Jack “Tihati” Thompson, a founder of Tihati Productions, will celebrate his 80th birthday this Sunday (May 18) at Waialae Country Club.
His actual birthdate is May 11, but because that date was Mother’s Day, Tihati – formal name, HC Papaliitele Jack Eli Tihati Thompson –his milestone birthday will be celebrated belatedly.
At 80, Tihatiand his wife Cha are retired from their Polynesian production they both founded and turned over the operations of their biz to their son Afatia Thompson and daughter Misty Thompson Tufono.
Grandchildren and great-grandchildren will gather, along with some close friends, to wish their Papa good tidings.
Since he retired, Tihati has been taking it nice and easy, devoting his energy and time, working toward wellness, since he’s had a few health issues. But he’s happy and well-rested, and tends to his beloved non-profit, the South SeasChristian Ministries, based in Samoa. The Ministry has been actively raising funds to provide building supplies to create schools and medical clinics and water tanks to Samoan villages in need. Thus, the birthday party also is a fundraiser for the Ministry, to help carry on the good deeds.
Happy, happy , happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy birthday, Jack, one happy for each decade…
Two popular restaurants shut their doors in March.
Sayonara: Hokkaido Ramen, the tiny Japanese eatery in the Kaimuki municipal parking lot, served its last meals in early March. Regulars loved the friendly staff and besides great food, the prices were reasonable Hokkaido will be missed…
Romano’s Macaroni Grill at Ala Moana Center also has closed.
A lockdown: Romano’s Macaroni Grill, at the Ala Moana Center, apparently closed abruptly, even locking out surprised staff workers reporting for work on March 2. Certainly not the way to call it quits. In its prime, Macaroni was a popular family and date destination, with Italian fare affordably price. Online chatter mentions declining quality, and the usual matter of competition in a tight economy when higher prices are charged for everything from bread to coffee…
Liliha Bakery has shelved its coffee pot, shown behind the cup of coffee.
Speaking of coffee: As a longtime and frequent patron of breakfast (lunch and dinner, too sometimes) at Liliha Bakery at Macy’s Ala Moana, I noticed that the usually mini pot of coffee, always there when you ordered coffee, has disappeared. You still can get a refill by asking the server, but often, it’s a task to find the wait staffer because of the flock of diners. That silver coffee pot was a trademark of the Liliha experience. Wonder if that basket of the grilled dinner roll, with Liliha’s red jelly in the tiny container, might be the next to go?…
Comedian Frank DeLima now calls Las Vegas home, settling into his new digs, precise location I promised never to reveal.
“Still getting settled,” he said in a recent email, when I asked, “How you doing? On this day, he was hanging pictures on the walls of his senior home, and deciding what goes where, like any other person moving into new quarters.
“Putting stuff in their proper places,” he added.
Frank DeLima
What he learned, when he was ensconced in a Maikiki apartment for decades before his retirement this past year, is get room gear like shelving on wheels, for easier movement.
So, his shelves are on rollers, along with his chest of drawers. With back and hip issues, the easier it is to shuttle and shuffle stuff, the better.
DeLima also engaged in a new regimen – regular exercise – at his new senior facility.
“Every morning, I do two-hour therapy,” he revealed. “Neck, back, leg. Music makes it easier,” so he has his own brand of health-targeted disco.
“The hallways are so long, I walk indoors for exercise, for half an hour,” he said.
DeLima is fortunate to have friends in Vegas, who help him on shopping outings. “But I’m slowly learning about home delivery,” he noted.
Generally speaking, DeLima has no dilemma about his retirement move.
On new turf, he’s also had to secure new health services. “I got a new primary care physician,” he said. “And cardiologist, orthopedist, neurologist, dentist, physical therapist.”
All the vital “ists” in his quest for wellness are in place.
While he doesn’t have much hair to address, he nonetheless also has found a barber.
Health coverage is helping him to curb costs.“My insurance takes care of my transportation, round trip, to my appointments.,” said DeLima.
“I no more car, but my family and friends take me when I need to go shopping. And eating.”
