SHOW BIZ
Ho honored for efforts supporting military
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor
MILITARY SALUTE: For his nightly salutes to the men and women in uniform, Don Ho earned the Chamber of Commerce of Hawai'i's Aloha Spirit Award at the 17th annual Military Appreciation Luncheon at the Hilton Hawaiian Village last week. Nightly at the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel, Ho asks military folks to stand up and be recognized for their service — while the service branch's theme songs is played.
It's a tradition started 40 years ago, long before the attacks of Sept. 11 — and now includes police and firefighters — as he presents a glass of champagne to these freedom warriors. Then again, the former Air Force pilot always has had a good rapport with the military.
Earlier in his career, his mom, Honey Ho, was a surrogate mother to many military types that frequented her Honey's tavern. Throughout the decades, Ho's shows have been frequent R&B haunts for soldiers, and he makes regular appearances on the bases here. So to Uncle Don, one big salute, too. Contrary to one of his hit songs, it is a big thing.
• • •
SIGHT 'EMS: April Masini, the film and TV booster, was among the first delinquents in the Honolulu Police Department's "Click It or Ticket" safety campaign, getting a ticket from an officer last week. She was belted, but when approaching a downtown parking garage, she unbuckled. With officers swarming and TV cameras also nearby, she became a focus of the ticketing commotion. She was embarrassed by the incident — and you betcha. She'll keep her belt on until she retrieves her keys. ...
Actress Tia Carrere, who stars in the syndicated "Relic Hunter," dined at Alan Wong's last week. She'll be heard, not seen, in Disney's summer frolic, "Lilo & Stitch," opening June 21. ...
And actor Robert Conrad really gets around; he was spotted at the Hungry Lion one morning. ...
Dunno why, but the Bruce Willis film being shot here, last called "Hostile Rescue," is back to "untitled" status. And, lest you forget, Willis will perform June 8 at the World Cafe. ...
KITV-4's Cedric Yamanaka will succeed Kim Murakawa as Gov. Ben Cayetano's press secretary. ...
Lt. Bryan Bender, executive officer of the Coast Guard cutter Kukui, is portraying Captain Smith aboard the ill-fated "Titanic," in the musical by the same name now "sinking" on the Diamond Head Theatre stage. ...
The folks at Hawaii State Ballet are plenty thrilled. One of their own, Romi Beppu, who trained for 10 years with ballet master John Landovksy here, just performed the leading role in "Madame Butterfly" with the Boston Ballet. You go, girl.
• • •
ISLAND-HOPPING: The Big Island Summer Bash 2002, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Sunday at Parker Ranch Rodeo Grounds, sounds like a wingding. A benefit for the Waimea Hawaiian charter school, Kanu O Ka 'Aina, it assembles the Makaha Sons, Robi Kahakalau, Fiji, Robert Kekaula, 'Ekolu, Namahana, Keahiwai and Kanuhaumana with Kuleana. Tickets: $18 in advance, $25 at the door. Call (808) 887-8144. ...
Specially designed evening gowns by up-and-coming New York designer Michael Majella and Maui designer Maggie Coulombe are just two of many dozens of works of art that will be on exhibit and available for sale on Maui in September. Publicist Bonnie Friedman and interior designer Persis Hataria are co-curators of the event, titled "Here's to the Heroes," set to open, appropriately, on Sept. 11 and continue through Sept. 15, at Queen Ka'ahumanu Center on Maui. The net proceeds will be split between the Maui Firefighters Association and the families of the 10 NYC firefighters lost at the World Trade Center from Engine 33, Ladder 9. See the Web site www.herestotheheroes.com ...
And that's Show Biz. ..
Correction: Honey Ho is not deceased. An item in a previous version of this column mistakenly referred to her as "the late" Honey Ho.
