SPIKING themselves back into shape after giving birth to baby boys just a few months ago are two top contenders in the Emporio Armani Hawaii Beach Volleyball State Championships this weekend, Lisa Strand Ma'a and Janice Harrer. Ma'a won the last two Armani tournaments and Harrer is one of the best female players on the beach; so the finals just may turn into a postpartum playoff. Lisa teams with Peka Malae while Janice joins former UH Wahine standout Chastity Nobriga. Top women's prize is $1,500, which could keep a new mom well stocked in diapers. Other top players vying for more than $6,000 in prizes are Masui Allen, Stevie Lee, Adam Lockwood and Erik Pichel, as well as the fathers of the new bambinos, Pono Ma'a and Tom Harrer. Admission is free ... Postpartum play
for ‘Ma’ Ma‘a
HER reign is over, so the former Miss Hawaii World, Julie Chang, is moving on with her life. She'd already demonstrated she was more than just another pretty face under a tiara by working with John Craven, assisting him in running a cold water agriculture project during her reign, and now she's taken it a step further and is attending the Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha. In a few years, she hopes to fulfill her lifelong goal and hear the page, "Dr. Chang, report to surgery." ...
WHEN local resident Ruth Beard was distressed by her ever-thinning hair three years ago, she went to a dermatologist and got a prescription for Rogaine. It worked wonders for her, and now she's been named a 1997 Rogaine Ambassador from Hawaii. She joined 99 other national ambassadors who were flown, all expenses paid, to New York where they appeared in newspapers, radio and on TV shows. Some were on "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee" and were taped at the "Catch a Rising Star" nightclub. She works at the Museum Company selling art reproductions in Ala Moana Center. But many may remember that before she married and added a Beard to her name, she was "George" Mullen, the lady bartender at the Press Club and later at La Mariana Sailing Club ... Hairy Beard
THE "Mercury Men" invaded the streets of Honolulu yesterday morning, and we're not talking visitors from Mars. These were Starbucks execs wearing a jet-pack-like device loaded with coffee, which they were pouring to announce the grand opening of Starbucks Coffee's downtown locale on Bishop Street. Some 25 per cent of today's revenues will benefit the YWCA and the Institute for Human Services ... Hot enough for you? Maggie Breeden again is betting against the temperature reaching 93 on Aug. 31 at Honolulu Airport. If it does, anyone who buys jewelry from any of Royal Hawaiian Heritage's 13 stores during the month of August will get a 100 per cent rebate ... Former isle D.J. Kamasami Kong had a relaxing dinner at Alan Wong's during his latest visit from Osaka, Japan, where he's a top radio jock, but he seemed much more on edge at Sunset Grill. Turns out his waiter there was the boyfriend of his daughter -- no word on what tip he left the young man ...
THE "Made in Hawaii Festival" at the Blaisdell Center this weekend features isle-produced food, plants, art, books, soap, clothes, jewelry, etc. And even homegrown musical entertainment like Genoa Keawe, Loyal Garner, Willie K and The Krush. So how did Tennessee boy Jay Larrin slip through the net? The First Hawaiian Bank's Walter Dods, chairman of the Admission Day weekend event, said, "We decided he's been here long enough to get honorary kamaaina status." ... Made in Hawaii—mostly!
Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.