SHOW BIZ
Pat Morita says writing memoir is a chore
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor
WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Pat Morita, the actor-comedian who used to call Hawai'i home but now lives in Las Vegas, says he's trying to write his memoirs.
"I was talking to Arnold Hiura (a partner in Mo'ili'ili Blind Fish Tank and a booster of written and oral histories relating to Hawai'i) and he told me I should get my story written," said Morita, aka Mr. Miyagi-san of those "Karate Kid" movie installments. "But it takes so much discipline." Indeed ...
Actor-teacher Richard MacPherson tied the knot with Anne Marie, last seen in Army Community Theatre's "Oliver!" musical, Sunday in a private ceremony on Kaua'i.
A few days earlier, the musical's cast dressed up like wedding attendants, with kids playing ring bearers and flower girls, in something of a "surprise" salute. The newlyweds plan to honeymoon in New York beginning later this month before setting up operations for the Kailua Playhouse this fall ...
Branscombe Richmond, the former Honolulan who is both a motorcyclist and an actor (currently in "The Scorpion King" with The Rock), has been inducted into the Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame. The formal ceremony will be Aug. 7 in Sturgis, S.D.
• • •
NAMES 'N' PLACES: Former island actress Andee Gibb will portray Mammy Yokum in "Li'l Abner," a dinner-theater musical, opening in Las Vegas in July ...
And yet another Islander, Noelle Naone, has a role in "Storm," the extravaganza at the Mandalay Bay resort in Las Vegas. Naone is a former 24/7 DanceForce teacher and a Kamehameha graduate ...
Alexandra Diamond, daughter of Steve and Suzanne Diamond of Carmel and San Francisco (previously of Honolulu), will tie the knot in June 2003, and the bride-to-be has selected Carmel Mission Ranch, Clint Eastwood's domain, as the site of the nuptials.
The family was dining in a restaurant when the actor — who will receive the Silversword Award at the Maui Film Festival June 12-16 — walked in. Alexandra, of course, shared the news with Eastwood, who quipped as he shook her hand: "Another pretty girl bites the dust." ...
Dale Hope, author of "The Aloha Shirt: Spirit of the Islands," will autograph copies of his "Aloha Dad!" book from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 14 at Kahala Mall. Also, if you have an aloha shirt you can spare, bring it to this event; they'll be donated to Goodwill Industries ...
Trey Wyatt, a member of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, has won the full-time percussionist position with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. The San Francisco orchestra is considered to be one of the nation's Big Five, so it's quite a coup for him.
• • •
ABOUT PEOPLE: Things I didn't know ...
That Na Hoku Hanohano Award winners Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom (Female Vocalist of the Year) and Ernie Cruz Jr. (Male Vocalist of the Year) are cousins.
Even they didn't know; the discovery was made at a family reunion on Moloka'i, when one asked the other, "What are you doing here?" ...
That Kevin Kashiwai, a member of the duo Pali, is a golf pro at the Ala Wai ...
That Robb Shibayama, of the Acoustic Soul twosome, is called Dr. Robb, referring to his ties with Sam's Club Optical ...
And that's Show Biz ...
Wayne Harada, on vacation, wrote this column before his departure; e-mail him at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, phone 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.
