Kaleikini emcees reunion of Kahala Hilton workers

A REUNION of Kahala Hilton employees who served there from 1964 to 1995 when it was a Hilton International hotel drew 130 people to what is now called the Kahala Hotel & Resort on Sept. 22. This was the sixth reunion. Organizer was Adam Suapaia, who was manager of the hotel’s Hala Terrace when Danny Kaleikini packed ’em in there. Danny was reunion emcee and also sang. Imaikalani Young, an occasional backup musician during Danny’s 27-year run, brought his band to play. They were followed by the Kevin Mau dance band. Former Maile Lounge singer Connie Kissinger came from Australia for the event. Jan Oudendijk, a former general manager of the hotel who works out of Hong Kong, attended. Other past or present employees attending included Kanoe Cazimero, Cookie Isaacs, Nancy Daniels, Charlene "Charlie" Goodness, Frances Peterson, Kathy Inkinen and Adam’s reunion committee members Madeline Chang, Jackie Izumi and Je’Nai "Elvira" Jenovese. Je’Nai was party photographer and provided the photos running with this column. Maria "Baby" Handl, widow of former Kahala GM Richard Handl, who became president of Hilton International for Asia, Australia and the Pacific, attended. Adam says he wore the same black tux for the party that he did in 1995, even though he weighed 387 pounds on his 6-foot, 2-inch frame in those days. He now weighs a "svelte" 260, a loss of 127 pounds. "Black hides a lot of things," he said. …

CHARGING ON: Notre Dame goes up against Miami on Saturday, and Hawaii’s Manti Te’o, the Fighting Irish’s brilliant linebacker, will be right in the thick of the battle. Manti, a Laie and Punahou product, is featured in a five-page story in the Oct. 1 Sports Illustrated magazine. If he keeps up the outstanding play, he could be a Heisman Trophy candidate. An informal survey of USA Today Sports Media Group’s Heisman voters last week suggested most would consider putting Manti on their ballot. Manti’s toughness on the field for the 4-0 Irish is well established. But his incredible mental strength was shown Sept. 12, three days before the big Michigan State game, when he received word that his grandmother had died. Hours later he took a call and was told his girlfriend had died of leukemia. Despite being devastated, he did not miss a practice. Thousand of Notre Dame students and fans were given lei to wear to support him at the MSU game, which the Irish won, 20-3. Monti made 12 tackles. A week later against Michigan, Notre Dame won, 13-6. The TV announcer called Manti the dominant player on the field for intercepting two passes and making eight tackles. The Sports Illustrated story pointed out he is a graduate of President Barack Obama‘s high school and practices Mitt Romney‘s Mormon religion. It had a two-page headline in large type reading "The Full Manti." Go Manti, go Notre Dame! …

THE EMMY that Tom Bergeron of "Dancing with the Stars" collected for reality-competition host made Vicki Borges, wife of crooner Jimmy Borges, particularly happy. Vicki’s maiden name is Bergeron. Tom’s and Vicki’s grandfathers were brothers. … Sorry to learn of the death of Mike Topo­lin­ski, 91, Sept. 20. Mike was a firefighter for 30 years and served another 30 years as a Hawaii Kai Marina patrolman. He attended Roosevelt High with my brother and sister, both deceased, and was a star football lineman. Mike would call me over the years to talk about the good old school days. Condolences to his family members. …

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