About a dozen years ago debonair Frenchman Patrick Gey, now president of the Hawaii European Cinema Film Festival, and I were discussing film beauties. Patrick is GM of Versace and was sent here from Paris in 1981 to open Dior. I told him Sophia Loren, Liz Taylor, Brigitte Bardot and Julia Roberts were my film favorites. Patrick thought they were good choices and mentioned the glamorous French international star Catherine Deneuve as an actress he thought should be among the best. I agreed. Fast forward: On Oct. 23 Deneuve will be guest of honor at the Hawaii European Cinema fest’s awards gala at the Moana Surfrider Hotel. She will receive the Christina Hassell Lifetime Achievement award. That will give Patrick the opportunity to get up close and personal with her. The gala’s red carpet arrivals will be in front of the hotel from 5 to 7 p.m. No-host foyer drinks will be available until 7 when doors open to the Diamond Head lawn where the awards program will be held. Suggested attire is black tie or "EuroGlamour," whatever that is. Food and drinks on the lawn and valet parking will be included in the $150 per person tab. Cuisine will be from Azure, MW Restaurant, Stage, Taormina and Tiki’s Bar & Grill. DJ Michael Fong will handle the music. From 10 p.m. to midnight an after-party hosted by the hotel in its Grand Salon will keep things jumping. This is always one of Honolulu’s parties of the year — quite a blast. Princess Dialta Alliata di Montereale is festival founder. Go to hawaiieuropeancinema.org by Oct. 20 for tickets. Use that site for info on the festival’s free films that will run Oct. 16-24 at Consolidated’s Ward and Kahala theaters. …
Neiman Marcus’ Christmas Book is here. Among its fantasy gifts is an Arch motorcycle made by custom bike-builder Gard Hollinger and bike-loving film star Keanu Reeves, who has relatives here. The $150,000 price includes transportation to Los Angeles, a three-night hotel stay and two days of rides along the California coast with Reeves and Hollinger. … Neiman Ala Moana’s fall preview of its wine and epicurean delights party in the Mariposa restaurant Sept. 30 was a really sweet affair. An overwhelming variety of chocolates was laid out by gift galleries sales manager Mun Yei "Chip" Ching for guests to sample along with delicious cookies and a large number of fine wines. New Neiman Ala Moana GM Gina Haverly mingled with the many guests. I never heard the word epicurean in school when I was growing up. I know it now. A sad note: Some of us at the affair discussed the shocking Sept. 20 death of former Mariposa GM David Nagaishi, 57. Condolences to his wife Wendy and other family members. … Condolences also go out to the family of kumu hula Leinaala Heine, 75, who died Sept. 9. Decades ago Star-Bulletin Editor Bud Smyser told me that he had seen a wonderful hula dancer whom I had to go see and write about. The dancer was Leinaala. …
The Hula Preservation Society, a nonprofit, is presenting a three-island series honoring the history and talent of the Hawaiian Room, the legendary New York City venue that was open from 1937 to 1966. Hundreds of dancers, singers and musicians from Hawaii performed in the Hawaiian Room in the Hotel Lexington. Anchoring each program will be the new documentary film "The Hawaiian Room," by Ann Marie N. Kirk. Appearing will be performers from the room, along with Kirk, and each program will wind up with the hula stylings of the (now) aunties who can still charm and impress, just as they did years ago in the Big Apple. The schedule: Hawaii island Thursday, Volcano Art Center, Niaulani Campus, 7 to 9 p.m., free tickets, donations welcome; Nov. 8, Maui Arts & Cultural Center, McCoy Studio Theatre, 3 to 5 p.m., tickets $10, purchase at mauiarts.org or call 242-7409; Oahu Nov. 21, Hawai’i Convention Center, "Hula Dancers Take Hawaii’s Stories to the World," 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., tickets $10, purchase online at hulapreservation.org; special workshop, Hawaii island Oct. 16, "Hapa-Haole Hula Hawaiian Room Style!" with TeMoana Makolo, Volcano Art Center, Niaulani Campus, 4:30 to 6 p.m, $18, $15 VAC members; for reservations: call 967-8222. …
Palama Settlement will honor TV personality Emme Tomimbang and former Honolulu Police Chief Francis Keala at the third Annual Malama Palama Gala Fundraiser on Oct. 17 at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Proceeds will help support vital programs for keiki, teens, kupuna and families. A reception and silent auction are scheduled. Entertainment will be provided by Emme & Friends. Seats are $250 apiece; call 848-2502, or go to palamasettlement.org/malamapalama2015. …
Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com
