| This story has been corrected. Please see below. |
Ran into fashion designer and artist Takeo Kobayashi at Neiman’s Espresso Bar on Saturday. He said he and fellow designer Eric Chandler are moving to Seattle in April. Takeo was with retired Aiea High teacher Barbara Muramoto and Radford teacher Gerry Fairbank.
Gerry is heavily involved with the Punahou Carnival, slated for Feb. 7-8. Her daughter, Jennifer Fairbank, is a Punahou 1997 graduate, and Gerry has been a carnival volunteer since Jennifer’s school days.
Jennifer went on to graduate from Loyola Marymount in 2001. She was groomed for the Miss Hawaii USA pageant by Takeo and Eric in 2005 and won; she was also the first runner-up in Miss Hawaii 2004. The model and actress has appeared in commercials, has worked as a TV reporter in Corpus Christi, Texas, and appeared on "Hawaii Five-0" Jan. 10.
"Takeo and Eric have the golden touch when it comes to selecting individuals who have the potential to go on to bigger things," Gerry said.
Another of their success stories is former client Jason Momoa. Jason starred in "Game of Thrones" and "Conan the Barbarian" and was in "Baywatch..
The Hawaiian actor is promoting his new Sundance Channel drama, "The Red Road," which premieres Feb. 27. Jason portrays an ex-con — a dangerous member of an American Indian tribe who returns home. Tom Sizemore plays his dad, a notorious drug dealer. Lisa Bonet plays a Native American lawyer who wants justice after a terrible crime has been committed against a member of her tribe. Jason and Lisa are married in real life …
A MINICONCERT Jan. 24 by slack-key guitarist-singer Makana following the "Perry and Price" morning show was among the events of Kahala Resort’s 50th-anniversary celebration. Mihana Souza danced lovely hula to "Makee ‘Ailana." Makana sang and played the classic beautifully. He was the last protege of the legendary slack-key guitarist-singer Sonny Chillingworth.
KSSK Radio’s Michael W. Perry and Larry Price were brought in by Kahala’s management to conduct interviews at the hotel’s Plumeria Beach House Jan. 23-24 with people who have long been associated with the hotel. Among those interviewed were singers Danny Kaleikini, Cathy Foy-Mahi and Barry Flanagan; former Maile Room chef Martin Wyss; former employees Adam Suapaia, Gaylynne Sakuda and Margaret Sampio; Dolphin Quest’s Julie Rocho-Levine;Kahu Curt Kekuna; and promoter Tom Moffatt, who talked about booking suites for some of the best entertainers in the world at the Kahala.
I also spoke. I talked about having lunches at the Hala Terrace, now the Plumeria, with Jack Lord, who played Steve McGarrett of the original "Hawaii Five-0." Jack always ordered what became known as "The Jack Lord Special." It was a glorified hamburger steak made with prime beef. I kept ordering it whenever I was there, even after Jack died in January 1998. When I walked in Jan. 24, one of the waitresses said, "Hello Mr. Wood, are you here for your Jack Lord Special?.
Seated at my table was Maria "Baby" Handl. On air I introduced the former Miss Philippines, who won the Queen of the Pacific title in Australia in earlier years, as the widow of former Kahala Hilton GM Richard Handl. Richard signed Danny to a 30-year contract at the Kahala. Maria also encouraged Richard to hire Kit Samson and his Sound Advice for the hotel’s Maile Lounge, resulting in a 24-year engagement. Also at my table were Mihana, photographer Skinny Crawley, businesswomen Drea Kia and Jackie Smythe, and writer Lynn Cook. Most of those gals help this old geezer get around.
On Jan. 23 the Kahala’s big guns, Charles and Shawn Sweeney, father and son, were in town for a reception and luncheon to mark the 50th. Charles is chairman of Trinity Investments, the company that owns the Kahala and Maui’s Makena Beach & Golf Resort. Shawn is president of Landmark, management company for Kahala and Makena Beach. Kahala’s GM is Carmine Iommazzo. Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Mayor Kirk Caldwell proclaimed Jan. 22 the Kahala Hotel & Resort Golden Jubilee Day. The guv attended the event; Howard Dashefsky was emcee …
CONGRATS to Bruno Mars for winning the best pop vocal album Grammy on Sunday. It was good of him to say he loved his late mom Bernadette in his short acceptance speech and say his dad Peter Hernandez was in the audience …
———
Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.
| CORRECTION: The miniconcert by guitarist-singer Makana was held on Jan. 24. An incorrect date was published in Ben Wood’s Wood Craft column on Page D3 Friday. |
