CHEF Nobu Matsuhisa swung into town to play in the Sony Open Dream Cup Pro-Am, to sign his new book, “;Nobu Miami Party Book”; and to prepare food for the Sony Open dinner tomorrow night at the Convention Center. With Nobu at his restaurant in the Waikiki Parc Monday night was Thomas Buckley, chef at Nobu Miami, who co-authored the book. The book signing reception in the private room at Nobu Waikiki was packed. Halekulani chefs Vikram Garg and Yves Garnier attended, as did many of the town's beautiful people. They enjoyed 13 different party food selections made from recipes in Nobu's book and drank specialty drinks. Buckley, other Nobu chefs and the Waikiki staff will help Nobu prepare the Sony dinner tomorrow, making it necessary to shutter the Waikiki restaurant that night. It will open Friday for Nobu's Omakase dinner, $120, with entrees from the cookbook. Although he played in the Sony Open Dream Cup Pro-Am Monday, Nobu said, “;I come to Hawaii to work, not to play.”; However he sometimes gets in a round with chefs Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong and wine expert Chuck Furuya on his visits. Asked what his handicap is, he replied, “;It's 20, like my age.”; Nobu likes to crack jokes ...

Sorry to learn of the death in New York Jan. 9 of Harry Endo, 87, one of the local residents who had a key recurring role on “;Hawaii Five-0.”; Besides regulars such as Jimmy MacArthur, Kam Fong, Gilbert “;Zulu”; Kauhi, Herman Wedemeyer and Al Harrington, Jack Lord was proud of having so many local actors and residents the show could draw from. Among them were: Danny Kamekona, Jimmy Borges, Glenn Cannon, Seth Sakai, Doug Mossman, Bob Sevey, Joe Moore, Bill Bigelow, Elissa Dulce, Moe Keale, Harold “;Tosh Togo”; Sakata, John Stalker, Kwan Hi Lim, Nephi Hannemann, Richard Denning, Linda Ryan, Fred Ball, Elizabeth Smith and many more. The series ran 12 years, from 1968 into 1980 and was one of the leading shows in the nation, making Nielsen's top 10 week after week. It was also a favorite in other countries. On a trip to London a cabbie asked me if I knew Lord when I told him I was from Hawaii. After I told him I knew Jack, he said to tell him to get an English tailor.

I told Jack that story and he laughed. I also told him the “;Hawaii Five-0”; theme was played in the changing of the guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace, a big tourist draw. Lord died in January 1998 ...

Swinerton Builders and Group 70 International architectural firm unveiled a sustainability focused air-conditioned hospitality venue for the PGA tour's Sony Open, designed almost entirely of reused materials. It uses two 45-foot Matson containers as its base and is located on Waialae golf course's ninth hole ...