Local girl in 'Idol' finals

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

VELASCO

"American Idol" is guaranteed some aloha flavor when the final 12 are announced in two weeks. How much depends on whether Jonah Moananu and Jasmine Trias are able to match Camile Velasco's fortunes over the next two weeks.

Velasco, an 18-year-old waitress at her parents' IHOP on Haiku, Maui, learned last night that her performance Tuesday drew 27.8 percent of the viewer votes, edging out fellow finalist Matthew Rogers for the top vote-getting spot by 0.8 percent. Rogers is a football player from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

The top two vote-getters from eight performers advance each week. Moananu, a part-time teacher on O'ahu, competes Tuesday, followed by Trias, a senior at Maryknoll, on March 2.

Last night was Velasco's turn to shine.

She was sobbing with joy when she found out she was a bit closer to the "Idol" title, telling host Ryan Seacrest, "I'm overwhelmed, excited," practically breathless from emotion.

She repeatedly put her palms in prayer, displaying a wristband on her left wrist with the trademark colors of Jamaica — red, yellow and green — that she had been wearing since entering the contest.

"That band is her good-luck charm, to pay tribute to Lauryn Hill," said Vonetta Kimble, 27, a cousin in Velasco's cheering section. Hill is married to Rohan Marley, son of legendary reggae superstar Bob Marley.

Velasco had been chided by judges on Tuesday's show for not doing a hip-hop song.

Instead, she performed Bryan McKnight's "One Last Cry," which she sang again last night to a round of cheers.

•	Camile hana hou Camile Velasco, the first Hawai'i entrant to make it to the "American Idol" finals last night, will appear on two syndicated TV shows today: At 2 p.m. on KHON-2, she will guest on "On Air With Ryan Seacrest." At 6:30 p.m. on KHNL-8, she will be on "Entertainment Tonight."

Velasco's mom, Rennie West, and her kid sister, Divina, 7, were the relatives in the waiting room. During Velasco's post-win reprise of "One Last Cry," West was shown weeping, while Divina mouthed the words.

The lyrics were appropriate for the moment, with the line, "I give my best to you," and Velasco displaying her unusual tone and vocal prowess for the Fox-TV audience.

Her No. 1 ranking in last night's results echoed the judges' choices. Before the finalists were named, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul both picked Velasco first, then candidate Lisa Leuwschner, the redhead singer from Watsonville, Calif.

Cowell simply named one favorite, Velasco, saying "I won't predict (a second winner) because I don't care." Thus, Rogers' victory was somewhat of an upset.

"I wish I were there with her," said her father, James West, who, with wife Rennie, owns and operates the International House of Pancakes restaurant at the Maui Mall. West remained home to oversee the family business, but headed a delegation of Maui family and friends who flew over Tuesday for a group party and viewing at Dave & Busters.

"It's awesome. Please thank everyone on Maui and Hawai'i who voted for her, because we couldn't have done it without the support and aloha," he said.

Apparently, Hawai'i voted big time, with the volume of calls clogging circuits and lines on Maui as well as parts of Honolulu. Many voters said on talk-show radio yesterday that they had encountered difficulties getting a dial tone, but some said they voted as many as 50 times by redialing.

"I got through once," said Kahea Doss, who works at Aqua Bamboo Hotel. She was watching a satellite-live telecast at Eastside Grill on University Avenue. "I thought Camile was really good; she can go far. She's making Hawai'i proud."

"It's awesome," said Mahea Montiel, who was watching and eating on her night off from Eastside Grill duties. "I tried to vote (by phone), but couldn't get through."

Shari Uyeda, who works at Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays, said, "I think she did really well — but she can do better. She's great."

"She's on a whole other level now," said dad West. "It's going to be more intense. She's got a lot to do (in the weeks ahead)."

A week ago, Fox-TV viewers voted for Diana DeGarmo, 16, from Snellville, Ga., who auditioned in Hawai'i, and Fantasia Barrino, 19, of High Point, N.C.

Velasco is scheduled to return to Maui on Saturday. She is prohibited from chatting with the media unless sanctioned by the Fox staff.

She celebrated her win by going to her grandmother's house to watch the show, staged live earlier for an East Coast feed, in the West Coast time zone.

Velasco is not apt to return to her waitressing job at IHOP too soon.

"I hired someone else already," West said. "I think Camile will be pretty busy."

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