The Kahala Hotel & Resort is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Gov. Neil Abercrombie will proclaim Jan. 22, the day The Kahala opened in 1964, as "The Kahala Hotel & Resort Golden Jubilee Day."
The Kahala has been the Hawaii hotel for U.S. presidents, world leaders and some of the biggest names in show business. Hotel manager Robert "Bob" Burns in 1967 hired Danny Kaleikini, who put on a fabulous Hawaiian show for an amazing 28 years on the Hala Terrace, now called the Plumeria Beach House.
Burns departed the Kahala to form Regent International Hotels in 1970. He was replaced as GM by Richard Handl. Handl remained until 1973 when he became head of Hilton International for Asia, Australia and the Pacific, based in Tokyo. Before leaving the Kahala, he signed Kaleikini to a 25-year contract.
A "Down Memory Lane" live radio broadcast, hosted by Michael W. Perry and Larry Price as part of their morning show, will be held on Jan. 22 and 23 in the Plumeria and will showcase music and entertainers from the different eras. Kaleikini will be interviewed. As one of the Kahala veterans, I will appear with P&P at about 8:45 a.m. Jan. 23 to talk about the hotel and its guests I have written about.
Later in the spring, a tribute in Hoku’s will be paid to the Maile Room, the great restaurant with the outstanding lounge managed for many years by Charlie Goodness and Alicia Antonio, where Kit Samson and his Sound Advice played and sang for listeners and dancers. Martin Wyss was the standout Maile Room chef for 18 years …
SANDWICH ISLES Realty Prez Carl Smigielski and his wife, Jim, held their annual "Hangover" lunch on New Year’s Day at their Kahala Beach condo. Among the guests were trumpet player Herb Alpert of Tijuana Brass fame and his wife, singer Lani Hall. Carl is Herb’s Realtor.
Antique collector and Rix shirtmaker Rick Ralston, with his gal named Sue, brought an antique trumpet along and gave it to Herb. The trumpet man tooted it a bit. Carl said the horn was not ready for prime time.
Jimmy and Vicki Borges attended. Lani and Jimmy sang portions of a couple of their favorite songs.
Lani was born in Chicago. Her parents named her Lani because they were in love with Hawaii despite never having been here. She sang with Sergio Mendes‘ Brasil ’66 from 1966 to 1971 before marrying Herb in 1974. She also sang the theme song to the 1983 James Bond film "Never Say Never Again."
Hawaii Hall of Fame golfer Al Souza came to the shindig with former UH football coach June Jones.
For those who are wondering, Carl’s wife, Jim, is all woman and is an expert Thai cook. She wrote two cookbooks — "A Touch of Thailand" and "A Taste of Thailand" …
ON JAN. 26 the Pro Bowl will be played at Aloha Stadium. Wolfgang’s Steakhouse will be heavily involved in Jan. 21-26 bowl activities and will again be home to the Pro Bowl Most Valuable Player trophy made by Tiffany. The public is invited to Wolfgang’s Jan. 22-25 to take a photo (bring your camera) beside the prize.
Another tradition is the Pro Bowl cheerleaders’ dinner and hula lesson at Wolfgang’s after the game. The squad, which has engagements scheduled all week, finally gets to relax over dinner and receive their cheerleader rings. After dinner, Wolfgang’s PR & Marketing Director Mona Wood-Sword, a Kamehameha grad, will teach the ladies a hula. Her husband, singer-guitarist Max Sword, provides the music. After last year’s meal, lucky CJ Sword, Max’s son, hit the deck to take a neat picture with the cheerleaders. Shaka! …
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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.
