HONOLULU FEVER
HONOLULU FEVER
BY Gerrye Wong March 25, 2022
Once Hawaii restrictions against covid virus came down, everyone excitedly booked passage to go to Hawaii by air or sea. It had been such a long stay-at-home pandemic two years, everyone caught the fever to go somewhere. And for me, what better place than to the Island of Oahu where life is calmer, more relaxed, with the weather the best and the scenery the finest to clear the mind.
I called old friend, the former popular television sportscaster Rick Quan, who deserted Bay Area television understandably for island living and is now reporting on their local TV station. I asked, where do you recommend we go for a nice relaxing setting overlooking the ocean for Sunday brunch – and he said without a moment’s hesitation, THE KAHALA HOTEL & RESORT. This was quite the perfect choice, for the legendary Kahala is well known by travelers worldwide for its spectacular oceanfront destination luxury property known for its gracious Hawaiian hospitality. I especially liked his choice because although located just a few minutes away from busy Waikiki, it exudes an exclusive ambiance with its private beach and special activities suited just for its residents.
Caption: Rick Quan and Amy Hill welcome Gary and Kelly Matsuura at The Kahala Resort and Hotel lawn.
We met at the Kahala’s Plumeria Beach House overlooking the clear blue skies and ocean breezes we had come to Hawaii for. While eyeing a beautiful island wedding on the neighboring lawn area, it was fun for us mainlanders Patrick and Marina Ng, daughter Kelly and Gary Matsuura and we Wongs to sit down to meet and greet Rick and his special guest, Amy Hill. This was a special surprise as I remembered well when Amy started her career working at the famed Asian American Theater Company in San Francisco where she was known even then being a part of San Francisco’s improv and sketch comedy scene. She has been living in Honolulu while filming Magnum PI and was a pleasure to meet again.
Caption: Enjoying Brunch at The Plumeria House beachfront restaurant at Kahala Resort
Overwhelmed with the pleasures of dining with family and old friends, in this beautiful Kahala setting, I along with our guests enjoyed the famed Plumeria Breakfast Buffet as well as the popular UpCountry Breakfast with its special seasonable Hawaiian fruit basket, Hawaiian Portuguese sausage, and different island fruit juice offerings. Where else in the world could you be enjoying island flavors while savoring the beauty of clear blue skies over a serene Pacific ocean view.
Caption: Rick shared a photo of he and Amy at a recent film festival event with Brooke Lee.
The charming Amy Hill, always with a twinkle in her eyes, seemed pleased to hear my daughter’s favorite move growing up was 50 FIRST DATES where Amy is best known for her role as Sue. We all remembered her Mrs. Kwan role in The Cat in the Hat, and her Mrs. Ho-Kim in Next Friday. Amy, born in South Dakota of a Japanese national mother and Finnish American father, told us she was in her final week shooting in the MAGNUM PI REBOOT, starring as Teuila “Kumu” Tuileta. With her bubbly personality and easy going nature, it is easy to see how Amy Hill can adapt herself to any role. Best known as an American stand-up comedian, actress and voice actress, she has been a mainstay on American television in her work. Recently, she said she enjoyed being a series regular on the Amazon Video Web Television show Just Add Magic as Marna P in addition to recurring as Dr. Wagerstein in UnReal on the basic cable network Lifetime.
Caption: Wakako showed the beautiful ocean front views from a suite patio
Following our enjoyable brunch, surrounded by happy families obviously on vacation like the rest of us, we were joined by Wakako Sasaki, Kahala’s Senior Marketing Manager who led us on a tour of this beautiful property .Wakako happily told us she has been with the Kahala for almost 10 years, and why not, she said for it is like a hidden gem at the end of Kahala Avenue with the serene beach in front of the hotel stretched over 800 feet. As she walked us past a wall with framed photos of the many celebrities who have resided here at the Kahala, we felt like special celebs ourselves to be privileged to be enjoying the same amenities. Some past distinguished guests were Queen Elizabeth, the Dalai Lama, Elton John, Dean Martin, Robert Redford and many many other Hollywood stars, dignitaries and sports professionals who have been coming to The Kahala since it opened its door in 1964.
