SHOW BIZ
Kumu hula Ching to bring popular show here

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Ching journeys to Japan in February to promote "Ho'oulu I Ka Na'auao," the concert he staged at Carnegie Hall, Blaisdell Center and the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. A cast of 60 dancers, techies and musicians will present the show in Japan next year. A trip to Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., is coming too. In April, Ching's halau will compete in the second of his three-year Merrie Monarch cycle. ...

HERE 'N' THERE: Ben Wong has parted company with The Bistro at Century Center. He's still doing his "Let's Go Fishing" TV show, but the popular front-of-the-house restaurant manager is angling for another restaurant slot. You probably remember him at Hy's Steak House, where he worked for nearly 25 years before moving to The Bistro. ...

Actor Ernest Borgnine knows good Italian food and gave rave reviews to Sergio's at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, much to the delight of general manager Risa Apeles, who recognized the Oscar winner. ...

Chef James McDonald's creativity, apparently, transcends the culinary realm. McDonald, who is executive chef of Lahaina's award-winning Pacific 'O and I'o restaurants, marked his recent birthday by transforming Pacific 'O's upstairs party room into the Playboy Mansion and suggested his guests come, uh, shall we say, appropriately attired? He hosted the event as — who else? — Chef Hef. As in Hugh Hefner. ...

Jewl Anguay, now based in Los Angeles to pursue a recording career after doing "The Lion King" in La-La Land, was home for a pre-Thanksgiving vacation. She took in Windward Community College's "My Fair Lady," visiting with her former director-mentor, Ron Bright, and brother-in-law Michael Bright, who was in the orchestra playing percussion under the direction of Clarke Bright, Michael's older brother. The Bright name dominated the orchestra, since Clarke's wife, Lynell, and his son, Christopher, 11, also were playing music. Jewl's sister Jana Anguay attended the show too (she was in WCC's "Fiddler on the Roof" last year), taking a breather from her role in Maui's "Ulalena" show. ...

Stuart H. Coleman's "Eddie Would Go: The Story of Eddie Aikau, Hawaiian Hero and Pioneer of Big Wave Surfing," has been acquired by St. Martin's Press for release as a paperback. Random House also will publish an international edition this spring. Could a movie deal follow? ...

TROPICAL TOPICS: Jay Larrin's Christmas concert Dec. 20 at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani hotel's Ainahau Ballroom will feature special guests; it starts at 8:30 p.m., with no-host cocktails at 7:30 p.m., followed by pupu and cocktail service. Tickets: $25. Call Alan Yamamoto at 371-2910. ...

Frank DeLima has launched his Christmas show at the Palace Showroom of the Ohana Reef Towers Hotel; more on it later. ...

Melveen Leed will host the Hawaiian Holiday of Stars Concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday (dinner from 6 p.m.) at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom. The performing roster includes Bill Kaiwa, Marlene Sai, Jimmy Borges, Auntie Genoa Keawe and Karen Keawehawai'i. The Hawaiian Cultural Preservation Council is staging the event; tickets are $65 ($150 for Gold Circle). Call 235-4958.

And that's Show Biz. ...

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.