Show Biz
Skater sends memento to singer Cypriano

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

FLUTTERING BY: Skater Kristi Yamaguchi's parents took in Nohelani Cypriano's dinner show aboard the Navatek recently, surprising Cypriano with a gift from Yamaguchi, a one-of-a-kind sequined butterfly head clip made by skater Tai Babilonia; the gift, according to Kristi's mom Carole Yamaguchi, was in memory of Cypriano's late mother, Leina'ala Simerson, who adopted the butterfly as her sign, "so that she's always around me," said the singer. Cypriano has formed a new record label, Pulelehua, which is Hawaiian for butterfly. A CD, "Mother I Miss You," is due before the end of the month ...

TALK ABOUT PEOPLE: Wayne Newton joked about last Friday's TGIF cover caricature ("the artist must have been confused," he said of graphics designer Nick Gervais' work), flashing the section on stage in the midst of his Sheraton Waikiki Hotel benefit for the Waikiki Community Center. But he asked for a copy of the cover and story for framing. Before the show, he reminisced about old times with Jean Ariyoshi, Tom Moffatt and Jack Cione at an invitation-only cocktail party, and his band and back-up singers showed up to jam with Tino and the Rhythm Klub at the Esprit lounge afterward ...

Pocho Shootout 2001, Frank DeLima's fund-raising golf tournament to benefit the Frank DeLima Student Enrichment Program (in which he visits schools to encourage students), will be held from 10:30 a.m. (check-ins) tomorrow at the Olomana Golf Links, with the tourney starting at noon. Cost is $350 per team, or $125 per person; call Loke Sala at 926-5609 for details ...

So who do you think was the hit among the backstage crew at the David Copperfield show during its last weekend at Blaisdell Concert Hall? Not Kawika, but Jim Nabors. Copperfield's crew posed for pictures and requested autographs of Nabors. Golleee ...

Mark McEwen, the weather guy on the CBS Early Show, was spotted near Dig Me beach having dinner at Leilani's on the Beach on Maui. No doubt enjoying the balmy clime, along with the Hawaiian hospitality ...

RANDOM NOTES: Playwright Robert Rath, a Castle High School junior, earlier was a winner in the 2000 National Playwrighting Competition, and his "Love in a Demilitarized Zone" has just been tapped as a finalist in this year's competition. Rath's "Badgers at Nine O'Clock" will be staged by Honolulu Theatre for Youth this year as part of Theatrefest ...

Olomana and Kapena will perform at a Kama'aina Lu'au, from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. It's part of the Aloha Festivals but also a formal launching on the Hilton's new Kalia tower ...

Junior Maile's CD release party at Gordon Biersch attracted a host of names: Kapena, Justin, Toa, Norm Thomson, and surprise guests Kalapana, who performed as a favor to Michael Paulo, a sometimes Kalapana regular who produced Maile's CD. Attendees included producer.æThe audience included newlyweds Jill Kuramoto of KITV and spouse David Randall (who didn't mind being called "Mr. Kuramoto"), Charly Espina, Les Enderton and girlfriend Sherrie Strausfogel, Les and Sandy Honda and Kristin McEntee. Junior's dad, Maati Maile, flew in from Utah to catch the show ...

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.