Andrew Hongo, son of local entertainers Randy and Gay Hongo, has turned documentary filmmaker. A January graduate of New York University with a master’s in broadcast journalism, Andrew’s “Legacy,” a 40-minute short, tapped his mission work with the street children of Cambodia. The film profiles two young men — a successful, national champion boxer and and another who still was living on the streets — linked to a broader issue of Pol Pot’s legacy for the children of Cambodia. The film debuted last week at Docutah, the Southern Utah Film Festival, with one more screening on Wednesday. Consequently, Andrew has started an indie film production company, Shearwater Films, with two fellow NYU grads. He since has landed a job with CNN, working for “GPS,” a news show with Fareed Zakaria. …
Randy and Gay Hongo also have been busy, completing a six-week concert tour of mainland churches, schools, rehab centers and nursing homes in California, Kentucky, Illinois, Massachusetts and New York. The Hongos, who both turned 64 in July, are also working on a CD with producer Robert Shinoda of Nueva Vida. …
WHO’S WHERE: Fred
Honda, former general manager of the Halekulani and Oahu Country Club, is back in the hospitality biz — as senior sales manager of the Hilton Universal City in Los Angeles. His mission? “Prospecting new business in Illinois, Colorado, Texas and Hawaii,” he said. The Hilton, adjacent to Universal Studios, is managed by local boy (Maui) Juan Aquinde, so it’s a reunion of sorts; both worked for Myrtle Lee at Island Holidays and with Amfac Hotels. Two years ago, Honda and wife Julie relocated to Loveland, Colo., from where he can do his hotel job. …
Fred Piluso, who operated Scruples years ago in Waikiki, is back home after living in Cleveland for some time. He reports that filmmaker Tim Jackson is producing “The Last Ride,” about Hank Williams Jr., and is potentially looking to Hawaii for future work, too. Piluso says that Larry Manetti (“Magnum, P.I.”) is involved in an L.A. film with Ernest Borgnine. …
WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Ran into retired Swiss Inn restaurateurs Martin and Jeanie Wyss at a screening of “The Help” at the Kahala Theatres. “Martin had a stroke recently … but he’s doing fine,” said Jeanie. …
Thinking out loud: At the recent MTV Video Awards, Lady Gaga appeared as a guy (her alter ego Jo Calderone). A People magazine survey said she/he most looked like Ray Romano (“Everybody Loves Raymond”) but to me the disguise was a dead ringer for Hawaii News Now’s traffic dude, Taizo Braden. …
CONDOLENCES: Walt Dulaney, co-founder with George Kon of the Alliance for Drama Education, died of pancreatic cancer July 24 on his lanai overlooking the Ala Wai, surrounded by loved ones. Kon said Dulaney, 77, was “a beacon for isle drama educators since 1980.” No funeral is planned, per Dulaney’s request. “What a prince he was and (he) helped all of us,” said Vanita Rae Smith of Dulaney’s efforts to launch the Po‘okela Awards years ago. …
Yes, Dulaney is the chap who, years ago with thenwife Ele Dulaney, authored a “Dateline” teen advice column in the Honolulu Advertiser that was syndicated in 400 papers. FYI, Ele Dulaney died July 13, 1996, in Ventura, Calif., at age 58. …
CLUBLICITY: Steve Min, formerly of George Street, has organized Borne with fellow singer-guitarists Mel Mendonca and Jim Weander, debuting in August at Cha Cha Cha Salsaria in Hawaii Kai. Hear them again, from 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 25 — the gig will be on the fourth Sunday each month. …
And the other George Streeters, now known as the Gail Mack Duo (Mack, with Gordon Kim), are performing from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at The Ground Floor. …
And that’s “Show Biz.” …