By Dave Donnelly
Monday, February 24, 1997
George Hamilton, Burt Sagum
George Hamilton, Burt Sagum
DO you get the idea that many of the people making the most noise about legalizing hemp as a commercial crop in the country, have more on their minds than a more comfortable alternative to silk or cotton? Two of the biggest proponents are Willie Nelson, who likes to wear suits made out of hemp when he isn't otherwise ingesting hemp products into his lungs, and actor Woody Harrelson, who played that champion of liberty, Larry Flynt, in the movie on the Hustler publisher's life. There's a move in the state legislature to authorize the University of Hawaii to conduct agronomic tests on "industrial hemp" as a commercial crop in Hawaii. Speaker Joe Souki even wore an aloha shirt made with hemp fabric to a hearing on the subject. It's no secret that the No. 1 cash agriculture crop in the islands right now is - well, let's just say it's illegal. But nothing like getting a foot in the door ... Stomping for hemp
at the LegislatureTHAT brings us to the eternally tanned George Hamilton, who's introducing a designer line of cigars made from Dominican Republic tobacco, which he hopes to popularize as a viable substitute for Cuban cigars, which remains for some unfathomable reason, illegal in this country. And they're not even hallucinogenic! Anyway, "Gorgeous George" will be hosting a cigar dinner at the Halekulani March 14, his first official stogie visit to the islands ...
THEN there's author Bob Stone, whose 85th published book, "Celestial 911," will be out in July. He and his artist wife Lola won't be here to see it. You know, of course, that whatever Lola wants, Lola gets, and this Lola wants to move to Thailand's Hua Hin. They expect to live there in a condo on the beach for at least a year, doubtless churning out more paintings and books. Incidentally, and we're not necessarily reverting to hemp here, Hua Hin means "Stone Head" in Thai ...
WHEN they heard about the United Airlines 50th anniversary celebration, Bob Wells, a retired United pilot, and Betty Swartz, a retired Friendly Skies flight attendant, wrote a letter recounting their special memory of the airlines' 50 years of service to Hawaii. The two reminisced about how they'd met as members of the same United flight crew for the May 5, 1947, flight to Honolulu. It was United's third flight to the isles. Nine months later, which seemed a proper gestation period, the two were married and this year they celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary ... How Friendly the Skies?
SOMETHING was missing in the transmission. A photo in yesterday's paper showed a "color-enhanced image" of the Eiffel Tower. One trouble - the picture was in black and white ... Society of Seven fans are plugging the group's Feb. 28 re-opening in the Outrigger main showroom. Invites to the show were printed on Japanese fans. Does this mean we'll see the unpredictable Burt Sagum in a kimono? ...
SHE'S described as "a 16-year-old yo-yo professional from Vermont," though I've no idea how someone makes a living at such a pursuit, but Jennifer Baybrook will be demonstrating her prowess at the McCully-Moiliili Library Wednesday from 3 to 4 p.m. She's appeared on TV with David Letterman and with the Smothers Brothers, and also at the White House, where yo-yo'ing is an accomplished art ... Ed Reinhart has been in the leasing business for a long time in Honolulu, and yesterday took a new lease on life himself, marrying longtime companion Kathy Fu ...
THE exec director of Punana Leo O Maui, the Hawaiian language immersion pre-school, Kili Namau'u, testified before the Maui County Council last week. She was seeking support for a county land grant to build a new school and family language resource center. Council member Kalani English began his questioning with, "I think I'll take this rare opportunity to 'olelo Hawai'i." And six smiling committee members listed to what was a rare council exchange to ever take place totally in the Hawaiian language ... English and Hawaiian
