SHOW BIZ
Fleetwood Mac's Nicks offers 'Ulalena cast high praise

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

CELEB NOTES: Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac was so touched when she took in the " 'Ulalena" multimedia show last month on Maui that she wrote the cast an earnest note of appreciation, praising their energy and talent. She treasured her autographed copy of the show program, she said, and she hoped the cast's mana'o will be with her when she makes future stage appearances. ...

A recent Texas Roadshow Restaurants bash at the J.W. Marriott Ihilani Resort, where Willie Nelson performed, turned out to be a stargazer's fantasy. Besides the country-music great, performers included Hootie and the Blowfish, the Coasters and The Monkees featuring Davy Jones. Local performers also played at some functions, including a beachfront wedding that featured music by soprano Nina Keali'iwahamana, harpist Sharlene Lum Boulos, a lu'au with the keiki of Olana and Howard Ai's Halau Hula Olana, Three Scoops of Aloha and Kahale Richardson's dancers from Kuhai Halau O Kahalepuna Pa 'Olapa Kahiko. ...

A name from the musical past also has been in Hawai'i, without fanfare. Remember Dave Clark of the Dave Clark Five fame? Yep, he attended a function or two here. The 1960s group had such hits as "Glad All Over," "Bits and Pieces, "Because," "I Like It Like That" and "Catch Us If You Can" ...

Since you asked: Jennifer Aniston's 34th birthday party on the Bay View Beach of the Turtle Bay Resort featured fire knife dancers, pupu prepared by the hotel, a sheet of chocolate cake from Dee Lite Bakery, and lots of mai tais. An "intimate" crowd of 100 attended, including the honoree's husband, Brad Pitt, and cast members from "The Untitled John Hamburg Project" film. ...

ITEMIZATIONS: Keith and Carmen Haugen have been in much demand outside of their Royal Hawaiian Hotel gigs. They performed at Restaurant Sushi before a sold-out house at Honolulu Country Club in December and added an SRO Valentine's Day gig, so now will do two more nights there, on March 7 and 21. ...

KHON-Fox 2, the Hawai'i affiliate airing "American Idol," has provided a video camera for Jordan Segundo to aim and shoot at Los Angeles rehearsals, so the can mount a video scrapbook for sharing with TV audiences. ...

Emme Tomimbang hosted footballer Nuu Faaola at Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar the other night. The Dick Tomeys also were guests. ...

And UH Wahine coach Dave Shoji and his sons had a taco fiesta a few nights back at Compadres. ...

As soon as Jim Hamachek introduced the eggplant mozzarella sandwich at Eddies Burgers & Frozen Custard in Kaimuki, he had a notable ordering up the new menu item: weekend anchor Mahealani Richardson of KITV-4. ...

SHORTS OF SORTS: Augie Rey marked his first year last weekend at the Mai Tai Bar of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Recent admirers included KC of KC and the Sunshine Band, Steve "Doc" Kupka of Tower of Power, Little Albert Maligmat, Alfredo Romero, Melveen Leed, Glenn Pinho, Sonya Mendez, Al Waterson and Nancy Bernal, Tom Moffatt, Frank B. Shaner, Jimmy Borges, Larry McKenzie, and Lennie Sorensen. ...

Local artisans Gene Allen (an actor, too) and Rex Nockengust are off to San Francisco's Moscone Center for their first-ever S.F. Gift Show, with their Beach Glass Bingo line of jewelry. Their creations already made their way into The Contemporary Museum, Mission Houses Museum, No hea Gallery, Ihilani Resort, Lodge at Koele and the Grand Wailea. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...