HOTEL Lexington’s Hawaiian Room, a popular New York City nightspot that opened 75 years ago in 1937, showcased hula and song by Hawaiian entertainers for 30 years. Some of the former Lexington performers, mostly "aunties," will appear Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. at Windward Community College’s new library building, Hale Laakea. The program is free. A multimedia exhibit focusing on the Lex’s Hawaiian Room is on display until the end of the year in Hale Laakea’s lower level, according to Maile Loo, executive director of the Hula Preservation Society. Important names in Hawaiian entertainment performed at the Lex. They include Alfred Apaka, Ed Kenney, Hilo Hattie, Kui Lee, Manu Kanemura Bentley, Lei Becker Furtado, TeMoana Makolo, Mona Joy, Ray Kinney, "Uncle" Keola Beamer, Olan Peltier Carpenter, Leialoha Kaleikini, Jennie Woodd and Lani McIntire. The ‘Oiwi Film Festival’s opening night at Doris Duke Theatre on Nov. 10 featured the premiere of the hula society’s film, "The Hawaiian Room." The group worked with Native Hawaiian filmmaker Anne Marie Kirk on the picture. A reception with food, music and much hula was included at the screening. The former entertainers have inspirational, enlightening and humorous stories about working at the Lexington. Their tales of culture shock, winter fashion faux pas and life in the big city were in the film and will be discussed Dec. 6 by the aunties. …
THE OAHU Cemetery tour, conducted by Nanette Napoleon, that was covered in the Nov. 9 "Wood Craft" created interest. Nanette has studied historic graveyards in Hawaii for more than 25 years and is author of the book "O‘ahu Cemetery: Burial Ground & Historic Site." "I have been doing the ‘I see dead people’ Halloween Tour at Oahu Cemetery for about six years now," Nanettesaid. "It always sells out." Grave sites are visited, and she tells stories about the buried people. At some stops, costumed actors tell the stories of those buried: a Titanic survivor, a Civil War survivor and two killers from Chinatown. Nanette books tours throughout the year. She can be reached via email at nanetten@hawaii.rr.com or by calling 261-0705. …
A CUP OF TEA, a Victorian Tea Room & Boutique in Kailua, will hold a book-signing and reading session with Maya Soetoro-Ng on Saturday for her best-selling children’s book "Ladder to the Moon." Books are $16.99. Little Suhaila wishes she could have known her late grandma, a woman with loving wisdom who would wrap her arms around the whole world if she could, Mama tells her. One night, Suhaila gets her wish when a golden ladder appears at her window and grandma Annie invites the girl to come along with her on a magical journey. Yuyi Morales‘ artwork illuminates the dreamlike tale. Maya is President Barack Obama‘s half sister. …
LAST WEEKEND was great for me, as all of the football teams with isle stars I was pulling for won. On the collegiate level, the UH Warriors upset UNLV, Punahou’s Manti Te’o and Notre Dame beat USC, and Saint Louis alumnus Marcus Mariota and his Oregon Ducks defeated Oregon State. In the NFL, San Francisco and UH’s Isaac Sopoaga downed New Orleans, and in the Canadian league, Roosevelt and UH ace Chad Owens and his Toronto Argonauts rolled over Calgary. …
DON’T FORGET Sunday’s benefit at 2 p.m. for actor and makeup artist Greg Howell at Paliku Theatre at Windward Community College. Greg has cancer. Mary Gutzi, Shari Lynn, Cathy Foy, Guy Merola and Charles Degala will perform. Tickets, $35, will be sold at the door. …
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Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.
