Trias supporters prepare to vote

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By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Jasmine Trias, a Maryknoll High School senior from Mililani, competes tonight on Fox's "American Idol." Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser 'American Idol' Jasmine Trias competes, 7 to 8 tonight Results, 7:30 to 8 p.m tomorrow Fox, KHON-2 Trias is to appear on "Entertainment Tonight" between 6:30 and 7 on NBC, KHNL-8 Hawai'i contestants Feb. 17: Camile Velasco, 18, advanced to the final 12. Feb. 24: Jonah Moananu, 22, was eliminated. Tonight: Jasmine Trias, 17,will compete. Viewing parties Dave & Buster's, Ward Entertain-ment Complex, hosts viewings from 7 tonight at two sites. Doors open at 5. Eastside Grill hosts two satellite-live viewings today, at 4 p.m. (Midwest feed) and 5 p.m. (West Coat feed); also, 7 tonight for the regular telecast. Maryknoll holds its own viewing session from 6 to 9 tonight at the high school campus.

Back home on the Maryknoll High School campus, a mass viewing party will be held from 6 to 9 tonight. "We'll be setting up a big screen on our little stage to watch the show, and then we'll all whip out our cell phones and start dialing or text-messaging as fast as we can," said Camille Michel, a school spokeswoman. Like an Army brigade preparing for war, students, faculty, family and friends will assemble for the mass watch-and-vote.

At Dave & Buster's at Ward Entertainment Complex, several hundred fans of Trias will gather for the weekly viewing party. With her immediate family with her in Hollywood, efforts were under way to have other relatives on hand for the competition. And AT&T again will provide phones for free voting and text-messaging.

"It's kind of a Hawai'i thing, to support our local person," said William Daquioag, Trias' vocal coach who's been in the middle of the buzz as his star pupil gears up for her big prime-time moment. Daquioag runs the Performing Artist Academy in Waipahu, where Trias takes voice lessons.

"Because she's still in high school, it's so much easier to generate support," said Daquioag.

All this attention amazes Trias, last of three of Hawai'i contestants aiming for a slot on the final 12, because few viewers have seen or heard her perform. She will do her vocal and be interviewed tonight after months of invisibility.

Because of her low profile, she had been dubbed "the Maryknoll mystery girl."

"It's just overwhelming," she said by phone Thursday after arriving in Hollywood.

Maryknoll students, pre-schoolers to seniors, gathered 1,400 strong Feb. 24 to bid her good luck. About 600 high schoolers walked from their Punahou Street campus to join the grade-schoolers for a rally on the Wilder Avenue campus. This morning, a high school contingent is waving signs in front of the high school, to remind motorists about Trias' "Idol" appearance tonight.

Maryknoll also e-mailed 1,200 alumni across the Mainland to announce that one of their own became one of 32 semifinalists. Reminders to vote in respective time zones also have gone out.

"All of my students and their friends and family are going to watch and vote for her," said Daquioag. "Our 'ohana has family on the Mainland, to — so everybody's been calling and e-mailing to get the word out to vote for Jasmine."

Daquioag, also a member of the performing group the Society of Seven Las Vegas, has a dilemma. He has to be on stage at the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel at 8:30 tonight, so he can't do the dial-and-redial bit.

"It's driving me nuts," he said. "I have to be in the showroom (earlier), so I hope she's not last (to perform). I'm thinking of renting a room so I can watch the show on TV."

Trias hopes to become the second Hawai'i "Idol" finalist. So far, one of our contestants (Ha'iku's Camile Velasco, 18) has advanced to the final 12; another (Kalihi's Jonah Moananu, 22) was eliminated.

While judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell all showered Trias with glowing raves at her Honolulu auditions, "Idol" competition this season has shown that anything can happen on prime time, even to the best singers.

Trias is taking nothing for granted. And she has gathered good-luck symbols galore and widespread community wishes.

"I've got many good-luck charms," she said. "I have a Care Bear with a four-leaf clover, from a good friend, and a wish bear for me to hold on to for support. I have a religious charm from one of my aunties. And a Pegasus from my teacher, to squeeze any time I feel anxiety. Plus many little cards that say 'may the Lord be with you.' And oh, a little frog charm."

Conventional wisdom says that Islanders love to rally around their own because there's a lot of Hawai'i pride whenever someone strives and achieves. Angela Baraquio. Jordan Segundo. Michelle Wie.

The support was evident when Velasco became the first-ever Hawai'i contestant to make the final 12 in "Idol's" third season. The rally for Moananu, however, was as lukewarm as his song choice last week — he didn't survive the cut.

"I'm just going to do my best (and not worry about winning or losing)," said Trias.

And while she won't reveal what she'll sing, Trias has not forgotten what the judges have said in recent weeks about contestants who have stumbled.

"It's going to be a good experience, no matter what happens," she said. "As for the judges, I will listen, and I can handle it. If Simon (Cowell) gives me a bad comment, I will take it constructively. I will take it the right way. I will learn from it."

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

If you're voting for a semifinalist on "American Idol" tonight, here are a few helpful guidelines:

Voting time: From 7:55 to 10 tonight (a little more than two hours after showtime)

By phone: Follow on-screen cues. Call 866 number indicated for your favorite semifinalist. Number includes contestant's four-digit code (last four numbers).

By AT&T Wireless text-messaging: Select Menu, then Message, then Text-Message, then Create. Type in VOTE, then enter vote using four-digit number assigned to contestant (there is no limit on how many times you may vote).

By landlines: Patience and persistence help. If you don't get an immediate dial tone when you pick up your phone, don't hang up; wait for the dial tone to come on. The system is searching for a vacant line so you're in queue; if you hang up or press the plunger to disconnect, it will take longer to get a dial tone. If you simply hang on, your dial tone should come on shortly. (This is the most important point; it will help callers and Verizon keep lines clear.)

Busy signals: If you encounter the "all circuits are busy" recording or get the busy tone when you dial the 866 number, this means the toll-free lines are clogged and you need to try again. Remember: your call won't be connected unless you first get the dial tone.

Redial: Remember, you need the dial tone before punching the redial button; a "blank" tone means a search is on for a vacant line. Once you get the tone, you may redial.

Cost: Landline calls are free; AT&T Wireless text-messaging plans determine cost; initial calls may be free, with a minimal 10 cents per message cost thereafter.

Details: www.idolonfox.com