Donna Summer, known as the Queen of Disco has died, after a battle with lung cancer. She was 63.

As a DJ in that era, we played all her hits -  from Hot Stuff to Bad Girls, and On The Radio.

In 1978, Summer starred as an aspiring singer in the film Thank God It’s Friday, which took home an Oscar for Best Original Song.  In her heyday, Summer also put on a great performance in Hawaii.

Donna Summer | Last Dance

Fabio | Courtesy Healthy Planet Nutrition

Fabio does have a good sense of humor. I kidded him about a cameo role he once did, playing himself in a wacky movie called American Fusion, and he laughed. Not a bad film to be in. The film’s director, Frank Lin, is happy the romantic comedy was a big hit at the Hawaii International Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award a few years ago.

You can catch Fabio at Whole Foods in Kailua today.

In an extraordinary cultural exchange with the people of Hawaii, the Dalai Lama wound up his visit at Kualoa Beach Park on Oahu. After blessing the Hawaiian voyaging canoe, Hokulea, he answered a few questions from members of the media, then shook our hands.

The Dalai Lama  was here to launch a new initiative called Pillars of Peace Hawaii: Building Peace on a Foundation of Aloha: ”The program aims to bring global peace leaders to Hawaii to share ideas about actively practicing peace and aloha in our daily lives, both at home and around the world.”

You can watch videos and learn more about the Dalai Lama’s four-day visit on Oahu here.

Related 

“Four Days With The Dalai Lama” by Don Chapman, Editor of MidWeek

Join the festivities to Celebrate the Music of “The Descendants” at a Sound and Vision: Screening, Panel and Concert in Honolulu today.

The free screening of the Oscar-winning movie “The Descendants” gets underway at 12noon at the Regal Dole Cannery Theater.

Cyril Pahinui and JeffPeterson | Photo © Heidi Chang

After the screening, there will be a free panel discussion about the music in the film with “The Descendants” music supervisor Dondi Bastone and two of the musicians who contributed to the soundtrack, Cyril Pahinui and Jeff Peterson. Entertainment attorney, Bill Meyer, will moderate the panel discussion, which starts at 2pm.

And there’s more! Join the party at a live concert featuring musicians from “The Descendants,” including  Cyril Pahinui, Jeff Peterson, Charles Brotman, Pancho Graham and Danny Carvalho at The Venue in Honolulu. 

The Descendants Soundtrack | Courtesy Fox Searchlight

Find out more info about the events in the Hawaii International Film Festival Guest blog post by Caroline Dodge, the production manager at the Pacific Northwest Chapter of The Recording Academy:
Sound X Vision: Celebrating the Music of The Descendants

Listen to the story behind the music in this piece that I produced for NPR:
Soundtracking “The Descendants” With “Real” Hawaiian Music

The Dalai Lama | Photo courtesy Pillars of Peace Hawaii 

Looking forward to the Dalai Lama’s visit in Hawaii this weekend, thanks to a new initiative called “Pillers of Peace Hawaii: Building Peace on a Foundation of Aloha.” I was just at the spot where people are preparing to welcome His Holiness to Hawaii.

You can watch some of the public events with the Dalai Lama streaming live on Saturday and Sunday on the Pillars of Peace Hawaii website.

Learn more about the Year of the Dragon here.
Or look up your Chinese Animal Sign.

For decades, the iconic Aloha Shirt has reflected Hawaii’s beauty, spirit and unique island culture. Now, they’re being commemorated on new U.S. postcard stamps. The five colorful stamps feature everything from Hawaiian flowers and fish to surfers.

Aloha Shirts Stamps | Courtesy U.S. Postal Service

The U.S. Postal Service unveiled the new stamps yesterday at a special First Day of Issue ceremony in Honolulu. Aloha shirt authority and designer Dale Hope, who led the campaign for the Aloha shirt stamps, participated in the dedication ceremony, along with Carl Herrman, who designed the stamps using photos by Ric Noyle. Gov. Neil Abercrombie also made a few remarks at the event.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie | Photo © Heidi Chang

 
Don’t forget, stamp rates go up this Sunday. The regular Forever stamps used to mail letters will go up a penny to 45 cents.

Postcard stamps will increase three cents to 32 cents.

The new Aloha shirt stamps will be the only 32 cent postcard stamps sold under the new rate in the country.

Hawaii Aloha Shirt Designer Amos Kotomori | Photo © Heidi Chang

Hawaii fashion designer Amos Kotomori has created a special line of Aloha Shirts for Neiman Marcus in Honolulu, which includes the Year of the Dragon shirt that he’s wearing.

Great to hear Dennis Kamakahi’s song `Ulili E playing in the background as director Alexander Payne, producer Jim Burke and The Descendants clan go up to accept the award.

Congratulations to all the winners at the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards!

Click here to see the list of the 2012 Golden Globe Award Winners

Nick Krause as “Sid,” Amara Miller as “Scottie,” Shailene Woodley as “Alexandra” and George Clooney as “Matt King” in THE DESCENDENTS | Photo © Fox Searchlight PIctures

In a fitting tribute, Hawaiian music legend, Eddie Kamae, opened the memorial service for John Heckathorn tonight with a song. Heckathorn was a respected journalist, editor and teacher, also known for his engaging restaurant reviews, and his love of food and music. In the 1980s, he helped raise an awareness of the birth of Hawaii Regional Cuisine.

Many are still stunned over his sudden death. Heckathorn had a heart attack on Christmas Day and never recovered. He was 65.

Family members, friends and colleagues packed Diamond Memorial Park to bid him a final Aloha. They shared memories of a remarkable man who touched their lives and made them laugh. He also nurtured a generation of writers and encouraged many others along the way. His death is a huge loss for Hawaii’s journalism community.

After the service, folks lingered to savor stories about Heckathorn and also the ono grinds from Side Street Inn. He would have enjoyed it.

Over the years, I had the privilege of working with Heckathorn as a freelance writer, when he was the editor of Honolulu Magazine. He was witty, funny and thoughtful. And a wonderful friend and editor.

Heckathorn leaves behind his wife, Barb, and three daughters, Mallory, Paige and Jennifer.

We’ll miss you, John. Thanks for the memories. And Aloha `Oe… until we meet again.

Related Stories

In memory of a dear friend and member of our ohana: John Heckathorn – Hawaii Magazine blog
On the loss of John Heckathorn – Honolulu Magazine
Former Honolulu Magazine editor John Heckathorn dies – Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Journalist, teacher, editor wrote about Hawaii, issues and food – Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Former Honolulu Magazine editor dies – Hawaii News Now video
Former magazine editor John Heckathorn passes away – KHON video

“ It’s a beautiful mornin‘ …. I think I’ll go outside a while …. An jus’ smile …”

Turned out to be a beautiful day!

Been trying to recover from a bad cold going around the Islands, time to take a walk.

Take care, everyone, it seems to be cold season.

Sunrise on Oahu | Photo © Heidi Chang

Sunrise on Oahu | Photo © Heidi Chang