Show Biz
For many Maui diners, a meal at Sansei will mean less time on road

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

ISLAND HOPPING: We're just back from a weekend Maui visit, and found it's no wonder the Valley Island is the No. 1 island (favorite island destination), according to Conde Naste readers and travelers. Maui is no ka oi, too, at least from the perspective of dining. D.K. Kodama is set to open a Sansei in Kihei in January or February, replicating his original Sansei at Kapalua, which means shorter drives for most folks all over the island (unless, of course, you're staying in Kapalua) to savor the sushi and seafood. Roy Yamaguchi's Roy's Restaurant also is in Kihei, at the Piilani complex near the newest Safeway store, much closer than the one at Kahana ...

Earlier this year, a Ruth's Chris Steak House and Longhi's opened at The Shops at Wailea, and Sarento's has replaced Carelli's in Kihei ...

On an earlier trip to the Big Island, we noticed Russell Siu's touch on the menu at Kilauea Kitchen, a sister restaurant to his Kaka'ako Kitchen ...

Which brings up a question: Is it a breeze to go holoholo to a Neighbor Island? Not quite; Maui seems to present the longest check-in back-ups and delays. And frustrations. At least, that's what we've discovered on a couple of Hawaiian Airlines treks. Keoni Wagner, Hawaiian Air spokesman, says he wasn't aware if the crowd problem was unique to Maui; clearly, the situation changes, depend on time of day or even days. Tip: If you travel lightly, with hand-carry baggage (omit sharp objects), you can avoid the long queues at the main terminal check-in and check in stead at the gate ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Society of Seven members surprised one of their own, Gary Bautista, with a 50th birthday party Sunday at his in-laws' On On at McCully restaurant ...

Milan Bertosa, award-winning Mountain Apple Company engineer, was en route home on a plane, sitting next to a visitor from Chicago. A conversation emerged about a Hawaiian musician who recorded "Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World," because the gent's sister in New York was a big, big fan of this particular singer. So Bertosa, who engineered the Israel Kamakawiwo'ole biggie, naturally had the scoop on Bruddah Iz and shared details with the fellow, who now has a great tale to relay to his Iz-fan sis in the Big Apple ...

Belated congrats to Radasha Leialoha Ho'ohuli, 21, a Paradise Cove lu'au employee, who was named Miss World Hawai'i and will proceed to the Nov. 16 finals ...

Miss Hawaiian Islands, Jamie Unciano, a Leeward Community College student and a dancer in John Hironaka's "Magic of Polynesia," was the first runner-up in the Miss South Pacific contest in Apia, Samoa. Producer Jack Cione says that the event, which he produced for the past 15 years, was his last; he has resigned — to enjoy his retirement ...

Gene Hackman will play Joe Moore in the upcoming film "Heist," but no, it's not the Moore we know at KHON-2. It's the character of a thief in a Warner Bros. flick co-starring Danny DeVito, Delroy Lindo and Rebecca Pidgeon ...

SOUND OF SILENCE: Marcel Marceau's gig at the Blaisdell Concert Hall last week was mesmerizing; he's truly an original, with incredible stamina at 78 and an unending zeal for his craft. I particularly adored two pieces: "The Maskmaker," in which he donned and undonned masks of varying expressions (with hilarious results), and "Bip as a Lion Tamer," in which he communicated with invisible animals. Such a remarkable and respectable talent — say "mime," and no other name but Marceau's pops up ...

Among those taking in the ceremony at the University of Hawai'i last Friday, when Marceau was awarded an honorary Doctor of Human Letters degree, were John Wisnosky and Tom Klobe of the art department, Greg Lizenberry of the dance department and Glenn Cannon of the theatre department. In an interesting note, Jan Fried, a Kapi'olani Community College professor, "signed" the ceremony, something she often does at visiting Broadway and local theater productions ...

And that's Show Biz ...

Wayne Harada's Show Biz runs Wednesdays and Fridays; reach him at 525-8067, e-mail at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 525-8055.