We didn't need a glass-bottomed boat. Kaneohe Bay itself was like glass. The small boat dock in Heeia was packed with trucks and empty boat trailers. “;Nobody can resist the water on a day like this,”; said a guy fishing off the dock.

Even I couldn't resist.

The Bishop Museum was marking the end of its popular Megalodon shark exhibit by hosting an excursion on the Coral Queen, a 40-foot glass-bottomed boat.

I wasn't the only one who couldn't resist. “;Our phones wouldn't stop ringing,”; said the museum's Courtney Chow. “;We had to add a second cruise.”;

Luckily, it was a travel-poster-perfect morning to see Oahu's most beautiful bay. This being a museum trip, it was educational, complete with a 16-page handout and lectures from marine specialist Rhonda Stewart and historian Nanette Napoleon.

Our heads got packed with everything from Hawaiian lore to the history of Coconut Island by the time we cruised atop a large reef to see fish. No need to gaze through the glass bottom; it was easy to spot the reef fish and turtles just by standing at the rail. Those who did go below got a thrill when crew member Seth Ramolete dived overboard and swam unexpectedly under the boat.

“;That always makes the ladies scream,”; laughed Kealoha Morgan at the helm. (”;Call me Capt. Morgan,”; he said. “;Like the rum.”;) Morgan motored us back to the dock. “;Great trip,”; he noted. “;Nobody got sick. What group is this anyway?”;

Told it was the Bishop Museum, he admitted he hadn't been there since his elementary school field trip: “;I have to take my kids.”;

Memo to Capt. Morgan: Next Sunday, is Charles Reed Bishop Day at the museum. Admission is free.

Living up to its name

I was first in line at the light at Ainakoa Street, right before Kalanianaole lifts onto the freeway.

The light changed. I stepped on the gas, firmly, but not really mashing the drilled alloy sport gas pedal.

The 12-cylinder, bi-turbo, 600-horsepower engine gave off a deep throaty burble, and within seven or eight seconds, I was traveling 72 mph. I looked back at the traffic. Way back, as if everyone was still standing still.

“;That guy at the light behind us,”; said Greg Jackson. “;I hope that was a surf rack on his roof and not a blue light.”; I slowed down.

Jackson, general sales manager for Audi, was letting me drive this monster, a $222,565 Bentley Flying Spur Speed, the first in the islands. On the outside the sedan looks dull, a little like a Chrysler 300, which deliberately imitated it.

The inside is another matter. When Bentley split from Rolls-Royce, it kept the Mulliner coachworks, so the interior is all contrast-stitched leather and handcrafted mirror-matched burr walnut panels. I won't list the amenities. Suffice to say the interior has everything except a wet bar and bunk beds. It weighs 6,482 pounds - about twice as much as full-size Camry.

With Eric Clapton blasting on the 1,100-watt sound system, we cruised into town, then up Makiki Heights, changing suspensions on the fly. Finally, we had to descend to get gas, the Bentley getting only 10 miles to the gallon in city traffic and my driving not exactly geared to fuel economy.

When we returned to the dealership, chef George Mavrothalassitis was picking up his sporty black Lotus from the service department. “;Is that your car?”; asked Mavro, awe in his voice. I hated telling him no.

No No Nobu

Nobu Matsuhisa was in town last week, catering the opening dinner for the Sony Open. Plus, since he's throwing a book launch for his new party cookbook at every Nobu's across the planet, he threw one in Waikiki as well.

He also squeezed in some golf. He arrived at the book launch after playing the Sony Dream Cup Pro Am with pro Rich Beem. Nobu revealed that several of the Nobu Waikiki staff had been caddying, for him and others. So did they get the night off? asked a guest. “;No,”; said Nobu. “;They're working.”;

Nobu also revealed that his daughter Jyunko was getting married soon, probably in Japan. Asked if, like the book tour, she'd get a reception in all of his far-flung restaurants, he said, “;No, no. Too much, too much.”;

Wedding Belles

An even wilder book launch took place at the Wedding Cafe, where dance music blasted into the parking lot and a surprising numbers of recent brides, many with husbands in tow, all lined up for a signed copy of “;Wedding Belles: Ideas & Inspiration from Island Brides,”; by Tanna Dang.

Dang and husband Bryson sat at the end of the line, next to a candy buffet, signing books, dressed in resolutely anti-wedding black from head to toe.

“;I was afraid everyone else would wear white,”; said Dang, who's often called a wedding guru, though husband Bryson notes, “;She's just obsessed with weddings.”;

“;I am,”; Dang said. “;It's so much fun, everyone's nuts. Every bride turns into Bridezilla toward the end, but in a good way. She's been thinking about her wedding since she was 2.”;

Starlight Star Bright

Ticket sales were initially slow for last weekend's Starlight Ball, confides co-chair Lacy Matsumoto. “;People were hanging onto their money, but at the last minute they shelled it out.”;

The Academy of Arts gala is the youngest and hippest of the dress-up fundraisers. Matsumoto, for instance, is all of 23, and couldn't resist a turn as guest deejay for the packed dance floor.

The theme was sort of Sinatra/Elvis/'60s Vegas. As you waited to get in, you could take your picture with one of the spangled showgirls in spotlights outside. Few of the guests realized they were drag queens. “;That's a boy!?”; exclaimed one woman. “;He looks better than me.”;