hospital
Ko Miyataki has returned to Rehab Hospital as its president. Ko was prez for 13 years before taking another post four years ago ... It was 25 years ago tomorrow that Harry B. Soria Jr. first broadcast his "Territorial Airways" Hawaiian music show. Harry's show is aired Sundays from 5 to 6 p. m. on 105 KINE-FM ...Kim Taylor Reese, who has been taking pictures of beautiful hula dancers for 25 years for his photo books, says that he is so happy doing what he's doing that he has to pinch himself in the morning to make sure he's not dreaming. He's taking pictures now of beauties who are the daughters of women he photographed 25 years ago. Kim is signing his latest book "Hula i ka La" (Dance in the Sun) at Pearl Highland's Pictures Plus today from noon to 2 p.m. Next Saturday, he'll be at Hilo Hattie's at Ala Moana Center from 1 to 3 p.m. for a signing. Besides books, Hilo Hattie is also selling his silk aloha shirts, caps and T-shirts in its stores ...
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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