Scores of volunteers hailed for selfless work
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor
Washington Place award ceremony does the honors
HONORABLE MENTIONS: James Grant Benton will emcee the Governor's O'ahu Kilohana Award ceremony today at Washington Place. About 80 volunteers will be recognized for their tireless efforts to improve the lives of others in the community.
"After reviewing the descriptions of the volunteers' accomplishments, I figured that if I read everything that these folks have done, we're going to be there for three days," said Benton, a founding member of the Booga Booga comedy group. Lately,
he has been tending to literary pursuits, reading excerpts from Lois Ann Yamanaka's latest tome for an SRO crowd last week at the Mo'ili'ili Blind Fish Tank ...
The one-two-three-four punch behind "Hawai'i Stars" - that would be on-camera hosts
Carole Kai and Kimo Kahoano and behind-the-scenes boosters Dirk Fukushima and Mike McCartney - will be honored with Ala Moana Center's Budding Star Award tonight at the last taping on Ala Moana's Centerstage of the karaoke contest show they created. "Stars" winds up an eight-year run on KHON Fox 2 (the last airing is April 1) and the award recognizes the four's dedication in launching many a career ...
Nanakuli High School's 10th annual song contest honored the hometown sons, the Makaha Sons, with entrants performing music recorded by Louis "Moon" Kauakahi, Jerome Koko and John Koko.
Freshmen performed "Kumulipo/E Pua Ana Ka Makani,' sophs chose "Nohili E," juniors adopted "Ke Alaula" and seniors selected "Hopoe."
The frosh won the spirit award and the Hawaiian language award; the sophomores took the competition prize and the song leader award. Judges included entertainers Robi Kahakalau and Sean Na'auao ...
HERE 'N' THERE: On her last night here, Marian Morrison, the dancer-choreographer recruiting talent for Disneyland and Disney World shows, joined family members for a party at Iva's Place, the Hawaiian food emporium owned by ex-entertainer Iva Kinimaka. Kinimaka was on duty that night, and Morrison, who was Marian Jay in her performance heyday here, had a reunion - they were troupers in the Waikiki of the 1960s and '70s. Morrison coaxed Kinimaka to haul out his guitar and he serenaded Grandpa Alfred Kudo with "Kaimanahila" as well as sharing his signature composition, "He Aloha Mele" ...
Linda Fernandez is back from overseeing the launching of E.K. Fernandez's new carnival in Taiwan. She joined pals Indru and Gulab Watumull for dinner at Ruth's Chris Steak House the other night. Since husband Kane's death in January, Linda has been getting much-appreciated help from children Shelley, Scott and Sydney, now all part of the family business ...
Lu Jeffries is the fiddler in "Spirit of the Dance - the New Millennium," the Irish sizzler playing through Sunday at the Hawai'i Theatre. Her crowd rapport is terrific ...
Local boy Tim Engle, son of Claire and Ray Engle, worked on the Academy Award-nominated "Seraglio," a contender in the Best Live Action Short. Natch, the Engles will be watching that Oscar category very closely on March 25 ...
And that's Show Biz ...
Wayne Harada writes Show Biz every Wednesday and Friday; reach him at 525-8067, e-mail at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax at 525-8055.
