What the Heck? John Heckathorn

---

Dicus wedding brings out the media wits

The Look: Last Sunday at the Halekulani, Howard Dicus married Bernadette Benigno, a caterer whose father announced during the ceremony that she made "the bestest lumpia in town."

Since Dicus is a media triple threat -- print, radio, TV -- it was no surprise to find the reception emceed by Channel 2 Morning News anchors Kirk Matthews and Tannya Joaquin. It was their last joint appearance. The next day, Joaquin replaced Leslie Wilcox on KHON's evening newscast.

"We don't usually do weddings," Matthews said. "My biggest fear is that Howard's going to grab the mic out of my hand and say, 'Here's how to do this right.' "

Among the groomsmen were PBS Hawaii producer Michael Harris, Hawaii Public Radio newsman Derek Malama, and KITV's Ben Gutierrez and Keoki Kerr. Kerr sang a parody about Dicus he'd written for the occasion, set to music by Gilbert and Sullivan.

"I'm Filipino," Gutierrez said and proceeded into a song parody of his own, about how Dicus had to marry into a Filipino family since he had so many jobs.

But the biggest buzz at the wedding concerned the look Dicus gave the soon-to-be Mrs. Dicus as she walked down the aisle. As Joaquin pointed out from the podium, any number of women nudged their husbands and said, "How come you never look at me like that any more?"

Fully Clothed: A lingerie boutique named Princess Tam-Tam in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center has its grand reopening this Tuesday. In case you're like Paris Hilton and frequently forget yours, you may want to get there by 5 p.m. -- since the first 20 guests get a free pair of panties.

Architectural Digest: For decades, I've walked by the Alexander & Baldwin building on Bishop Street -- that 1929 architectural gem designed by C.W. Dickey and Hart Wood.

I'd never been inside until last weekend, when the company threw a reception to honor the 125th anniversary of Matson and C&H Sugar.

The building's been renovated over the past few years, including $1.5 million to put new tiles on the signature double-hipped Dickey roof.

On the top floor, I wandered into chairman Alan Doane's office. In a world of sealed high-rises, Doane and the other execs have glass doors you can open and stroll through out onto a fourth-floor lanai.

So A&B never thought of tearing down the four-story edifice and erecting a high-rise, like every other Bishop Street company? Doane paled at the thought. "No, no, this building is the soul of the company."

Open for Business: Last weekend was all restaurant openings. At Cassis, in the old Palomino location, George Mavrothalassitis was hoping for 300 guests. He got 500, lured by his roasted honey-ginger duck with faro risotto and Huli-Huli chicken with garlic Kahuku corn.

The same night, Roy's opened in Waikiki. Leaving Mavro's, I asked veteran downtown restaurateur Don Murphy if he was attending the Roy's opening as well. "Unless there's a football game," he said, "I never leave this zip code."

At the Roy's opening, a benefit for the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii, the mayor came twice. First for the opening ceremonies. Then, after official functions at HPU and Farrington, again just to enjoy the party.

I hung out late with Roy Yamaguchi himself. After 34 restaurants, does opening one more become routine? "It never is," he said. "You spend millions of dollars, hire a lot of kids you don't even know and hope for the best."

The kids knew Roy. As young staffers left after the party, they showered Yamaguchi with hugs and handshakes. Said one 20-something cook on the way out: "I always wanted to work for him. In fact, I want to be him."

Big on Maui: Over on Maui last weekend, the Four Seasons opened its new restaurant, DUO.

Flying in for the occasion was a star-studded cast: Kate Bosworth ("Superman Returns"), reformed Hollywood bad boy Christian Slater, Alyson Hannigan ("American Pie"), Amanda Bynes ("What I Like About You"), Christina Applegate (Kelly Bundy from "Married With Children") and "Sex and the City" stars John Corbett and Chris Noth. (You many know the last two better as Aiden and Mr. Big.)

The celebs helped raise $40,000 for the Maui Food Bank, though the chance to cavort for the weekend in suites at the Four Seasons may have contributed to their charitable impulses.

Moot Point: Last Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Scott v. Harris, an obscure case about a Georgia car chase. At least eight people in Hawaii were interested -- the eight teens on four high school teams who'd argued the case a few weeks earlier before a moot court.

The moot court was sponsored by Gov. Ben Cayetano's alma mater, L.A.'s Loyola Law School, and local physician Edison Miyawaki, who awarded $1,000 of his own money to the winning 'Iolani team.

"All the kids who participated were great, well-prepared, well-spoken," Miyawaki said. "But why only four schools? The only public school was Aiea." Next year, he'd like teams from twice as many schools, especially public. Schools can contact Carmen Ramirez at Loyola Law School, carmen.ramirez@lls.edu.

Youth Quake: If you're casting about for something to do today, look no further than Malama Jam 2007 at the Hawaii Theatre. Doors open at 1 p.m. Slack-key guitar whiz Makana headlines a group of young performers, including a 9-year-old knife dancer, Wallen Te'o.

The event's put together by a group of high school students to benefit the Institute for Human Services. If your Sunday is not complete without a little shopping, rest assured there will also be a silent auction.