Happy Halloween, if that is an appropriate greeting for something involving spooks, goblins, witches, spiders and horror movies. Those Halloween goblins better not mess with Daynin “;The Grappler”; Dashefsky or they will end up hurting real bad. Daynin, born and raised in Nanakuli, was the big winner in the NAGA Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Tournament at Pearl City High Oct. 18. It's a national tourney that drew 750 competitors from American and foreign cities. Daynin, 46, won the Woman's Masters Gi Division, earning a samurai sword, and the Absolute Division in which she won the championship belt. She also placed first in the Advanced No-Gi Division, winning another samurai sword. Daynin trains under Ron Huxen at Hawaii Kai Jiu Jitsu. She said this is her last tournament because of business. “;My goal was go out of the tournament circuit with a bang and I did, winning all three divisions I entered,”; the former beauty queen said ...

I've been off for a short time celebrating my 78th birthday. I am looking forward to the biggie in two years. The major event was a dinner set up for me at Stage Tuesday by Drea Kia and Mihana Souza for about 20 friends and relatives. Tuesday was wisely chosen because it is half-price wine night at Stage. Charlie Beeck roared in driving his latest toy, a Lamborghini, and bought plenty of wine. Mihana brought ginger leis for all the wahines. Managers Charly Yoshida, Scott Armstrong and their staff took good care of us. Stage is in the Honolulu Design Center, a huge classy furniture store owned by Thomas Sorensen. He also owns Stage and joined us for a while. One of his furniture sales staff, Kimberly Yannariello brought her husband, singer Nicky Croon, to the party. He sang swinging hits Frank Sinatra style with pianist Houston Allred. Both are newcomers to Hawaii. They perform Saturday nights at Stage at 6:30. Party guest Anita Hall also sang. She impressed a priest in the house and he was brought over to meet her. Anita sometimes sings in churches. Before leaving, the priest gave me a blessing. That was a first for me ...

My birthday activities started off with a solo lunch at Alan Wong's Pineapple Room in Macy's to check out the plantation-style remodeling, including handsome handmade table tops with rich natural wood-streaks. Tables were fashioned from restored wood by Thorben Wuttke. New chairs with wooden backs complement the tables. Wong's project manager Leigh Ito says cosmetic changes will continue ... No birthday would be complete for me without a visit to the Halekulani's House Without a Key at sunset with the hula of Kanoe Miller and the Hawaiian and hapa-haole songs by Pa'ahana, made up of Doug Tolentino, Kaipo Kukahiko and Pakala Fernandes. I hit that gorgeous setting on my Oct. 26 birthday ...

...The Mike Sakamoto Memorial Fishing Tournament Sept. 18-20 raised funds for a college scholarship in his name. It goes to students who plan to pursue ocean-related studies. “;Hawaii Goes Fishing,”; airing tomorrow at 5 p.m. on OC16, provides insight into the man behind “;Fishing Tales,”; a popular '80s and '90s TV show, and the legacy he leaves behind. Mike's last fishing trip is in the show. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma right after the trip was filmed. He died last January ...

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