SHOW BIZ
Marc Anthony tunes impress at Sony banquet
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor
THE PARTY LINE: Singer Marc Anthony wowed 'em when he performed at a private Sony Open dinner last week at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, which was attended by golfers galore plus Sony execs from Japan and Hawai'i. He performed one tune for his wife, Dayanara Torres, which was a romantic moment. And national and local celebs were in the audience, including Kevin James, Tom Arnold, Adam Sandler, Pauline Wilson, Emme Tomimbang, June Jones, Evan Dobelle and Chris Lee. Three former governors (George Ariyoshi, John Waihee and Ben Cayetano) and Gov. Linda Lingle also were in the room, and it wasn't for politics. ...
Anthony also delighted the Salsa in Paradise crowd last week at Rumours. ...
Looked like the 19th hole at Roy's in Hawai'i Kai, where golfers such as Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Paul Azinger, Retief Goosen, Frank Lickliter II, Loren Roberts and Jeff Maggert were hanging out. ...
Raiatea Helm was a huge hit when she guested with the Makaha Sons in their Hana Hou concert last Friday at the Hawai'i Theatre. Her "Alika," in which she holds those falsetto tones seemingly forever, was extraordinary; at 14, she truly is an ascending star. John Koko must've been pleased, too, to have son Kapua dance on "Rocking Chair Hula," particularly because the Kamehameha graduate is back from a military stint in Afghanistan. And Jerome Koko continued his write-on-the-spot "Golf Song," something he started last year. ...
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ITEMIZATIONS: Hoku Ho joined dad Don Ho at the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel Tuesday night, and will be on stage again tonight and Sunday. Despite the death of family matriarch Honey Ho Jan. 15, the show goes on. The Ho 'ohana is gathering from all corners of the world for the funeral from 5 to 9 p.m. tomorrow (the service starts at 7 p.m.) at Hawaiian Memorial Park in Kane'ohe. A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday. ...
Talk about a sumotori appetite: Kensuke Sasaki of the New Japan Wrestling Federation had a 48-ounce double porterhouse steak and half of another (24 oz.) when he dined recently at Morton's. Most folks split one, and even then it's more food than most can wrestle with. ...
"Al Waterson and You," marking its 11th anniversary, will close tomorrow night at Fisherman's Wharf. An earlier mention mistakenly gave another date. Karaoke buffs may take the mike between 8 p.m. and midnight — and await word as to when or where the format reappears in a new location. ...
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WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Branscombe Richmond, an actor from Hawai'i who also is a motorcycle enthusiast, will be inducted into the National Motorcycle Hall of Fame March 5 at the Indigo Lakes Golf Club in Daytona Beach, Fla. He will be feted for his leadership and his passion for cycling and service, beyond his acting accomplishments. ...
Puchi Romig, Trish O'Neill and Anne Swanson are at the helm of "Now & Zen," Hawai'i Theatre's benefit May 2 at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hawaii. The East-meets-West theme is appropriate, particularly because magazines such as Good Housekeeping say "Everything Zen is in again." ...
And have you seen the Hawai'i Theatre's TV pitches that feature Robert Cazimero heralding the cultural significance of the facility? An ongoing fund drive means that in the not-too-distant future, money should be available to finish refurbishing the theater's exterior. ...
Lotsa interest, apparently, in vintage island music and cinema. When Steven Fredrick presented his "Hawai'i's Big Band Orchestras" recent program at the Kailua Public Library, Sandy Akana, branch manager, said it was the largest turnout yet for a community program, with 103 jamming the facility for a look-see. ...
And that's Show Biz ...
Reach Wayne Harada by e-mail at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, phone 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.
