Features Columnist

Isle actress among judges of heroic dog competition

HAWAII ACTRESS Christie Brooke (“Soul Surfer” and “The Descendants”) was a celebrity judge when Hallmark’s “Hero Dog Awards,” was taped last month in Beverly Hills. The Castle High grad was alongside celeb judges and presenters Betty White, Whoopi Goldberg, Ewan McGregor, Peter Fonda, Faith Ford, Kristin Chenoweth and others. Hosted by Carson Kressley and taped before a live audience at the Beverly Hilton, the “Hero Dog Awards” paid tribute to eight remarkable dogs and their handlers. The show airs tonight at 6 on the Hallmark Channel. …

Saphira

Inouye’s better half to speak at disaster prep summit

IRENE HIRANO INOUYE, president of the U.S.-Japan Council and wife of Sen. Dan, will keynote the University of Hawaii/Pacific Command’s upcoming Pacific Rim Disaster Risk Reduction and Resiliency Workshop Aug. 7 to 9 here. Irene is the perfect keynoter because she happened to be in Japan when the March earthquake and tsunami struck and was interviewed by CNN.

With abundant seafood, restaurant lives up to billing

Maybe it's because I'd just returned from East Coast escapades that I was searching for ways to keep the post-vacation glow alive, and SHOR American Seafood Grill, the Hyatt Regency's third-floor dining spot, provided ample excuse to kick back and relax in the open air.

Kauai family's video a finalist in $1 million soap contest

KAUAI'S Rainbow Star Zephier, 9, saw the Gain "Smells Like a Million Bucks" contest on Facebook and asked her single mom, Erika Schneider, if the family could enter a video with her singing and playing ukulele. Rainbow Star had already written song lyrics for a contest entry, thinking if the family wins, the money could go to fix the clan's car.

Jazz Quartet marks 10 years with CD release and party

THIS ONE’S FOR DOLLY: “I still remember my mom telling me I should form my own jazz group, and egging me on to do it,” John Kolivas said. “She also encouraged me to try out for the Honolulu Symphony, which I did in 1997. She was a force of nature.”

Bada bing, bada boom birthday at Chart House

RUTH LIN’S daughter Deborah and son-in-law James Gandolfini surprised her at her birthday party at the Chart House on the Fourth of July. Ruth returned from Europe Saturday and called her daughter Sunday, thinking she was in New York, but she and her actor husband were here.

Models go for the grinds after show at Wolfgang's

HAWAII fashion designer Andy South, 24, of "Project Runway" fame, sporting a full head of white hair, was a guest at Wolfgang's Steakhouse fashion show brunch June 25.

Solar company renovates office with sunny views

There's a RevoluSun going on as more businesses and home owners, fed up with high electricity costs, decide to take energy into their own hands and go solar.

Yataimura jazzes up Shirokiya’s offerings

I always liked the options presented to me at Shirokiya’s food court at Ala Moana Center.
If I didn’t know exactly what I wanted, I could always circle the many food stations, eye all the selections and pick up a single bento, tonkatsu sandwich or small entree, combining it with side dishes such as kim chee, sweet potatoes or fried noodles.