The annual Christmas Eve party thrown by John Michael White and fiancee Qi Marie really got rolling when John stood tall and led his penthouse crowd singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" in his powerful voice. Aaron Aranita was at the piano. Jimmy Borges, who will sing anywhere, any time, earlier knocked out a swinging version of "White Christmas" while he was filling his plate at the buffet table. Cathy Foy-Mahi sang "O Holy Night." Other guests included John’s daughter Tracey White McCarthy, who worked hard with Qi organizing the bash; former Mayor Peter Carlisle; Hawaii International Film Festival founder Jeannette Paulson Hereniko and husband Vilsoni Hereniko; attorney Brad Coates, author of four editions of "Divorce with Decency," and his wife, real estate wiz Sachi Braden; photographer Michi Moore; and Linda Coble and Kirk Matthews.
Linda and Dianne Poire sang the praises of June Mulhall, 76, owner of C. June Shoes, who died Dec. 8. Linda said, "June was always a huge supporter of our Celebrity Auctions for the Prevention of Child Abuse, but I would hold my breath walking into her shop for donations. She’d check out the shoes I was wearing and roll her eyes — stink-eye to the max. Then, we would scream-laugh, catch up on family and friends, and I would walk out with an auction item —and a new pair of shoes." Dianne said she bought a pair of Halstons from C. June in 1981, and they are still in perfect shape …
PBS communications chief Roberta Wong retired at the end of the year, leaving big shoes for Liberty Peralta to fill. Contact Liberty (a cool name) at lperalta@pbshawaii.org or call 973-1383 …
RETIRED Argentine navy officer Angel Juan Meijide, despite his 92 years, traveled all the way from Buenos Aires to spend a month during the holidays with daughter Nora Gentry and his grandchildren Candes Gentry and Corin Gentry and five great-grandchildren. Meijide’s son Angel Meijide Jr. flew with him to Miami where Nora met them and flew her dad to Hawaii …
HONORARY Indian Consul Sheila Watumull gathered a group of her friends to dinner at Michel’s on Saturday. Included were her former neighbor Jany Cataldo Davenport with husband Charles Davenport, birthday boy Mike (marking 73) and Joyce Farrell, Siggy and Lorna Doppelmayer, and Jeff and Vicki Hossellman. Vicki was recently named Hawaii Yacht Club’s Yachtwoman of the Year … The Davenports came from Beverly Hills for the holidays and stayed at the Kahala Resort. With them were Jany’s son and daughter, Anthony and Elizabeth Cataldo, and Liz’s boyfriend, music producer Edward McCormick …
SERVICES for Harman Lum, 84, will be held 11:30 a.m. Jan. 11 at Diamond Head Mortuary. Harman was so good at selling newspapers that Gov. John Waihee proclaimed a day, June 28, 1989, in his honor on his 60th birthday. Harman died Dec. 1 on Maui. Harman sold newspapers at Hotel and Bishop streets to ordinary citizens and the rich and famous, top businessmen and politicians. Govs. John Burns and Waihee and Mayor Frank Fasi were among his regular customers. He took papers to some of them in their offices.
Lum started selling papers at age 24 in 1953 and retired 46 years later at 70, never missing a day of work, according to his sister Mayette Zane. After retiring he became a volunteer at Moiliili Senior Center and also contributed money to the U.S. Special Olympics, she said … Harman was one of the best, if not the best, when it comes to those of us who sold newspapers in Honolulu …
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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.
