Ciao Mein guests
take dipCIAO MEIN in the Hyatt Waikiki was closed one evening to accommodate a travel group of 280 diners. Three women and two men had such a good time that they jumped in the nearby swimming pool fully clothed. Shocked Ciao Mein manager Vital Dimonti and his staff fished them out and gave them towels ... Mai Tai Sing, a fixture at the Hyatt who works at Ciao Mein, celebrated a birthday Dec. 22. One of her former cocktail waitresses at Trappers, Jan Diehl, who now works at Murphy's, was born on Christmas Day. "Me and Jesus," says Jan. Some holiday babies lose out when it comes to gifts and get only one for both events. The card usually reads "Merry Birthday" for Jan and "Merry Christmas/Happy Birthday," for Tim Smythe, a Dec. 28 baby ...
Ho biz at Aloha Tower
WILLIE NELSON grabbed a guitar and sang "On the Road Again" and "Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys;" Don Ho got the crowd to sing "Tiny Bubbles" with him and sang a duet of "Na Alii" with Bill Dana; Albert Finney talked about meeting Don 34 years ago at Duke's, and Barry Yap, who also knew Finney in the old days, danced a hot and lively hula with waitress Lahela Kau Aki. The action took place Thursday at a party for underprivileged kids hosted by Don Ho's Island Grill partners Ho, Shep Gordon and Barry Silverman. Jimmy Borges opened the party, singing Christmas songs. Celebrities served lunch and distributed donated gifts. Ho said Gordon put together plans for the restaurant -- located right next to the water at Aloha Tower -- and got a big laugh adding, "I hope it lasts a month." "Lethal Weapon" Director Richard Donner and his wife, Lauren Shuler Donner, producer of "You've Got Mail," were introduced. Other servers included Vicky Cayetano, who was in the eatery the previous night with Governor Ben; Iron Maiden's Dave Murray; Sammy Hagar; Linda Coble and Kirk Matthews; Erin Brown; Tom Moffatt; Russ Francis; Diana Helfand and the brother-sister team of Ray and Nalani Bickson. Nalani also danced hula. Mama Joan Bickson observed. The fine house band was 96744. Ho, Gordon and Silverman really know how to open a restaurant ... Valet parking is available at Aloha Tower for $2. No validation is needed after 4:30 p.m. ...THE Academy of Arts fund-raiser, Kamaaina Christmas, took in over $240,000, a record. Linn Sol Alber, who chaired the event, was proud to say her husband, Steven's, miniature tree, decorated with model airplanes and topped with a space shuttle, was the top seller of the trees in the silent auction. Amelia Bailey's gorgeous ohia lehua wreath was another prize ... California Pizza Kitchen fed homeless at 14 Salvation Army shelters nationwide on Christmas Eve, including three in Hawaii: Family Treatment Services, 62 people; Addiction Treatment Services, 78 people, and adult Rehab Center, 73 people ...
Wyland and the students
LIBERTY House Ala Moana's Men's Department was busier than usual Sunday as 30 students ranging from kindergarten through high school signed autographs on their artwork and writing in the Malama i ke Kai (taking care of the ocean) 1999 free calendar, celebrating the Wyland Ocean Challenge of America. Wyland, whose marine art is on the calendar cover, signed calendars at a table with Pearl Ridge first-graders Shantelle Kamibayashi, Amy Ige and Grace Sakurada. Calendars are available at Hagadone Printing or Mona Wood's Ikaika Communications ...
Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin in the streets
of downtown Honolulu during World War II, writes of
people, places and things every Saturday.
His columns appear online every Monday.