SHOW BIZ
Auntie Genoa gives Valentine's Day diners chicken skin

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

HEART STOPPERS: It was a chicken-skin moment when Moloka'i's reigning falsetto, Raiatea Helm, sang "Alika" at KINE-FM's Aloha Luncheon Valentine's Day at the Royal Hawaiian's Monarch Room. "Auntie Genoa Keawe was there; she just had finished her Hawaiian plate, and Raiatea invited her to join in on 'Alika,' " co-host Frank B. Shaner said about the Keawe signature song. "I brought the mike to her, and while seated, Auntie started singing — after eating — and she held her famous note for a month," said the duly impressed deejay. "We were all shocked; it was a moment of chicken skin and tears." Other guests included Jerry Santos, Danny Couch, Imaikalani Young and students from Punana Leo. ...

Shaner's annual Aloha Festivals Falsetto Contest is accepting applications; it will be held July 5, with particulars available at alohafestivals.com. ...

Pat Benatar, the rock singer, had a quiet Valentine's Day dinner at I'o Restaurant in Lahaina, enjoying the serenity of a corner booth. ...

NAME-DROPPING: Comedian Paul Ogata won't be at the Laugh Factory here tomorrow — but he will be at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood. Jamie Masada, owner of the Hollywood club, came to visit his latest franchise at the Queen Kapi'olani Hotel and must have liked what he heard — he invited the deejay-standup to do a couple of shows at the Sunset Strip club. ...

The Laugh Factory here finally has a slate of coming attractions, making it easier to plan ahead. Opening tonight through Feb. 26: Frances Dilorinzo and Edwin San Juan. There's no show Feb. 26, but taking the stage Feb. 27 through March 6, Jimmy Brogan and San Juan. Others on tap: March 6-16, Jason Stuart; March 17-23, Don Gavin and George Ham; and March 24-30, Mario Joiner. ...

Several "You Somebody" cast members from Diamond Head Theatre's summer hit are ready for more audience applause in Army Community Theatre's "Godspell," premiering Feb. 27 at Richardson Theatre, Fort Shafter. Daren Kimura, U'ilani Kapuaakuni and Elitei Tatafu are in the cast. Kimura also will be musical conductor for ACT's upcoming "Music Man." ...

It was almost like a Kahala Hilton night, when Danny Kaleikini stopped by the Sheraton Moana Surfrider's Ship's Tavern lounge last Friday, where Kit Samson was on keyboards, with Connie Kissinger on vocals. In the old days, Kaleikini was in the Kahala's Hala Terrace and Samson's Sound Advice, featuring Kissinger, was in the Maile Lounge. Anyway, Kaleikini offered a few tunes. Miles Jackson has been sitting in on bass, providing a fuller sound. Watch for George Street (Gail Mack, Steven Min, Gordon Kim) performing tomorrow at the Ship's Tavern, and Saturday (from 7:30 p.m.) at 3660 on the Rise, with pupu and dessert options available. ...

THE PARTY LINE: Magician John Hirokawa has invited the entire cast of the "Mardi Gras" show — "135 of us," said director Jack Cione — to the "Magic of Polynesia" at the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel tomorrow night. The Las Vegas-style musical review, produced by the Pearl Harbor Performing Arts Association, opens Feb. 28 at The Banyans at Pearl Harbor. A ticket is a must to clear security. The word is that Randy Smith, the Frank Sinatra-style crooner, headlines an "Easter Parade" segment complete with bonnets and a parade of Mother Goose and tap-dancing eggs, with costumes by Bill Doherty. ...

Buddy Fo and wife Sammi perform from 6 to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at the Punalu'u Restaurant (formerly Pat's at Punalu'u), and folks who make the drive over, or those who live in the environs, have been raving about the laid-back countrified pleasures that abound. As Kona Hahn (who spends some time with her husband at their Ka'a'awa condo) says, "reminiscent of the '60s at Honey's in Kane'ohe." ...

FILM CLIPS: Josh Hartnett, whose movie credits include the Hawai'i-filmed "Pearl Harbor" and "Black Hawk Down," appears to be the leading candidate to fill in Superman's tights with Brett Ratner directing. Frequent Maui visitor Anthony Hopkins already is aboard. ...

And after repeated delays, the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "The Phantom of the Opera" has received the final OK, under Joel Schumacher's direction. The success of "Chicago" surely must be one reason this musical's finally taking flight. ...

And that's Show Biz ...

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