Caption: Enjoying the atmosphere of the Plumeria House Restaurant
In addition to celebrities, it was easy to look around and see that families seem to find this a favorite destination with its many complimentary cultural activities such as classes in Hula, lei making and lauhala (leaves) weaving. For all ages, and something I would love to be brave enough to try sometime is swimming with the dolphins in the Kahala’s natural ocean water lagoon where a family of 6 playful Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins come face-to-face with courageous and fun loving guests. My grandkids have all done this before, but not their granny who, Wakako said , she will be sure to let try next visit. Stay tuned for my next adventure on my next visit and hopefully, before my courageous curiosity leaves me.
Caption: mounted on a wall was a plaque of the site in the hotel where Magnum PI was once filmed
For residents who like to “star gaze” Wakako admitted, they have quite a bit of filming at the resort since most productions see The Kahala as such a beautiful and iconic lace to film. Even in one spot is a plaque signifying where one of the first Magnum PI scenes were shot. You might have caught glimpses of The Kahala, also if you saw such TV shows as Hawaii Five-0 or Magnum PI ad wel as movies such as The Descendants, You had me at Aloha by Hallmark and Same Time Next Christmas.
Caption: Wakako stood in front of the Celebrity wall showing photos of the many notables at the hotel.
When I asked Wakako if she had a day off from work and could soak in all the pleasures offered here at The Kahala, what would she be doing. She confided her idea of a perfect Kahala day, saying, “Starting off a great breakfast either in my room or watching the waves from the Plumeria Beach House, I would then relax beachside and soak up the sun. In the afternoon, I might rent complimentary bicycles to go up to the Diamond Head which is only about 10 minutes by bike. Later in the afternoon, I would be ready to try the signature massage at the Kahala Spa and finish off by shopping at their store which features great items designed by local artists at the hotel. For dinner, I would go to Hoku’s to experience the French-influenced cuisine with fresh local flavors while looking at a gorgeous sunset. By then, it would be end of a perfect day in our paradise called Hawaii,” she concluded.
Catching up on his latest news, we all asked Rick Quan why he left our Bay Area. He replied, “I was attending the Hawaii International Film Festival and met my friend KITV News Director Janice Gin who wound up offering me an opportunity to come back and anchor the news here.” Rick is kept busy at KITV4 anchoring the news at 5,6, and 10 which he says is a challenge. Now the main anchor instead of a sports anchor, he admits he has to be on top of many more different topics . Hawaii living is not new to Rick Quan for although he grew up in Houston, Texas, he worked in Honolulu at KITV in the 80s before moving to San Francisco in 1987. Since returning, he shared his latest project, that of filming a documentary called “Honolulu’s Naughtiest Nightclub Owner” on the life of Jack Cione, a proprietor of several strip clubs and showrooms in the 1970s.Admittedly Rick Quan is enjoying Island living, confiding that what he likes best there is the beautiful scenery, the people and the food. I tpld Rick he is sorely missed by all of his Bay Area friends, and he replied that he is always happy to be reunited with any who venture to Honolulu.
After an afternoon spent with Rick Quan, Amy Hill and Wakako Sasaki, we caught the spirit of island fever ourselves, grateful we chose to visit Hawaii on our first post covid travel destination. I advise everyone to go to Hawaii and very soon, you will have the Aloha spirit in your blood.
SFCAUSE and Committee of 100 Celebrate Year of the Tiger Lunar New Year in San Francisco’s Harborview Restaurant
Caption: Organizer Dennis Wu welcomes guests
SFCAUSE Founder Dennis Wu said he felt it was time for many of the Chinese American leaders of the area to get together in an in-person gathering, so all Dennis needs to do is make phone calls, and people lucky enough to be called feel honored to be invited, I am sure. As a result, the complete dining room of the Harborview Restaurant was taken over by guests of this Lunar New Year celebration dinner organized by Committee of 100 and SFCAUSE, and hosted by Ken & Ping Fong. You could tell by the happy cries of recognition and hugs or fist bumps that this event was enjoyed by all those who had been secluded through pandemic mandates for the past two years.
