I’ve written about Hawaii people crossing paths with celebrities a few times this year. Former KGMB news anchor Linda Coble told me she met several presidents, two first ladies and even Oprah Winfrey. Read more
Pidgin, which evolved from the many different cultures all living together in the early days of the plantations, is a part of what makes Hawaii special. Pidgin binds us together in unique ways, with its rich vocabulary and clever phrases that can only be found in the islands. Read more
A few months ago I was texting my niece, Jill Peterson, about what to bring for Thanksgiving. My last text to her was short: “Kden.” (“OK, then” for malihini readers.) Read more
Readers continue to share their interesting encounters with the rich and famous. Here are a few more of their stories. Read more
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue Co-chairman Eddie Flores Jr. called in January. He’s leading a project to build two arches in Chinatown, at the Hotel Street side of Kekaulike Street, and the King Street side. Read more
Recently, I wrote about locals who crossed paths with Paul McCartney, Elvis Presley, James MacArthur and Helen Hayes. Several readers wrote to tell me about their star-crossed experiences. Read more
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Readers often ask how I get the idea for a column. Sometimes it begins with a question, and sometimes I run into one interesting thing while searching for another. Both those things happened this week. Read more
Two weeks ago I wrote about readers who had met Paul McCartney, Elvis Presley and Mitzi Gaynor. In response, I heard from part-time Hawaii resident Philip Altfeld, who said a chance meeting with actor James MacArthur led to a lifelong friendship. Read more
Of all the ways those of us in Hawaii differ from our counterparts on the mainland, one we can’t overlook is footwear. Let’s face it. Here in the islands we have different rules. That can be confusing for visitors. It can also be awkward for those of us who go to mainland homes. Read more
Recently, I asked readers whether they had crossed paths with any celebrities in Hawaii. Here are three famous entertainers and stories about the islanders who met them. Read more
Welcome to the new year! I’m hopeful this will be a better year than the last. In my first column of 2022, I thought I’d take another look at how those of us in the islands misunderstand or are misunderstood by those on the mainland. Read more
Last week I gave out awards to several people who, I feel, made, preserved or shared Hawaii history in a way that makes Hawaii the special place it is. Here’s Part 2. Read more
Every year at this time, I honor those who have made, preserved or shared Hawaii history. They have all done something special, in my estimation, to make Hawaii a better place for all of us. Read more
Some readers might remember a great Christmas tradition in Honolulu: Sears used to put on a Christmas show at its Beretania Street store in the 1950s. Read more
Last week, I began this two-part review of things I learned in 2021 with a look at the interesting, unusual and just plain wacky proposals Hawaii had for locating its City Hall, state Capitol, Neal Blaisdell Center, Convention Center and university. Read more
Every year about this time, I write about the things I learned in the past 12 months. Read more
I’ve been talking to people recently about Merchant Square — the bars and restaurants in the Nuuanu Avenue and Merchant Street area. It’s one of the most historic and interesting places on Oahu. Read more
I wrote about Frank Sinatra’s Hawaii connections in my column two weeks ago. In response, Roger Hawley called me with a story about the bow-tied baritone. Hawley lives on Maui. Read more
Eight years ago, I wrote about Babe Ruth playing baseball in Hilo. My wife’s uncle was a photographer and she came across several photos of the 1933 event, which accompanied my article. Read more
I’ve talked recently with a few islanders who remember that in the 1940s and 1950s, a popular concert venue in Honolulu was the McKinley High School auditorium. Read more
Dr. Stephen Arnold suggested that with Halloween approaching I ask my newsletter readers whether they had any spooky stories. Did they witness something they could not explain? Had someone who died returned in some form to give them a message? I didn’t know what to expect, but several readers responded with some chicken skin experiences. Read more
