Show Biz
Danny Kaleikini named 'Ambassador of Aloha'
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor
Mayor honors artist for his contributions
TASTE OF ALOHA: Danny Kaleikini, former Kahala Hilton headliner, will be named "Ambassador of Aloha" for the City and County of Honolulu, in a ceremony at 10:15 a.m. today in the office of Mayor Jeremy Harris. "Danny embodies the spirit of aloha, and through his extraordinary talent and communications skills, has shared this gift of the Islands with international audiences for more than 30 years," Harris said. And you thought Kaniele was making up that ambassador thing all these years.
Kaleikini starred in his own Polynesian show before retiring in 1995. He since has restored the Kahalu'u Fishpond, developed the Aloha Ke Akua Wedding Chapel and helped numerous charitable organizations raise nearly $450,000 ...
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RANDOM NOTES: Kit Samson, the Ala Moana Hotel Mahina Lounge keyboarder, got a nice note from fellow pianist Roger Williams (of "Autumn Leaves" fame) regarding Samson's recent CD, "Somewhere in Time." "Nobody plays that single-note melody like you do. When I listen, I think it's me — with certain improvements you've grown in," Williams wrote Samson. Now, that's a keeper. Samson has been trekking to and from San Francisco lately, tending to his ailing mom, and will provide music for listening and dancing at the annual 'Ilima Awards Oct. 8 at Diamond Head Theatre ...
"Al Waterson and You," the karaoke attraction Fridays and Saturdays at Fisherman's Wharf, has been attracting guest talent galore. Members of Kai paused and performed; ditto, Forte and DisGuyz. Plus Johnny Fernandez, Glenn Miyashiro, Jonathan Kaina and John Salvatera of the Society of Seven Las Vegas, who sang individually. In the audience: boxer Brian Viloria; also, 13-year-old singing sensation Tani Lynn Fujimoto ...
Kaipo Hale, a sometimes performer who teaches at Kamehameha Schools, is a prolific performer. A longtime ally of performer Karen Keawehawai'i, Hale usually gives a gift of song to those near and dear to him. So when Keawehawai'i's and husband Jackie Farias' youngest daughter, Melody Farias, graduated a few weeks back from Kamehameha, Hale composed a mele inoa (name song) for Melody, entitled "Kaleolani" (her middle name), and premiered it by singing it for her at her graduation party at the Pacific Beach Hotel. Tears welled in her eyes, in a show of gratitude. And guess what: Melody publicly performed on guitar, a recent hobby ...
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HERE 'N' THERE: Steven Schirripa is visiting — at Po'ipu, Kaua'i. He used to be a host at Nicholas Nickolas and now plays Bobby Baccalieri on HBO's award-winning "The Sopranos" ...
Kaina was named Universal ShowQueen last Saturday night at a packed Pacific Ballroom at the 'Ilikai Hotel. Runners-up included Kara, Barbie Q and Leika ...
The Makaha Sons' "Makaha Sons & Friends" CD has debuted at No. 11 on Billboard's World Music Albums, moving up to No. 7 this week — and yes, they're stoked ...
Actress Electra Fair is on a European swing, reuniting with actress Susi Lolly (appearing in "The Graduate") in London, then moving on to Madrid, Bilbao, Barcelona, Cordoba, Marrakesh and back to Granada and Seville ...
And that's Show Biz ...
Wayne Harada writes Show Biz every Wednesday and Friday; phone him at 525-8067, e-mail at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax at 525-8055.
