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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, April 1, 2003

Aren't you what's-her name?

By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Columnist

It has happened at the dry cleaners, the airport, Ala Moana Center, Longs, and even — sad to say — at family parties. It usually goes something like, "I love watching you and your husband do the news and the baby is beautiful!"

Lee Cataluna Kim Gennaula
Yes, the baby is beautiful, but he's not my baby and that's not my Guy.

The confusion is not just because, years ago, I shared an anchor desk with Guy Hagi and now he shares an anchor desk at KGMB with his wife, Kim Gennaula. There's something more than six-degrees-of-Hagi here. This has gone on for years, for as long and Kim and I have worked in news in the same town, way before either of us had ever heard of Hagi. Kim theorizes that it's because we both have three letters in our first names and last names that end in "a." Whatever it is, we're sure we don't look alike.

Mostly I don't mind because if you're going to be mistaken for somebody, Kim is a very good somebody to be mistaken for. But when she was hapai and I was still hearing it left and right, I must admit I was a little nuha.

Kim says she gets it from her end, too. Poor thing. "Once I had a lawmaker in the elevator of the State Capitol start ranting at me over something I had 'written,' " Kim reports. "He got off the elevator before I had the chance to explain that he was confused."

Thanks, Kim.

Of course, it happens to everyone who has served time on local airwaves. Our brains tend to group characters together by type, and most folks have more important things to think about than who's who in local media. We see somebody who looks kinda familiar and we're pretty pleased with our memory skills if we can figure out that we've seen them on TV or in the paper or something. Any other details are gravy.

Kirk Matthews has been mistaken for Gary Sprinkle. Marvin Buenconsejo was called "Nestor" on the air by an anchor. Kanoa Leahey has had people ask how his dad is doing, only to realize they were thinking of John Veneri's dad. City prosecutor Peter Carlisle has taken to introducing himself at public events by saying, "I am NOT Howard Dashefsky!"

It has crossed my mind to just go with it, especially on a day like April Fools'; to just be Kim, and be Kim with impunity. But the poor girl has taken enough flak for me and besides, she wears a live microphone and payback could be pricey.

As for Kim's husband, Guy has his own mistaken identity to worry about. He keeps saying he's going to get a T-shirt to wear in public that says: "I'm not Tiny."

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.