SHOW BIZ
Tennis, family time fill actor's Big Island trip

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Lou Rawls will perform in a rare marina-side concert Oct. 29 at the Koko Marina Center's still-being-renovated Marina Courtyard. The creator of such hits as "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine," "Lady Love" and "A Natural Man" will headline a Hawai'i International Film Festival benefit. The $100 ticket includes the concert, two champagne cocktails, and a sneak peek at HIFF's fall festival, plus HIFF's opening night; a $200 ticket includes dinner at Assaggio's, two champagne cocktails, as well as the HIFF peek and opening night. Call Koko Marina at 395-4737 or HIFF at 528-3456 for details. ...

Sounds like a coup for Emme Tomimbang: An invitation-only listening party on Monday, featuring Kenny Loggins showcasing tunes from his first independent label CD, "It's About Time," will be taped at Longhi's at Ala Moana Center for inclusion in an "Emme's Island Moments" TV special (also with the Makaha Sons and Jordan Segundo) airing Sept. 17. John Browning and Emme Inc. are presenting the special Loggins preview. Tomimbang is marking 10 years of "Moments," and Loggins was there when it first happened. ...

RANDOM NOTES: Del Courtney brings his big-band sounds to the Elks Club on Sunday (4-7 p.m.), with Jimmy Borges, Shari Lynn, Gabe Baltazar, Paul Conrad and Noel Okimoto among the jammers. The popular Sunday gigs are pau at the Blue Tropix; the Elks venue is new and kind of a trial balloon. Call Courtney at 394-6222 for details. ...

Billy Van Osdol (you know him best as Billy V) recently returned from a 10-day vacation in Japan with his wife and son. The KCCN-FM disc jockey met up with InterFM 57's Vance K, on whose show Billy's "Wiki Wiki Hawai'i" airs 10 to 11 a.m. Saturdays. Billy and Vance are from the Big Island, and got to talk story with Konishiki and Musashimaru while dining at Konishiki's restaurant. Billy noted that Konishiki's Big Lau Lau was gargantuan; and it took experimentation to get the flavors right. At Tokyo's MX Television, Billy's wife, Sadako, and her halau (Halau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniakea — kumu hula is Kapua Dalire) performed during a three-hour hula special; they met Cha Thompson there, whose Tihati Productions dancers also were participating. ...

The aforementioned Cha Thompson dined at Chai's Island Bistro, where Robert Cazimero was performing, before her Japan trek. Of course, she got up and did a hula — to "Po La'i La'i" — and daughter Misty also danced. ...

ITEMIZATIONS: Maunalua holds a CD release party for its "Kuleana" album, 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Gordon Biersch. ...

And John Kolivas' Honolulu Jazz Quartet launches its "Sounds of the City" CD at 7 p.m. Sunday at Kapono's. ...

The French Laundry, a California four-star restaurant, has a six-month waiting list for reservations. But if you want to sample its food, consider a Sunset Grill event Sept. 15, when French Laundry's chef de cuisine Eric Ziebold prepares a five-course menu at $100 per person. Ziebold is coming here because his childhood friend, Robyn Renz, works for Sunset Grill owner Fred Livingston. Call general manager Stu Schroeder at 521-4409. ...

When Diamond Head Theatre premieres "Ragtime"on Sept. 26, Jerold E. Solomon will portray Coalhouse and Crystal Williams will be Sarah. Like Mary Gutzi, who is portraying Emma Goldman and doubling as director, they toured in the Tony-Award-winning show. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

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