SHOW BIZ

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

YULE LOG: It's really getting to look — and sound — like Christmas. Jay Larrin's yuletide serenade, at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at the Ainahau Ballroom of the Sheraton Princess Kai'ulani Hotel, will have two special guests — Karen Keawehawai'i (fresh from her joyful and triumphant Jim Nabors appearance two weekends ago at the Hawai'i Theatre) and Maunalua. No-host cocktails start at 7:30 p.m., seating and no-host pupu and cocktail service starts at 8 p.m. Tickets: $25. Call 371-2910. ...

"Emme's Island Moments," which aired last night and repeats at 3 p.m. Christmas Day on KGMB-9, spotlights The Makaha Sons, who give their own holiday show at 9 p.m. Saturday and noontime Sunday at the Renaissance 'Ilikai's Pacific Ballroom. Emme Tomimbang and her camera crews filmed Louis "Moon" Kauakahi, John Koko and Jerome Koko at Kawai'ahao Church and at Honolulu Hale. Kind of the meeting of giants — popular vocal ensemble, popular church, popular yuletide tradition. Keali'i Reichel, Teresa Bright, Auntie Genoa Keawe, Hapa and the Hawai'i Youth Symphony also appear. ...

Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom's and Willie K's concerts last Saturday and Sunday at the Hawai'i Theatre were mostly Hawaiian, but with a Christmas wind-up. Clearly, they belong together; the show offered three acts in one: Gilliom alone, Willie alone and the duo together for nearly three hours. On selected titles, Gilliom tapped Jackie Booth for hula; Willie went operatic once. Gilliom saved "Ave Maria" for a hana hou; his was "O Holy Night." Clearly, his battles with gout affected his pace a bit; he showed pain in his gait. The standing ovations were justified. ...

The Honolulu Symphony's Christmas pops concerts, Friday through Sunday at Blaisdell Concert Hall, had a lethargic feel. You knew it wasn't going to be your typical Brothers Cazimero outing when Robert and Roland walked out on stage sans lei, wearing shoes; and that white cube platform for Roland was absent. It was an efficient but spartan performance, with a few impromptu moments, devoid of glitter and merriment of Christmas shows past. Na Leo Pilimehana's Nalani Choy, Lehua Kalima Heine and Angela Morales fared slightly better, with maestro Matt Catingub chiming in on vocals, but perhaps surprisingly, the oomph came from unexpected quarters — the Honolulu Symphony Chorus, conducted by Karen Kennedy. Methinks the orchestra needs to reconsider what it wants to do to celebrate the season; and get a producer to put a fresh spin on a wearying formula. ...

HERE 'N' THERE: The capture of Saddam Hussein — and his widely published and televised mugshot — already has comedian Andy Bumatai's mind churning. "Looks like Santa on ice," he said. Bumatai and Paul Ogata team up for a 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday gig starting tomorrow at the Palace Showroom of the Ohana Reef Towers Hotel (home base for Frank DeLima). ...

Barry Flanagan of Hapa reports that "Hana Aluna Lullaby," which he co-composed with Kenny

Loggins from the 1999 Grammy-nominated "More Songs From Pooh Corner" CD, has been licensed by the Yamaha Corp. as a play-along download built into its new children's pianos. Hapa (Flanagan and Nathan Aweau) will appear on Loggins' New Year's Eve gig (along with Loretta Ables Sayre) at the Hilton Hawaiian Village's Coral Ballroom. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Wayne Harada's Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach him at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.