Last week I wrote about the private aviation terminals in Hawaii and the people who use them.
Tom Anusewicz, who’s worked in aviation for more than 45 years, had some interesting stories to tell me.
"Nike owned a jet and let Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan use it for trips to Hawaii. Maybe they discovered how comfortable and convenient it can be, for they later bought their own jets," Anusewicz said.
When the Irish band U2 played at Aloha Stadium, many flew in to see it. Two planes landed one after the other and pulled up to their red carpets and waiting limos at the same time. "In one was Kid Rock, and in the other was Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates. That’s the kind of diversity we get here sometimes."
Actress Goldie Hawn, her boyfriend, Kurt Russell, and their kids came in unannounced once and needed a car rental. "I drove Ms. Hawn over to the agency," Anusewicz said. "She was very down to earth. As she signed the car rental agreement, she giggled and said she had signed her first name with a small ‘g’ since she was a child. She didn’t know why."
Comedian Chevy Chase, who was famous for imitating people who fell, came into Maui while Anusewicz was working. "I don’t know if he did it for my benefit, but he fell down the stairs as he got off the plane."
While Anusewicz was vice president of Hemmeter Aviation on Maui in 1987, his boss, Bob Fishman, asked if Anusewicz could cover the Honolulu operation during Fishman’s National Guard duty in Japan.
"It’s going to be a quiet week. Enjoy yourself," Fishman said to Anusewicz. It was anything but.
During that week a drama would unfold at the terminal that Anusewicz discovered was part of an attempt to overthrow the government of the Philippines and reinstall Ferdinand Marcos in the presidency. However, it played out more like a comedy of errors.
A Boeing 707 arrived just before midnight that week. It was configured with a living room, dining room, bedrooms and galley for servicing its passengers.
Three passengers, including one later found to be an international arms dealer, left in a limousine for Waikiki.
When he boarded the plane, Anusewicz found the flight crew in an argument that turned into a shoving match. The three could not come up with enough cash to pay for a cab to get to their hotel, so Anusewicz gave them the money.
The next day they wanted fuel, but their credit card was rejected. Yelling, cursing and threats failed to move Anusewicz.
"I suggested we start with flight plans, which must come from an approved dispatch company." Where were they headed, Anusewicz asked. "Taiwan," they stated nervously.
Their previous supplier said they had not paid for the last flight plans and would not issue new ones until the bill was paid in advance. The crew debated what to do.
"Finally, on their third day, a late-1950s Chevy Impala in beautiful condition drove through the gate, and a gentleman which I believed to be of Philippine descent carrying a briefcase entered our facility. It was full of cash, lots of cash. He counted out hundred-dollar bills sufficient for the flight plans."
The flight plans were issued, but the crew was unhappy with them. What was wrong with the flight plans? "They stated that they wanted to get closer to Manila."
"Are you going to Manila?" I asked. In unison they said "No!"
Based on the plan to Taiwan, they were ready for fuel. Anusewicz told them they needed $19,000 to pay for it upfront. "They gave me the arms dealer’s platinum AMEX card, which was declined, leading to further arguments.
"They put the card holder, Sarkis Soghanalian, on the phone, and he threatened to kill me if I didn’t accept the card. I later found out his nickname was the ‘Merchant of Death.’ I suggested we might see the Chevy again."
Former Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos had fled the country and was living in Hawaii with his wife, Imelda. "I was aware of TV news showing trouble brewing in the Philippines against the government, and it was not difficult to see through their diabolical plans.
"I told the president of the company about my suspicions, and he notified the State Department, Philippine Consulate and FBI, who put undercover agents in our office.
"We later found out the plan was for a plumber to come to Marcos’ home to install a hot water heater. Marcos would hide in the empty box and would be carried to the plumber’s car and driven to the airport."
The State Department notified Marcos that he would not be permitted to leave Hawaii and return to the Philippines, and trying to do so would violate his agreement with them. The press got wind of it and descended on the terminal. It was on the news day and night. The jig was up, and the crew decided to return to Miami.
"If the aircraft and crew had arrived with money, aeronautical charts, advanced flight plans to Manila, and acted in a more professional manner, they could have gotten Marcos to the Philippines," Anusewicz believes.
If this is how the military coup began, I can only guess how badly it would have ended, if Marcos actually got to the Philippines.
Bob Sigall, author of the “Companies We Keep” books, looks through his collection of old photos to tell stories each Friday of Hawaii people, places and companies. Email him at Sigall@yahoo.com.
