THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS, IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER: ALTERNATORS; APRICOTS; ANARCHY; AVIATION; BALUSTRADES; BASS NOTES; BLOOD CANCER; BROTHER, MY; BUTTONS; CAMERA LENSES; CAPERS; CHARMS; CHOCOLATE; CHOPPING WOOD; COMBUSTION; CORNUCOPIAS; DIVING GEAR; DOCUMENTARIES; DREAMS; DREARY DAYS; DRESS-UP; EARMUFFS; EDUCATION; ESTIMATION; FAIRNESS; FELT; FICTION; FROTH; GLASS-BOTTOMED BOATS; GUIDELINES; GRAY; GUINNESS; HATS, KNIT; HELIUM; IGLOOS; JAYHAWKS; JELLY; KITES; LEMONADE; LAUHALA; MauiTime; MOSS; MOTHS; MYSTERIES; NESTS; NEWSPAPERS; OLIVES; OSTRICH EGGS; PERSIMMONS; PISTACHIOS; POI; POISON; PERIWINKLE; QUICKNESS; RAPTURE, THE; SUGAR; SKULLS; THC; UMBRELLAS; VICTORIES; VINTAGE; ween; XYLOGRAPHS; YELLOW; ZIPPER PULLS; ZOLOFT (SONG).
What are the circumstances of YOUR craziest kiss?
Please be sure to click through to Life Magazine's selection of 17 screwball smooches (P.S. Kisses to npr.org for alerting us to this great gallery.)
LEE CATALUNA
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Elton John made magic on Maui at the Blue Max
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Feb 06, 2011
The Elton John concert to be held on Maui this month sold out so fast that a second show was added, even with tickets that start at $77. But there was a magical night 34 years ago when some Maui folks got to hear Elton John for free.
"Maybe it was a $10 cover charge," Sanford Hill says, "but if you got there early or if you knew people, you got in free."
The place was a club called Blue Max on Lahaina's Front Street where Chicago Pizzaria is today. Hill remembers that the Blue Max was decorated with black-and-white photos of World War I airplanes and a big stuffed owl. No rock 'n' roll theme, no tiki torches, no disco ball, but there were huge stuffed couches and waitresses wearing Danskin leotards and sarongs.
In 1977, Hill was 26, single and living on a farm in Hana. He was hanging out with friends in Kula when he got the call from some buddies in Lahaina who said Elton John was planning to show up at the Blue Max, so they got in a car and drove over the pali.
It wasn't all that unusual for a big act like Elton John to show up at the Blue Max. George Benson had jammed there, as did Stevie Nicks.
"In the '70s, Maui was like that. David Crosby and Steven Stills would be hanging out on somebody's porch. Sly and the Family Stone did a show at the Silversword," Hill said. "The era started with Jimi Hendrix and the Rainbow Bridge concert upcountry."
When Hill got to the Blue Max, a grand piano had somehow materialized on the balcony of the club. "I don't know how they got that thing up the stairs," he said.
Elton John showed up with some friends and took the table next to where Hill was sitting. After a few drinks, John went over to the piano and banged out songs for over an hour.
"He just put on this killer show," Hill said. "No drums, no backup. He carried the whole thing with just himself on the piano and a guy on electric bass. He did 'Saturday Night' and people on the street were singing along with him."
Hill borrowed a camera and shot photos of the performance, though he did his best to be unobtrusive.
"There's the Maui Rule with famous people," he said, "You just don't want to bother them."
Elton John didn't mind the camera, and Hill said, "If I didn't have those photos, I wouldn't remember as much about that night as I do now." Indeed, photos of the Blue Max are hard to come by.
Hill, who has worked as a photographer, filmmaker, videographer and screenwriter, is working on a book called "Maui Tales" that chronicles that era on Maui in 1971 to 1984 when famous people hung out on Maui, and not just hidden away in their multimillion-dollar gated estates. He has a collection of photos that documents those colorful halcyon days.
When the upcoming Elton John concert at the MACC was referred to in the media as the "first time" the superstar would be playing on Maui, Hill took exception. After all, he was there 34 years ago when Elton John played in Lahaina. He has the pictures to prove it, and that was decades before the iPhone.
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Lee Cataluna can be reached at lcataluna@staradvertiser.com.
Elton John played for patrons at Lahaina’s Blue Max in 1977. The club was on Front Street where Chicago Pizzaria is today.
The Elton John concert to be held on Maui this month sold out so fast that a second show was added, even with tickets that start at $77. But there was a magical night 34 years ago when some Maui folks got to hear Elton John for free.
"Maybe it was a $10 cover charge," Sanford Hill says, "but if you got there early or if you knew people, you got in free."
