By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor
FALSE ALARM: Frank DeLima is often the ultimate babooze — and the first to admit it. Last week, he was napping in the air-conditioned comfort of his apartment on the slopes of Punchbowl (or is it upper Makiki?). Anyway, he heard a familiar "boom" of aerial fireworks, and it was a Pavlovian response (you know, the theory about the dog).
Accustomed to hearing the Friday night fireworks, which have been his cue to report to work at the Captain’s Table Lounge of the Hawaiian Waikiki Beach Hotel, he began his ritual: "I looked outside, I saw the fireworks, so I jumped in the shower then dashed to my car in the parking lot," he said. "Then I wondered, what day is this?"
He asked someone in his parking lot — and learned it was Thursday. The fireworks were, indeed, real, and originating from the Hilton, but were part of the festivities for the launching of the Hilton Hawaiian Vacations Club timeshare project.
"I tell you, I’m such a babooze," said DeLima ...
And a sight ’em: DeLima and reading advocate Lynne Waihee, the former first lady, were going to an Adult Friends of Youth meeting the other day ...
THE PARTY LINE: Chai Chaowasaree didn’t scrimp when he marked the second anniversary of his Chai’s Island Bistro at Aloha Tower Marketplace Tuesday night. A sumptuous seven-course meal was served — while KHON TV crews taped a "Hawai‘i’s Kitchen" special, hosted by Brickwood Galuteria, that will air in prime time in March.
A retinue of Channel 2 folks (g.m. Bill Spellman, sports director Ron Mizutani, the morning show’s Manolo Morales) were in the audience, and Chaowasaree arranged for two of his stellar performing acts, Hapa and the Brothers Cazimero, to provide all-night music. "Two Skinny Chefs" — Chaowasaree and his good pal Beth Ann Nishijima of Nori’s Saimin in Snacks of Hilo — did the cooking demos.
Sounds like the model for a series of foodie specials-with-music ...
AROUND ’N’ ABOUT: Great to hear that Ron Bright is getting back into the director’s chair for Castle Performing Arts Center’s "Nunsense," premiering March 1, at the Ronald E. Bright Theatre. So much for "retirement" — but then again, Bright has been active, shaping and directing shows for his church ...
Samuel Wong, Honolulu Symphony maestro, celebrated Chinese New Year’s twice — once in Hong Kong and in New York. "I was in Hong Kong recording Sony’s ‘Turandot’ music," he said. His next Honolulu concert will be March 11 and 13 ...
The cast from "Vanities," the short-run comedy at Hawai‘i Theatre last weekend, discovered Nick’s Fishmarket while here. First, Emily Kay ("Undressed") and Stacy Keanan ("My Two Dads") dined at the Waikiki restaurant, then recommended it to co-star Heather Tom ("The Young and the Restless").
That’s when the in-house excitement started, when g.m. Ben Dowling noticed his cocktail waitresses giggling with excitement. They told him that had just seated Victoria from "Y&R" — and yes, they’re fans ...
Dede Guss, former Mrs. Hawai‘i, still turns heads everywhere ... such as at a birthday luncheon the other day at Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Restaurant Row. She walked out with a "monkey" — dangling on her Kipling bag, one of her gifts from Pocketbook Man ...
And that’s Show Biz ...
Wayne Harada writes Show Biz every Wednesday and Friday.
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