FEATURE:

eddiesherman…
Out of retirement,
back to column writing

It’s been more than a year now since I “retired” from column scribbling. Have I missed it? Sometimes but a lot has happened since. So — why am I back doing this again on a once monthly? Keep reading. Somewhere down below I’ll explain … But first — some notes about a recent dinner with Haumea Hebenstreit (Mrs. Don Ho).

Down memory lane: At the age of 17 this young lady arrived in Honolulu en route from the remote Cook Islands to attend a mainland college. She planned to stay here only a short time and decided to find a job so as not to have to depend on her father for support. Looking in the paper she saw an ad for a dishwasher at the Don Ho Show She applied, was hired. Her job — washing 700+ dishes nitely.

On meeting Don: One evening when Don and his entourage were going through the kitchen as he usually did after his show at the International Market Place, Don stopped and asked attractive Haumea, “Who’s your muddah?” Haumea responded, “Johnny Frisbie.” To which Don asked one of his body guards what she said as he could not make out the name because of Haumea’s British accent. Don then asked, “Who’s your faddah?” Haumea answered, “Kini Popo.” (He was Hawaii’s first TV ayem personality). Again Don asked what she said and when he heard the answer commanded, “You’re out of the kitchen. You’re gonna work for me.”

The rest is history. She spent some time dancing in Don’s show but that was not her thing. She later helped chauffeur Don and later became involved in the administrative end of the business … One thing led to another as the years passed and eventually the little lady was handling everything — executive producing it all and eventually becoming numero uno — Mrs. Don Ho. Next on Haumea’s schedule — helping produce a feature film on Ho’s life plus tackling some TV profiles.

What are they doing now: Chris Lee (boss man of the UH film school) has been in Europe — taking a leave of absence from the UH film school to oversee production on the latest Tom Cruise multi-million dollar film opus filming in Germany. It’s about the young German officer who made the failed attempt to assassinate Hitler. Couple years ago Lee produced the last Superman in Australia. And before that was one of H’wood’s brightest young movie makers — running TriStar-Columbia Studios before being enticed to come home to head the new UH film school.

So, what am I doing writing a column again? Well, I wouldn’t call it a “job” actually — since it’s only once a month. And, frankly, after all these years I did miss doing it — a little. A lot happened while “off-duty,” so to speak. For example: I wrote a book, had some major surgery, and kept busy with business. And columning again? Well, I thought why not after being talked to do so by my long-time friend — Kini Popo, publisher of this gazette. This helps get me around a bit more and keeps the arteries from clogging in my old age. And when I come across an interesting item, I now have someplace to put it — other than the wastebasket.

Honolulu Newsstand …

Did ya know that Barrack Obama’s sister teaches school in Honolulu? True … Babes in Poiland: Restaurant mogul, Fred Livingston and missus Nicki recently visited Israel. “Slowing down,” sez Fred. “Only have a couple restaurants left now.” Not to mention a plateful of various other $$$$ enterprises …Tropic topics: Looks like Tony Rutledge’s tax problems have finally been ironed out with the IRS and he’s been nicely pensioned from Unity House … Action: Young ace lawyers, Roy Tjioe (pronounced “Chu”) and Rick Galindez left the law firm of Goodsill, Anderson, Quinn (etc.) to hang out their own shingles. They’ll specialize in film and TV production that they pioneered at Quinn & Co. … If you haven’t seen Lewers Street lately in Waikiki — go! What a transformation. Ya won’t recognize the thoroughfare. The facelift is destined to make Waikiki’s Lewers Street as famous as Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.

Hoomalimali — (Ask a Hawaiian what it means) …

Once over lightly… There’s no business like … and there is no question if Lenny Klompus had a career choice he’d be in the acting biz. Gov. Lingle’s right-hand aide loves the entertainment industry and can often be found acting in various productions around town — when rare time permits ... Have you checked out second city Kapolei recently? Another future metropolis is rising out there on the Westside with great plans on tap — including sensational higher learning educational facilities …What are they doing now? … Former city managing director (and businessman extraordinaire) Bob Fishman now a big Washington, D.C. wheeler-dealer lobbyist. He’s back in town every month or so handling a pocketful of clients …What’s missing in Waikiki? For me (and thousands of others) it’s definitely the Waikiki Theater. Just ain’t the same since the theater emporium landmark was demolished. That’s progress, I suppose.

Check it out:

Newly remodeled, formerly Dixie Grill, now Tio’s Garage and Taco Station … is a pleasant surpris from the kid-friendly eatery to a more casual-trendy open air dining with great lighting. The food is fab and try the new chicken soup served in a teapot. Ed Wary has added new energy and good eats to this Ward Avenue Naborhood.

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