All aboard Academy express
I'VE always been something of a train buff, and have ridden across the U.S. on trains, as well as in England, continental Europe and Japan. I was even the first person to hop aboard the Lahaina, Pacific and Kaanapali Railroad after the Golden Spike was driven 25 years ago. Even more of a "trainee" than I, adman Jim Loomis has gone everywhere by train and written a book on the subject. Isle resident Paul Theroux has written several books involving his train adventures. But while not everyone who lives in Hawaii has had the opportunity to ride trains, next week you can see a film about one aspect of such travel. "Riding the Rails" is a documentary by Lexy Lovell and Michael Uys about folks who got around by hopping aboard freight trains during the depression and later. It'll be screened at the Honolulu Academy of Arts Theater Jan. 19-22. Several localites were among the 3,000 who wrote the writers during their research and one of them, William Rickersen of Laie, will be speaking at the Jan. 19 opening. Critics have raved, and the film has won numerous awards - best documentary from the L.A. Film Critics Association and the highest award at the Chicago Film Fest - and has been screened at many festivals, including Sundance. It'll be distributed all over the U.S. in '98 ...
Roy's and Choy's
BIG Brothers Big Sisters of both Honolulu and Maui are singing "Choy to the World" after learning that Chef Sam Choy is donating ticket sales from the opening of his newest restaurant, Sam Choy Kahului on Maui Jan. 27. If you've seen Sam, you won't be surprised to hear it's a five-course dinner. For reservations, call Big Brothers Big Sisters Honolulu at 521-3811 ... Meanwhile, Roy's Restaurant namesake, Roy Yamaguchi, has a new season of programs, "Hawaii Cooks with Roy Yamaguchi," which premieres Tuesday on KHET-TV. This is the fourth season for "Hawaii Cooks." The first program is called "Maui Pineapple" and features a visit to the Maui cannery, and guest chef Oliver Altherr of the Kahala Mandarin will make Smoked Salmon Naan with Hawaiian Pineapple Horseradish, while Roy makes Roasted Pork in a Pineapple Broth. And, as always, Master Sommelier Chuck Furuya will be on hand to recommend the proper wine for each dish each week ...THE cast members of Cirque Eloize are in love with the genius who planned an engagement in Hawaii this month. The Montreal-based circus without animal performers now can sit on isle beaches and read about the state of emergency brought on by a major storm of such magnitude that over a million Montreal areahomes were without electricity and phone service. I'm sure their thoughts are with them, however, as the sun's rays sink in. The Cirque Eloize begins a series of six performances Jan. 21 at Hawaii Theatre ...
Another ski mishap
IF you're one of those who believe bad things happen in threes, take note of what's befallen Stuart Lee, co-owner of Havana Cabana downtown and brother of actor Jason Scott Lee. In the wake of the deaths on ski slopes of Michael Kennedy and Sonny Bono, Lee was skiing at Tahoe earlier this week and suddenly, crash! Unlike the other two ski buffs, Lee didn't hit a tree, but a sign, and though he survived the crash, his leg was broken at a 90 degree angle, much as then Washington Redskin quarterback Joe Theisman's was, hastening his retirement from football. Lee might consider retiring from skiing at any rate ...
Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.