MEMORY LANE: Jack Cione, who has written and is directing Randy Smith in a Frank Sinatra tribute show, "An Evening With the Music of Sinatra," premiering at 7:45 tonight at the Esprit nightclub in the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, recalls visits here by Ol' Blue Eyes in the mid-1960s, when Sinatra and his entourage hung out at the old Forbidden City, which Cione used to operate.

"The lounge at Forbidden City featured Screamin' Jay Hawkins and the Soul Sisters on one of Sinatra's visits; he hated soul and rock music but did love one of the soul sisters, who had a Sarah Vaughan-type of signing style. That soon became his favorite hangout," said Cione.

Sinatra regularly invited Cione to Las Vegas during the heyday of the Rat Pack during his run at the Sands Hotel. "Once in Vegas, I tried to send a note to Sinatra, since he was always protected by gofers. I bought a bottle of Jack Daniels and, while sitting in the showroom, I wrote a note and sent the Jack Daniels and the note up on stage," said Cione. "Sinatra read the note on stage and called out to me. I stood up and he said, 'Come on down here where the party is,' and he introduced me to Pearl Bailey, who was sitting ringside. Pearl later worked for me at my Dunes club in 1969. "

HERE 'N' THERE: Pomai and Loeka Longakit, the singing duo from Hilo, are known as 2 Hawaii in Germany and throughout Europe, where they've been frequenting the teen magazines ("Elle," "Top of Pops") and newspapers. A music video, "Come, A'ama Crab," has become hugely popular, with the tune topping the German charts. ...

Derek Nakamoto, former member of Liz Damon's Orient Express, still is active in the music biz, albeit from behind the scenes in Los Angeles. He just co-produced a new O'Jays recording for MCA, a memorable task inasmuch as "I remember growing up playing all those songs in my band at the local school dances." ...

John Kolivas, who toured Japan last week with Keola Beamer, expects his "Remembrance" tribute song, recorded with his Honolulu Jazz Quartet and featuring vocalist Anita Hall, to be in stores next week. He'll perform the song in a HJQ concert at 8 p.m. Nov. 21 at Studio 6 of the Musicians Union building ...

And that's Show Biz ...