The place was a club called Blue Max on Lahaina's Front Street where Chicago Pizzaria is today. Hill remembers that the Blue Max was decorated with black-and-white photos of World War I airplanes and a big stuffed owl. No rock 'n' roll theme, no tiki torches, no disco ball, but there were huge stuffed couches and waitresses wearing Danskin leotards and sarongs.
In 1977, Hill was 26, single and living on a farm in Hana. He was hanging out with friends in Kula when he got the call from some buddies in Lahaina who said Elton John was planning to show up at the Blue Max, so they got in a car and drove over the pali.
It wasn't all that unusual for a big act like Elton John to show up at the Blue Max. George Benson had jammed there, as did Stevie Nicks.
"In the '70s, Maui was like that. David Crosby and Steven Stills would be hanging out on somebody's porch. Sly and the Family Stone did a show at the Silversword," Hill said. "The era started with Jimi Hendrix and the Rainbow Bridge concert upcountry."
When Hill got to the Blue Max, a grand piano had somehow materialized on the balcony of the club. "I don't know how they got that thing up the stairs," he said.
Elton John showed up with some friends and took the table next to where Hill was sitting. After a few drinks, John went over to the piano and banged out songs for over an hour.
"He just put on this killer show," Hill said. "No drums, no backup. He carried the whole thing with just himself on the piano and a guy on electric bass. He did 'Saturday Night' and people on the street were singing along with him."
Hill borrowed a camera and shot photos of the performance, though he did his best to be unobtrusive.
"There's the Maui Rule with famous people," he said, "You just don't want to bother them."
Elton John didn't mind the camera, and Hill said, "If I didn't have those photos, I wouldn't remember as much about that night as I do now." Indeed, photos of the Blue Max are hard to come by.
Hill, who has worked as a photographer, filmmaker, videographer and screenwriter, is working on a book called "Maui Tales" that chronicles that era on Maui in 1971 to 1984 when famous people hung out on Maui, and not just hidden away in their multimillion-dollar gated estates. He has a collection of photos that documents those colorful halcyon days.
When the upcoming Elton John concert at the MACC was referred to in the media as the "first time" the superstar would be playing on Maui, Hill took exception. After all, he was there 34 years ago when Elton John played in Lahaina. He has the pictures to prove it, and that was decades before the iPhone.
------
Lee Cataluna can be reached at lcataluna@staradvertiser.com.
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Thai Airline Introduces Transsexual Air Crew
Thai PC Air recruits ladyboys as stewardesses
Jan 30, 2011
Thanyarat Jiraphatpakorn, winner of the 2007 Miss Tiffany transsexual beauty pageant / wn.com
A newly launched Thai airline has hired six transsexuals to their flight attendant crew in what they felt is an effort to promote an equal opportunity agenda for what they consider the “third sex”.
Thanyarat Jiraphatpakorn, winner of the 2007 Miss Tiffany transsexual beauty pageant, was among the successful candidates to land a job on PC Air, reports the Star Online.
According to Sin Chew Daily, they will be given a 'third sex' name tag while on duty to avoid immigration issues.
Thailand has one of the largest transsexual populations in the world.
Source: ANI
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Pretty sure Hawai'i has been ahead of the curve, having spocked a mahu or two serving up POG on inter-island flights. But I digress...
More like this on Maui, please!
Sights like these are moments that make me happy to be human. Mahalo nui to the inspired soul who took the time to create this public art. #lovemanifestissticky
I'd never need anything under the Christmas tree ever again, if I sported this Vulcan-inspired hoodie.
Really, just looking at it fills me with hope for the universe -- maybe even belief in Jolly Ol' Saint Nick. Who knows...
Like for the primary elections, had to tromp through the bushes to take a photo of this roadside sign. Naturally, fellow voters looked at me like I was nuts.
Got up to the table to check in, and realized, "Damn, I forgot my cheat sheet!" So, had to buzz up to Ha'iku Grocery to grab a couple of issues, leaving Hansel & Gretel trail of @MauiTime -- open to the endorsements lede -- in my wake.
When I returned, I passed a man who saw my copy of @MauiTime tucked under my arm and said, "Smart. I had it memorized, but my son is using (the cheat sheet)."
That made my day.
When I turned in my ballot, the volunteer asked me if this was my first time voting. I was a little offended, because by no means do I look fresh off 18. So, do I look otherwise apathetic? Do I look entirely confused?If I lie and say "yes," will you give me a sticker?
... I miss those "I Voted" stickers. Sent from my iPhone
That's right. Putting my cyan shoes to relevant use...
Sitting-in so's @akakuTV peeps could frame up shots. Seeing myself on the monitor (and in this photo) made me realize I have to get on the bandwagon that I've never quite been on to begin with. I told my mom that and she just nodded, saying something about how it must have been even worse "because the camera adds ten pounds. Well, unless you're Jacob."
Thanks, mom.
