Hawaii

By Dave Donnelly

Monday, May 12, 1997

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Bob MacGregor Dita Holifield

Pollock on par with a putter

AVID mountain biker and adman Alan Pollock suffered a bad crash and fractured his hip while engaging in a passion of cycling, and for the past six weeks he's been on crutches. The president of Loomis & Pollock ruefully admits that forsaking a career in mountain biking may have revived his golf game. He's been on crutches for the past six weeks, but instead of maneuvering around on a cane per his doctor's wishes, he's been using his putter. Quips Pollock, "It's the best use I've even gotten out of it. Maybe I'll take up the game again." His only problem is that when he walks he tends to push out to the right . . .

YESTERDAY was Mother's Day, and best of British luck to anyone trying to reserve a table in a nice restaurant last night. One person who was busy over the weekend leading up to Mom's Day was local freelance writer Sue Lanci Villani, who was autographing copies of her new book, "Motherhood at the Crossroads, Meeting the Challenge of a Changing Role," at local bookstores. I don't know, isn't motherhood pretty much what it's always been, some successful at it and others not so much? . . . They'd hoped to open the Honolulu Polo Club season at Waimanalo yesterday and had a big pa'u parade with John & Lita Cook's Hawaii Pa'u Riders all set up, but weather postponed the season opening until next Sunday. Oldtimer Bob MacGregor, who's played the game for more than 60 years, promises to be on hand for the opening, which will also celebrate the 10th anniversary of the club. Meanwhile, polo continues apace at the Hawaii Polo Club in Mokuleia . . .

AND while yesterday was Mother's Day, today is the 80th birthday of Fred Lane, a feisty Irishman who's lived in Hawaii for more than 50 years and is a Navy vet of three wars dating back to WWII. The father of Honolulu Park Ranger Mardie Lane ("The Lane Ranger"), Fred is currently commander of Chapter 3 of the Disabled American Veterans and still actively recruiting others to join the DAV's efforts to achieve fair treatment for Hawaii's disabled vets. Happy birthday, Fred . . .

'Five-O' still No. 1

WHILE Hawaii waits for CBS to make a decision about what to do with the pilot for a newly resuscitated "Hawaii Five-O," the original show continues to sell Hawaii around the globe. The original "Five-O" is still the top-rated daytime show on the TCN Nine Network in Australia, and they recently sent host Bradley Hall and a film crew to interview Kam Fong for a feature on the show. The far-reaching interview, conducted at the Kahala Mandarin, ranged from Kam Fong's experience at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 through his experiences on 12 years of "Five-O" to his revival of his Chin Ho Kelly persona on the new "Hawaii Five-O" pilot . . .

THE Harman-Nickolas Restaurant Group continues to grow. The firm started by Jeff Harman and Nick Nickolas operates eight restaurants between here and Boca Raton, Fla. where Nickolas is headquartered. Nick's nephew, Aaron Plakourakis is based in Hawaii where he oversees operations at Nicholas Nickolas and Sarento. Plans are to open two or three new eateries in Las Vegas down the road and Plakourakis will be responsible for those too, but continue to be based in Hawaii . . .

AND, no, Michael Tiknis hasn't been fired and is still exec director of the Honolulu Symphony. An item here about YWCA awards last week referred to Lynn Johnson in that position; her role is volunteer board chairman . . .

Reno duo

THEY made such a nice couple, complementing each other perfectly when they performed together in Waikiki, that impressionist Rich Little and isle country singer Dita Holifield have teamed up again. They will perform through May at John Ascuaga's Nugget in Reno. Teaming those two is no gamble as those of us who saw them at the Holiday Inn here can attest. I think Little is a frustrated singer, and he seemed to really get off joining in with Dina's country musicians during his part of the show . . .