A line Jack Lord would use when I had regular interviews with him in the old days was, “;Good will out.”; That line works well in the case of former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric Shinseki of Kauai. Things were not good for Shinseki in 2003 after he testified before the Senate Armed Services panel that it would take several hundred thousand U.S. troops to control Iraq after invading the country, angering Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Not long after that, Shinseki was ousted as Army chief. The Pentagon named his replacement more than a year before his scheduled retirement. But things are good for Shinseki now because President-elect Barack Obama, like Shinseki born in Hawaii, has named him Veterans Affairs secretary. I met Shinseki briefly last year when he was talking to Sen. Dan Inouye at the Hale Koa Hotel. It was an event to honor another former Army Chief of Staff, Fred Weyand. Weyand was honored for being the driving force, with Inouye's support, in the construction of the Hale Koa, a hotel with low rates where soldiers could rest and recuperate with their families. Shinseki, who served under Weyand in Vietnam as a first lieutenant, flew in from Washington that day to speak at the ceremony and flew back to Washington that same night. He certainly has the energy, brains and experience for his new post. Congratulations, soldier! As Jack Lord would say, “;Good will out”; ...

ONWARD: Rehab Hospital Foundation President Ko Miyataki and hubby Glenn were in France recently visiting their daughter Keiko Pallarin and her family. As they were shopping for gifts for Keiko's kids in a store, the strains of “;Mele Kalikimaka”; came from the sound system. Keiko burst into song, knocking out shopgirls and shoppers ...

Members of the Chaine des Rotisseurs international food and wine organization will hold their Christmas gala at Washington Place tonight. The Chaine is the world's oldest and largest organization of its kind. Its dinners raise scholarship funds for culinary arts students and other things involving food and wine. Ten new members will be inducted tonight, including Gov. Linda Lingle. Officiating will be George Brown of Seattle. President of the Hawaii chapter is Dr. Garrett Saikley ...

Performers in the free Peace on Earth concert at Kapiolani Park Bandstand Wednesday, 6 p.m., include: Melveen Leed, Dennis & David Kamakahi, the Tradewinds, Noelani Kanoho Mahoe, Jonathan Sypert with DeShannon Higa, the Thursday Night Band with Jamie Hope, the Ron Miyashiro Singers and the Carmen Haugen Quartet. Keith and Carmen Haugen are producing ... Hank Adaniya is making sausages of lean caribou and beef and is serving them at Hank's Hot Dogs shops, $6.50 ...