Caption: Government officials and community leaders gathered around chair Dennis Wu
Dennis Wu explained to me the purpose of this event was not only to renew old friendships and pursue Chinse people’s favorite hobby of dining with friends, but it was to listen to, talk and think about important issues facing the Chinese American communities statewide, and nationwide. Ronald Wong and Tony Shyu, director and producers of the documentary, THE RACE EPIDEMIC” spoke of their experiences learning about institutional racism and the history of xenophobia and racism against AAPIs. Diners enjoyed seeing a trailer of the movie which will be shown on mainstream theaters this month.
Caption: Daisy and Kansen Chu, Buck Gee & Gerrye Wong renew old acquaintances
Community activist Nancy Tung discussed safety in our community with so many Asian Americans being attacked, the numbers of which have slipped upward 56% from 2020. Retired Silicon Valley Congressman Mike Honda talked about the end of the China Initiative which he was a key player in once drafting, and what this end will mean and where do we go from there. Haipei Shue, President of United Chinese Americans, informed the audience about the unknown facts of continued prosecution against Chinese academics here in America.
Caption: Retired Congressman Mike Honda greets friends, May Koo, Florence Koga, Calvin & Gerrye Wong
A panel followed the speakers, made up of some of us who had been involved with Resolution of Apologies issued by four California cities during this past year. President of Civic Leadership USA Andy Li spoke of the resolution he pushed the Antioch City Council to pass to acknowledge and apologize to the Chinese community for past ills and wrongdoings done to their families’ early descendants in America.
Caption: Committee of 100 members gather at Harborview event.
Representing the Chinese Historical and Cultural Project, I told how Connie Young Yu and I helped write the specific historical facts of discrimination faced by Santa Clara Valley early Chinese pioneers to be included in the City of San Jose’s Resolution of Apology which was adopted in September, 2021, and received worldwide coverage as the second city in the United States to pursue this needed action. Casey Dennis Wu told about his work on having the San Francisco City Council issue a similar resolution of apology on Chinese New years Day, 2022 this year, becoming the fourth major city to pronounce and present a Resolution of Apology to all Chinese Americans today. Supervisor Matt Haney echoed Casey’s words saying this was a very important long overdue action to the San Francisco’s Chinese community, with its Chinatown being one of the largest in the US.
Caption: Committee of 100 member Yuan Yuan Tan welcomes SF Attorney David Chiu and Fremont Mayor Lily Mei
Continuing in the program was Faye Sahai speaking on the Bamboo Ceiling in Corporate America which Chinese American workers still face today in the workplace. Newly appointed SFUSD Board member Ann Hsu spoke positively on her vision of the future of public schools in San Francisco. President & CEO of the Asian Art Museum Jay Xu and ED of Chinatown Media & Arts Collaborative Mabel Teng concluded the speakers program with their thoughts on the future of arts in the San Francisco scene.
Caption: Dingdingtv CEO Diana Ding with staff and friends.
MC Dennis Wu, who choreographed the program to speak on issues he felt were important for the future of the Chinese community and San Francisco’s Chinatown, rallied everyone’s attention with a surprise announcement. Needing a drum roll deserving of the announcement, Dennis announced the awarding of the first SFCAUSE CHAMPION OF TRUTH AWARD to KGO newscaster DION LIM.
Caption: Dion Lim receives Champion of Truth Award from Ashlyn So
Presenting the award was a young girl, Ashlyn So, whom Dion recalled was in a story she had covered recently. Dion spoke of her gratitude for the award, noting that the issues concerning Chinese Americans in anti-Asian hate experiences has been utmost in her mind with the desire to make sure these horrid anti-hate instances of injuries to Asian Americans are reported in the news for all to be aware of.
Dennis Wu ended the evening, encouraging everyone to continue their presence and mission to promote unity among all Asian American groups, as week as to continue to work together in issues and causes important to the Chinese American community. Good advice and intentions and well said, Dennis. Good job to send home everyone with thoughts for all to work united for a brighter future for all Asian Americans.
