He’s the hottest
artist in townTHERE'S no question that Alan Houghton has the hottest photographic art around. The proof lies in the fact that twice in one day he learned that some of his art photos -- and only his -- were stolen! Mark's Hallmark in Pearlridge had just put out 15 of his small fine art photos of ancient hula, but by the end of the day every one of them had been stolen. Nothing else in the store was disturbed. Then the Sunshine Gallery in Kaneohe reported that three small pieces and one 16-by-20 work had been stolen, and again nobody else's stuff was taken. Is there a phantom Alan Houghton collector with a growing supply of his "Heartbeat of Hawaii" images? You may recall that this isn't the first time Houghton's works have been nicked -- a framed 16-by-20 photo was taken from the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel just before it opened ...
WHENEVER Barbara Budar of the architecture firm of Ferraro Choi tells suppliers she needs materials for "extreme cold conditions," she invariably gets a raised eyebrow. "How cold can it get?" they want to know. Their eyes light up when they learn their stuff is bound for the South Pole where Ferraro Choi is contracted to design the National Science Foundation's new Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station ... Adman Marty Schiller realized he's not as "with it" as he thought when he emerged from an elevator after visiting the Plaza Club and found two women each nursing their babies on a lobby bench. He tried to look cool as he beat a hasty retreat, but probably failed ... Peter Birnbaum of the Sugar Bar in Waialua notes that yet another North Shore eating establishment has closed its doors. The Proud Peacock at Waimea Falls Park figuratively has put its feathers between its legs and gone bye-bye ...
That's shoe biz
ON hearing that Filipiniana Festival '98 will kick off May 9 with a parade ending at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, I was reminded that former Philippines first lady Imelda Marcos, once a perfervid buyer of shoes, is now selling them. She's to star in an advertising campaign for the footwear department at Harvey Nichols in London with the slogan, "There is always space in your wardrobe for a new pair of shoes." Even if you have 1,700 pair ...ALSO kicking back is retired police chief Michael Nakamura, who sounds like he's a cowboy at heart. He's putting on his boots to head up a paniolo party at Kualoa Ranch May 16 to benefit Parents and Children Together. And it'll give the kids and parents alike a chance to give thanks to the chief for all his work on their behalf ... And while you have those boots out, be advised that polo returns for the 12th year in a row at Waimanalo on Sunday with Mike Ebinger as club manager. Ageless Bob McGregor returns for the season which runs until October 4 ...
Universal appeal
THE first gathering of the young women here for the Miss Universe contest was an informal appearance at Palomino yesterday. I learned at least one of the entrants doesn't even have a chaperon, but don't bother to ask, because I'm not telling. You can see them all in a parade down Kalakaua tomorrow between 5:30 and 6:30. And the Sheraton-Hawaii folks will be translating a luau menu into more than six languages when the pageant delegates participate in the "Polynesian Revue Welcome Celebration" tomorrow night. They'll make a rare free public appearance Saturday at Ward Warehouse at a paniolo event where the artists who performed in Edgy Lee's film, "Paniolo O Hawaii -- Cowboys of the Far West," will also perform ...
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.
His columns run Monday through Friday.Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.