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Hawaii Diary Michelle Ramos |
Patrons are sitting pretty
at Roy’s in Ko OlinaThe first public event at Roy's Ko Olina was less than three hours away when John Toner, executive vice president of the Ko Olina resort, stopped to check on Rainer Kumbroch, operations manager for Roy's. This is Kumbroch's recollection of the conversation:
Kumbroch: Hi. See ya.
Toner: Where are you going?
Kumbroch: Home Depot. Gotta buy toilet seats.
Pause.
Toner: I'm going with you.
So it happened that these two high-powered execs were buying six toilet seats just before the opening of their showcase restaurant. They got back at 5:20 p.m.; Kumbroch installed the seats in 30 minutes, then went off to shower and change. He was at his post, at the door of Roy's, as the first guests arrived at 6:30. It was a necessary rush job, he said. His customers deserved a smooth place to rest, so to speak. "No splinters." ... Staying within the restaurant industry -- Chef Alan Wong's fianceŽ, Alice Inoue, hosted a "Meet and Greet" workshop to welcome Dr. Joy Leo to Hawaii last Wednesday in Macy's Special Events room at Ala Moana. Inoue spoke on "Creating the Environment to Support Relationships" and Leo spoke on "Magnetizing the Right Partners into your Life." There wasn't an empty seat in the house and Wong, who provided the delectable sweets, stood for the entire 90-minute talk. It must be love. ...
Congratulations to Leilani Okuda for being one of 12 umpires (only three are from the U.S.) selected by the International Softball Federation for this year's Olympics. Okuda has umpired for UH women's softball since 1985 and currently is officiating at the local level for the Women's Fast Pitch League and the Meiji Makule League at Kawananakoa. She leaves this weekend for Athens. ... Alika Alan Almaraz of Mililani was crowned the 51st Meadow Gold Healthy Baby of Oahu on July 25, winning himself a $2,500 U.S. savings bond and numerous toys and prizes. Kudos to proud parents Dana and Anthony Almaraz. And happy birthday to Alika, who turned 2 the day before he was crowned. ... And finally, congratulations also go to Dr. John Spangler and his wife Susan. The couple put in the winning bid at an Adult Friends for Youth fund-raising auction and got a party for 12, which included a limo ride to Ward Theatres to watch "The Manchurian Candidate" on opening night with Mayor Jeremy Harris and wife Ramona, followed by dinner at the Plaza Club. All 12 gave a thumbs-up for the film and said it was a "must see" movie.
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