Saturday, March 7, 2009

Royal Hawaiian

click on photos to enlarge! "And kind as kings upon their coronation day." John Dryden


"The gates of monarchs Are arched so high that giants may jet through And keep their impious turbans on without Good morrow to the sun." Shakespeare



"I'd like to be a queen in people's hearts but I don't see myself being Queen of this country." Diana, Princess of Wales

Perhaps I should run around in circles yelling like a 5 year old on a sugar rush: The Pink Palace a.k.a. The Royal Hawaiian Hotel will have a beyond-grand opening on Saturday March 7.th All orchestrated by event planning wizard David Beahm (a reformed High School drum major) credited with making Catherine Zeta-Jones / Michael Douglas nuptials the “wedding of the century.” Saturday’s gala is to be a benefit for the excellent Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific – so let the excess pour like it’s 1999! For a mere $5,000 USD you and three of your pals can repair to your own private poolside cabana for concierge pampering. Multiple venues will offer entertainment and atmosphere to suit any well heeled demographic: Chris Botti holding court in the Monarch Room with his band, local jazz chanteuse Ginai scatting on the lawn, and slack key guitar wonder Makana will initiate the new oceanside restaurant, Azure. 101-year-old Bill Tapia who played at the Royal’s FIRST opening bash, the first of February 1927, will beguile a new generation with his ukulele in the Coconut Grove. And yes, he still “gigs” regularly with real virtuosity! No word on whether Oprah will attend. I’ll be peering from behind the beach hedges. . .