The Kahala’s 50th stirs up fond memories from afar

Wood Craft" items about The Kahala Hotel and Resort’s 50th anniversary have reached Switzerland where Hans Weis­haupt, GM of the hotel from 1973 to ’80, and his wife, Arenda, are living. Former Kahala chef Martin Wyss, another Swiss native, sent him the columns.

Besides being a top hotelier, Hans is quite a colorful writer. Describing his years at The Kahala, when it was called the Kahala Hilton, Hans writes, "It was that innate pride, blessed dedication and total commitment, owned by everyone, from top to bottom, of the Kahala team toward their work" that he found most important. "In short, it was that Green Berets-of-hospitality spirit I’ve never found again in any other assignment, that made for the constant comfort of our guests, and the everlasting joy for me of having been part of it, but also to read now in your column, that that spirit is yet prevailing there after all these years!"

Hans brought up a Kahala star I knew I had missed after my stories ran — public relations chief Kay Ahearn. He writes that she was an important contributor to the "Kahala flame of fame." He adds: "Kay, with the whim and vigor of a Joan of Arc, kept us honchos on the straight and narrow when we had those occasional flashes that we actually were the root cause for all that Kahala fame; or, when it came to those delicately fragile questions of protocol; or, when dealing with those Hollywood sharpies; or, keeping us from traipsing onto the banana peels you media guys left around; or, simply to understand the civic duty we had to a supportive community; and/or, to show reference to the rich cultural heritage that made us so privileged to be a Hilton International in Hawaii; and on and on. In brief, she knew how to roil me royally with her snippets of etiquette and rules of conduct. But at the end, she always was right and got Kahala’s P.R. straight. (With a capital P. and capital R!)" Wow, that’s good stuff. Keep in mind that English is not Hans’ native language …

ACTRESS Brie Larson, star of Maui native Destin Daniel Cretton‘s "Short Term 12," is one of 12 standouts pictured on the three-page fold-out cover of Vanity Fair’s March Hollywood issue. Brie is in fast company as others on the cover include George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Margot Robbie and Sunday Oscar winners Lupita Nyong’o and Jared Leto. "Short Term 12" was Larson’s breakout lead role …

RETIRED SEN. Dan Akaka, 89, will attend the Alfred Apaka 95th-birthday music celebration March 16, 3 to 7 p.m. at Hilton Hawaiian Village. Akaka will attend the opening segment at the Apaka statue. Also attending will be Alfred’s 93-year-old sister, Frances Mahelona. The Apaka and Akaka families lived in Pauoa Valley in the old days.

Many of Hawaii’s leading entertainers will perform during the party at the Tapa Bar stage near Alfred’s statue to honor the handsome singer. Alfred’s son, Jeff, is organizer of the celebration. Alfred, a 1938 Roosevelt graduate who was known as having as the "Golden Voice of Hawaii," died Jan. 30, 1960, at age 40, of a heart attack while playing handball, a huge loss …

GUITARIST Ian O’Sullivan will give a benefit concert for the University of Hawaii guitar program March 14, 7:30 p.m. in Orvis Auditorium. Ian earned a master’s degree in guitar from Yale after graduating from Kamehameha and UH. For tickets call 956-8742 …

Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.