He’s been scheduling lunches at least once a week, a comfortable rhythm and pace for all he’s been doing.
Further, he’s discovered a Catholic church a mile away, for Sunday worship.
“My sister (who has been a Vegas resident for a while) picks me up and we attend (church). Then go eat.”
He’s truly done all the proper homework, to adjust to his new senior life in the desert. He’s located restaurants in all directions of his residence, offering quite a range of choice: Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Korea, Jewish and even “a place called Island Style, with Hawaiian favorites on the menu,,” he said..
DeLima also has figured out the locations of a CVS Pharmacy, Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart, Target and a Smith’s Supermarket perhaps three miles away.
He’s been a Zippy’s advocate in Honolulu, but he hasn’t revealed if he’s visited the first Zippy’s on the Ninth Island or where a second eatery is coming up soon.
Frank DeLima, with a fan, at his last show Dec. 15 at Blue Note Hawaii.
If you recall, DeLima’s final gig in Honolulu before heading for Vegas, was a Dec, 15, 2024, Christmas show at Blue Note Hawaii, complete with his array of comedic vignettes. Because of the holidays he staged his “Filipino Christmas” complete with his tree costume with lights. Diehard fans showed up at the mid-day finale.
Next up, possibly later than sooner, DeLima is eager to test the waters of doing limited shows for the constant Hawaii delegations who convene to Vegas for birthday or wedding receptions and the plethora of high school reunions which adore the climate of seeing old school pals and the lure of trying to win the big jackpot on the slots before catching a flight home …
The Infiniti dealership and service center in Mapunapuna has shut down.
If you are an Infiniti owner, take note. The lone Infiniti dealership in Mapunapuna shut down Jan. 10, without public notice.
The closure was one of many among stand-alone Infiniti showrooms and servicing centers across the nation, due to cutbacks by besieged Nissan operations, forcing closures of the brand’s luxury division, Infiniti.
I learned about the termination of the Infiniti showrooms and service centers, when I made a Jan. 4 appointment for servicing and a safety check for my Q50 vehicle at the Mapunapuna plant. The brand ceased operations a week later, on Jan. 10.
Employees were told only that Nissan was downsizing, meaning that the Infiniti operations would be absorbed by parent company King Windward Nissan in Kaneohe. Some workers, like longtime service manager Alvin Niki, were leaving the company; others, like Jason Tokunaga, will transfer to Nissan, where the facility would embrace the Infiniti brand in the showroom and also accept servicing appointments for both Nissan and Infiniti, effective immediately.
According to the New York Post, automotive giant Nissan – which had nearly 200 Infiniti dealerships nation-wide – was forced to shut down Infiniti because of dwindling sales. The brand is under-performing; only 42,567 new Infinitis were sold in the U.S. in the nine months from January to September last year, down from nearly 87,934 in the same period in 2019.
The Post reports that Infitini showrooms averaged only 24 new car sales per month. Consolidating operations with Nissan would stop the bleeding.
For residents townside of the Wilson or Pali tunnels, servicing appointments will require strategic planning. I make routine service treks a couple of times a year; the drive from Hawaii Kai, where I reside, to Mapunapuna, near the airport, usually takes 30 minutes if I leave home at 6:45 a.m. for a 7:30 a.m. appointment. Despite the early morning rush hour, with an early departure, the drive is smooth, unless there’s an accident or heavy rainfall affecting traffic.
However, to make the drive to King Windward, it has taken me 45 to 50 minutes mid-day to get there during weekdays; I imagine an early morning service appointment would be more than an hour, considering there would be early drivers from Kailua and Kaneohe heading to town or other destinations. So, a traffic challenge waits for my next service appointment.
Infiniti offers a loaner service; I’ve been advised that King Windward does, too.
Sharing this information for other Infiniti drivers who are not aware of the shuttering of the Infiniti operations here.
Carole Kai turns 80 on Monday (Oct. 28), but family and friends will celebrate her birthday this Saturday (Oct. 26) at Oahu Country Club.
Kal, born Carole Shimizu and now Mrs. Eddie Onouye, is one of Honolulu’s most active philanthropist and charity enthusiast, with a remarkable list of performing and producing credits.
