‘Rampage’ takes time off from ‘A-Team’ to play it cool

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, who plays Corp. Bosco B.A. Baracus (the role make popular by Mr. T) in "The A-Team" movie and is a former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight titleholder, vacationed here with his family, spending the July Fourth holiday at Kailua Beach Park. Joining them was Daynin Dashefsky, originally of Nanakuli. Daynin is a National American Grappling Association champ in Brazilian jiu jitsu who trained with Rampage during her visits to Los Angeles. She was with her daughters, Briana, 12, and Kylee, 14, and her friend Paul Nobbe and his daughter, Danee, 16. Rampage was recognized by beachgoers and drew a crowd. He signed autographs and posed for pictures when he wasn’t swimming and building a sand castle with his daughter, Nana, 3. And the fearsome star even managed to get up on a paddleboard with a little help from his friends. Also in the group were another of Jackson’s children, Alijah, 4, and the actor’s sister, Shernita Jackson. Shernita said it was the best day in the week that they spent here …

The crowd was so big at the July 8 reception introducing the "Iolani on Kona Street" outlet that U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka could not get in because the ramp leading up to the party site was blocked with cars. The senator’s son, the Rev. Danny Akaka, and his wife, Anna, performed the blessing before the doors opened. U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, who was a close friend of the late Iolani Sportswear founder Keiji Kawakami, sent a message saying, "Keiji would be proud." Side Street Inn, located below the store, provided food for the crowd of business and tourist industry execs. Manoa DNA played music — the group is made up of Iolani CEO Lloyd Kawakami and his sons, Nick and Alex. Mom Carla Kawakami, Iolani president, was surprised when her mother, Elinor Argosy Cook, age 90, arrived at the party after flying in from Vero Beach, Fla. …

The kane of Roosevelt High School’s Halau Na Lei Makamae I Ka Wekiu, under the direction of kumu hula Blaine Ikaika Dutro, will perform tomorrow at 3:15 p.m. at the 33rd Annual Prince Lot Hula Festival at Moanalua Gardens. Less than a year old, the halau won the Kane Division of the Malia Craver Hula Kahiko Competition, formerly known as the Hawai’i Secondary Schools Hula Kahiko Competition, presented annually by the Kalihi-Palama Culture & Arts Society. Moanalua Gardens Foundation, which presents the Prince Lot Hula Festival, invites a winning high school to participate in the event as a way to foster new talent and encourage our young men and women to continue hula traditions …

Cheers, Melveen: Happy birthday to Melveen Leed, who will celebrate Sunday at 5 p.m. during her gig at Chai’s with a birthday dinner/jazz party. Some of Mel’s jazzy friends are bound to step up and join her on stage … Carla Beachcomber and husband Jess Lutz have arrived in town for their annual three-month vacation …