It's a busman's holiday for Hawai'i singer home, but it's no holiday

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

Hoku gets playful at the Armani Exchange, where she sings at a private party tonight. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser Hoku Performances with dad Don Ho Showtimes: 8:15 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays (dinner seating, 7 p.m.; cocktail seating, 7:45 p.m.) through May 19 Hoku Hale Showroom, Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel $52 for dinner seating, and $32 for cocktails; kama'aina rates are $35 for dinner, $25 for cocktails 923-3981

Tonight she sings at an A|X (Armani Exchange) private party at the Ala Moana store. She is hopeful that a future alliance with the clothier will result.

She's also joining her famous dad Don Ho in his nightly serenades at the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel through May 19.

And there's more. "There's so much exciting stuff going on right now," she said, checking out A|X garb earlier this week.

"Right now, I'm mostly working on recording new songs for my next album, so I'm writing a lot. My band's been helping me on my sound, giving me great ideas.

"I just wrapped up a pilot (TV movie) for ABC, 'Nancy Drew.' It shows this summer, and if it does well, they'll create a series out it. My character's skinny and ... kind of mean to Nancy Drew, and we shot it at the USC (University of Southern California) campus."

There's an MTV reality project on hold, too, in which three unknown talents get to sing, dance, or perform a specialty act, at work or in school, with guidance and grooming from Los Angeles professionals. Hoku is host of the show, which could emerge in late summer or fall.

She dons a wedding gown tomorrow for the first time — as a cover model for World Class Wedding, a New York-based magazine here for a location shoot at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel. "Since I eloped (in 1999), I never got to wear a wedding dress — this is the first time," said Hoku.

She has been enjoying married life (calling it "fabulous, wonderful"), but Hoku said she and husband Jeremy Clements aren't planning for a family. Not yet, anyway. "I'll be 21 on June 10, and there are so many career opportunities ahead. Family can come later."