Carole Kai
Let me count some of the ways: singer-pianist, piano bar; Carole Kai Bed Race, in Waikiki; Great Aloha Run, from Aloha Tower to Aloha Stadium, the Local Divas with Melveen Leed, Loyal Garner and Nohelani Cypriano; co-host of “Hawaii Stars,” with Kimo Kahoano, on local TV.
She’s an entertainer in spirit, who certainly does a lot of charity work, which is her top mission in life. Hauoli la hanau, Carole…
DHT sets cast for ‘White Christmas’
Diamond Head Theatre has announced its cast for the holiday musical, “White Christmas,” which opens Nov. 22 and runs through Dec. 15.
The stage production is based on a 1954 Paramount film starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen, featuring music and lyrics by Irving Berlin. The stage version features a book by David Ives and Paul Blake, and capitalizes on the classic Berlin tunes, including the iconic title song, plus hits such as “Blue Skies,” “I Love a Piano,” and “How Deep Is the Ocean.”
The plot involves war veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis, who have a popular song-and-dance act following World War II. With love in their mind, the pair follow two singing sisters en route to their Christmas show at Vermont Lodge, owned by the soldiers’ former army commander.
DHT’s cast features Adam Allison as Bob Wallace, David Sheftell as Phil Davis, Lainey Hicks as Betty Haynes, Alexandria Zinov as Judy Haynes, Joe Martyak as General Wavery, Mary Chesnut Hicks as Martha Watson, Charlotte Miyahara/Anna Johnson as Susan Waverly, Ralph Sheldrake as Mo Radke, Chandler Converse as Rita/Betty understudy, Amanda Ross as Rhoda, Fedrico Biven as Ezekiel Foster, and Ken Roberts as Mike/Jimmy.
Quintet players are Samantha Allen, Sofia Garcia, Camille Michel, Reilly Choo, and Shane Nishimura.
The ensemble includes Samantha Allen, Kirra Baughn, Victoria Chang, Celia Chun, Reilly Choo, Chandler Converse, Sofia Garcia, Amanda Giang, Grace Gilbertson, Eriq James, Tyson Jao, Caris Leong, Brittany Lewis, Pono Lundell, Tai Malalis, Camille Michel, Shane Nishimura, Ken Roberts, Amanda Ross, and Brandon Yim.
Other credits: Marisa Capalbo is a swing actor, Celia Chun is assistant to the choreographer, and Victoria Chang is assistant to the tap choreographer.
John Rampage is director and co-choreographer with Caryn Yee, and Phil Hidalgo is musical director.
Playdates are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and also on select Wednesdays and Thursdays, and at 3 p.m. select Saturdays and at 4 p.m. Sundays.
John Kolivias’ Honolulu Jazz Quartet will be giving its final performance at Honolulu Beerworks from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday (Oct. 28).
The venue, at 328 Cooke St., is shutting down soon and is seeking a new location.
HJQ normally features Kolivas on bass, Tim Tsukiyama on saxophones, Dan Del Negro on piano and Noel Okimoto on drums.
However, guest musicians will perform Monday, including Jimmy Funai on guitar, Corey Funai on harmonica and vocals, Stacy Tanongan on drums and Kainalu Kolivis, John’s son, on vocals…
Broadway grosses for week ending Oct. 20
The reigning top three on the chart of Broadway shows –“Wicked,” “The Lion King,” and “Hamilton” — still are leaders of the pack, but “Hell’s Kitchen” is perched at fourth place, the highest it’s been since it opened.
The Top 10:
1—”Wicked,” $2.231 million
2—”The Lion King,”$2.006 million
3—”Hamilton,”$1.868 million
4—”Hell’s Kitchen,” $1.554 million
5—”MJ The Musical,” $1.471 million
6–“The Outsiders,” $1.468 milion
7—” McNeal,” $1.347 million
8—”The Great Gatsby,” $1.266 million
9—”Aladdin,” $1.233 million
10—”Sunset Blvd.,” $1.211 million
The complete list, courtesy the Broadway League: :
