Show Biz
Costco's yeeeee-ha lady back from Waipi'o stint
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor
YEE-HA! Auntie Ella Makio, known to legions of Costco shoppers as the "Yee-Ha" product demo lady, is back at the Hawai'i Kai store, after a period at the Waipi'o store. "I'm home," she cooed the other day, barely a week back and already renewing acquaintances and enjoying her celebrity with folks who missed her. "I'm so happy to be back among my friends," she said, also appreciating the closer commute (she lives in Kaimuki). One change: Her vestful of souvenir pins, given to her by shoppers and fans, is gone (a matter of house rules regarding dress). But her unmistakable "Makes you wanna go yeeeee-ha!" can be heard from aisles away ...
DATES TO CIRCLE: Gail Mack, the voice of George Street (and Heartstrings), leaves shortly for Alaska, where she annually spends summer. She says George Street is doing another gig May 18 at 3660 on the Rise and that Heartstrings will have to change its name 'cause it's already taken ...
And Kelvin Ro, the culinary whiz at Kapi'olani Community College, said that the postponed KCC culinary fund-raiser, "Ho'okipa," has been rescheduled for Oct. 5, for those who want to plan ahead. You recall, the UH strike forced the postponement ...
Wonder why Destiny's Child has a split-day schedule (Sept. 21 and 23) at Blaisdell Arena? The hall had a previously booked event for Sept. 22, and the group was OK with working around it ...
HERE 'N' THERE: Craig Schulman, the Broadway star, is at the Halekulani Hotel, enjoying R&B before his pair of Honolulu Symphony pops concerts Friday and Saturday at Blaisdell Concert Hall. The whole family's here — wife Monica, sons Matthew and Eric and daughter Maya. They dined at Auntie Pasto's in Kapahulu, took in the "Paradise Cove" lu'au, and will journey next week to the Grand Wailea on Maui ...
Paul Theroux, the prolific Island-based author, was in front of the CBS News cameras last week, for a segment tentatively set to air either May 20 or 27. He did interviews at his Pupukea home and at the Halekulani Hotel, talking about his current book, "Hotel Honolulu." Theroux, who also spends time in Cape Cod, has had a string of best-sellers, including "The Great Railway Bazaar," "Pillars of Hercules," "Fresh Air Friend" and "The Happy Isles of Oceania" ...
SHOW BITS: Jake Shimabukuro had a busy weekend, not only for his own career, but as a guest on two Hawai'i Theatre concerts. Friday night, he brought along Lopaka Colon, his buddy from Colon, to join the gang on "The Pepsi Tiny CD Concert," hosted by indefatigable Tiny Tadani, and on Saturday, he literally did cartwheels (he also played his 'uke, as soloist and accompanist), in "Let's Go to the Movies," the Jamarama Jammers' production steered by Matthew Pedersen.
Interestingly, the shows — while very different — had common ground: Both featured homegrown talent, provided performers a chance to bask in the limelight, reassured viewers that Hawai'i has a groundswell of performing desire and conclusively proved that arts have a place in everyone's heart . . .
And that's Show Biz . . .
Wayne Harada's Show Biz appears Wednesdays and Fridays; phone him at 525-8067, e-mail at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax at 525-8055.
