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	What's New (as of July 2003) New Features Waiting on a run date for my next S.F. Chronicle feature. Recent Trip to Hawaii Met up with many compadres on my June visit to the Big Island and Oahu. Highlights included dinner with Lanai High pal and co-conspirator Colbert Matsumoto and his family after a mere 30-year hiatus; in the mysterious way friendships work, we hit it off right away and talked for hours about a variety of things, including our old high school news venture The Cop-Out and Hawaii's future. Another highlight was sharing an excellent evening with investigative reporter and activist Ian Lind and noted author/U.H. prof Meda Chesney-Lind at their Kaaawa digs; Mr. Wally the cat even bestowed me the honor of jumping on my lap after dinner. I also enjoyed not one but two amazing rock-n-roll jam sessions with pals Steve Toma, Gayland Baker and Richard Mitchell on the Big Island. Richard and Gayland rented the cavernous Hawaiian Homes Hall in Waimea for the first gig and invited an excellent bassist (Joe Berry) and drummer (Josh) to sit in; Steve handled keyboards in this session, a break from his usual professional role as bassist, while Richard supplied vocals on a wide range of rock standards. Gayland lays down reverb guitar licks throughout while I do my best to follow along on a clean-sounding Stratocaster Steve lent me. Thanks to Richard's and Gayland's foresight in renting a huge venue, the neighbors didn't call the cops when we cranked the volume to 11. As we joked after the 2nd marathon jam at Richard's Waimea studio, "this two-CD set contains all three songs!" Actually, Richard's tape of Session 1 has been burned into a 12-song CD; here's two selections for your listening pleasure in Windows Media Player (which should begin streaming the songs in a few moments). Here are the tunes; just click on the titles to start Windows Media Player: All Along the Watchtower         Under My Thumb Highlight number Five was celebrating Gary Baker's 50th year on the planet with his family. His daughter Beth seemed most interested in my tales of our good old days in Gary's 1970 Camero--at least those involving hijinks.... Last but not least, I spent a rewarding half-day in U.H.'s Hamilton Library locating and copying several dozen news stories on the People's Party of Hawaii circa 1974-76. I've whetted Jeff Blair's curiosity, but unfortunately need to buy a new scanner to place them in my online archives. New song posted Just posted a great tune by friend Mike Dakota titled "King George Is Back" to his website. Check it out; just click on the song link and it streams in Real Player. "What's New: June 2003" "What's New: May 2003" "What's New: April 2003" "What's New: March 2003" "What's New: February 2003"