Show Biz
TV weather anchor Trini Kaopuiki engaged

SUNNY FORECAST: Trini Kaopuiki, KHON’s weather anchor, returned from vacation with a sparkler on the third finger, left hand. Questioned on the air by colleague Joe Moore, who donned sunglasses on the 6 p.m. newscast Wednesday (saying the gem blinded him), she revealed that she had gotten engaged to Sean Clark during her break. And here’s the how and where, from Kaopuiki: "We were in Colorado at the Continental Divide, at a place called Loveland Pass, where it was minus 6 degrees. So he says, ‘Will you marry me?’ " she said in a shivering tone. "We hope to get married by the end of the year." Clark is a lawyer with Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel ...

And the Bruddah Iz legend grows anew. Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole, whose "Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" is in the current Sean Connery movie, "Finding Forrester" (heard, in totality, in the closing moments and over the end credits), will get further exposure. The song is featured on Monday’s episode of ABC’s "Gideon’s Crossing," at 9 p.m. on KITV. This is the series about the Boston teaching hospital, starring Andre Braugher ...

NAMES ’N’ FACES: Loyal Garner is out of Straub Hospital, following surgery last week of a mass of growth related to her earlier colon cancer. Her doctors discovered the new growth shortly before Garner’s Christmas concert with the Local Divas, but she kept it a secret and continued her Divas gigs, including a Hong Kong visit, and scheduled the hospital stay when the concert calendar was clear ...

Al Waterson and You, the karaoke show at Fisherman’s Wharf, marks its ninth anniversary this Saturday, from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Waterson hosts and emcees, his wife Nancy Bernal is the tech assistant, and their gig has attracted local and national stars over the years. There will be free cake for all guests ...

And Duke’s Canoe Club, at the Outrigger Waikiki, marks its eighth anniversary from 3 to 5 p.m. this Friday, with Ku‘uipo Kumukahi performing . . .

Keola Beamer’s new CD, "Island Born," will be released Feb. 20 on his own label, ‘Ohe Records. It will be blessed with a number of guest voices, including George Kahumoku Jr., Jerry Santos, and Princess Keli‘iho‘omalu. Beamer is touring the West Coast this month with taiko master Kenny Endo but a Hawai‘i tour promoting this new CD will begin in March . . .

RANDOM NOTES: Billy V. (Van Osdol) is the new on-site voice at the University of Hawai‘i games at the Stan Sheriff Center on the Manoa campus. With the lateness of some of the games (volleyball and basketball), he’s had little sleep because of his early wake-up call for the KCCN FM morning drive slot he shares with Charly Espina ...

It was a quandary for restaurateur Randy Schoch (Ruth’s Chris Steak House), who couldn’t make good friend Kane Fernandez’ celebration of life. Reason: Kane and widow Linda Fernandez had sponsored Schoch for membership in the prestigious Young Presidents Organization, and as part of a YPO project, Schoch had a conflicting mission to take his 8-year-old son Randall to Mexico to help build houses for homeless families. "Think of what Kane would want you to do," YPOer Gene Axelrod, also a close Kane pal, told Schoch. So yes, he went to Mexico, but arranged for Ruth’s Chris here to help feed 100 or so family and friends gathered at the Fernandezes Koko Kai home on the eve of the recent services ...

And that’s Show Biz ...

Wayne Harada writes Show Biz every Wednesday and Friday.

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