Jasmine Trias wins over all three 'Idol' judges

Scenes from the "Idol" party: Jasmine Trias' friends watched her pre-competition interview, left, teaching the hula to fellow contestants, and performing for the audience and judges. The moment of truth comes tonight. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

"The competition is hers — she owns it," said Andrea Bucci, 18, a Maryknoll High School senior, after watching Jasmine Trias finally sing last night on Fox's "American Idol."

Bucci was one of about 180 Maryknoll 'ohana — schoolmates, faculty, family and friends —cheering on their "mystery girl" at a campus viewing party at Rogers Hall while munching on hot dogs and chips.

Anxious schoolmates were glued to a large-screen projection of the competition. Every time Trias appeared, there were howls of delight.

"She represents us very well," said Aliu Croft, 13, an eighth-grader. "I liked how she talked about culture — and I think she'll become our next idol."

When Trias, a Mililani resident, finally had her moment in the spotlight, she sang and spoke and radiated aloha big time.

Jasmine Trias' classmates cheer her on during her television appearance on last night's showing of "American Idol." From left: Melissa Lee, Charyse Iseri, Courtney Haia, Alyssa Chang, Marisa Chun and Kory Kawaguchi. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

She even did a round of instructional hula. "My mission is to bring Hawai'i to the rest of the world," she said in an interview segment.

Confidently performing Whitney Houston's "Run to You," Trias elicited cheers from the in-house TV audience. She was the only candidate who earned unanimous approval from the judges, who have been quite critical of other competitors.

Trias flashed a shaka sign several times. She wore a faux plumeria blossom over her right ear, with a matching pendant around her neck. Gold bracelets dangled on both wrists. Her pink top matched her scalloped, striped, pink-white-and-blue skirt, adorned with a blue flower just below the waist. And she was the model of an ingenue — not quite the idol she aspires to be — looking more like a girlish teen right out of the pages of YM magazine.

Randy Jackson loved her sound, saying "you do have potential," but advising her that with a better song choice (she performed her third choice, not her first), she could do even better. Despite his lukewarm recommendation, he judged her to be among the top performers of the night.

Paula Abdul thought even more of the Hawai'i girl, saying Trias put her personal stamp on the Houston song. Abdul threw Jackson a chiding look, saying: "I think she handled that very well; I think she took twists and turns and made it her own."

Simon Cowell was generous in his praise, saying: "You're good enough for me. You're gonna be one of the best tonight."

That's when the Maryknoll crowd went bonkers.

Courtney Haia, 17, a senior, said: "She gave me goose bumps; one of my friends cried (with happiness). With God's blessing, she could go (all the way)."

Trias, despite her earlier absence from the screen, has been the subject of much buzz and speculation. Last night was her first with extensive time on camera since "Idol" launched this third season's search. Hawai'i viewers, familiar with her talent, have speculated that Trias was a trump card for the show, which has seen some finalists crash and burn.

When she made the cut last fall, in an interview shown last night, Cowell questioned whether her youth — Trias was 16 at the time — might be a problem for her.

"My mission is to bring Hawai'i to the rest of the world," Jasmine Trias said. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

Trias watched last night's contest (taped Saturday) with her family in Hollywood. By phone from California, she said she was relieved that this phase of the contest was finally over.

"I'm relieved but, at the same time, happy. It went well for me," she said. "It was pretty positive. I knew I wasn't going to disappoint."

Her dad, Rudy Trias (who was seen on the show with his wife, Nora, and another daughter, Neolani, 6), said he, too, felt more relaxed, as if the hardest part was over.

"I think she did good; she was relaxed, not excited or rattled. She was poised," he said. "Now it's up to the voters."

At Dave & Buster's at the Ward Entertainment Center, about 20 of Trias' relatives were part of a crowd of 500 boosters eager to watch, root and vote for Trias. Even Jonah Moananu, 22, who was bumped off the competition last week, was raving about Trias' performance — while coming down from his own high.

"Awesome," he said, knowing the pressure involved. "She was awesome inside the room, out there with the judges ... she was able to maintain her reputation from before (during the Hawai'i tryouts) and was able to maintain it. I think she'll be among the top two."

With Trias' immediate family accompanying her in Hollywood to watch yesterday's show and learn tonight's voting results, the rest of her clan carried the banner back home.

Chad Tuban, her uncle, was part of the Dave & Buster's gathering. "I have tears of joy right now," he said. "The whole family is proud."

Sophia Soriano, Trias' first cousin, is banking on a winner. "Jasmine was relaxed and confident," she said. "We know her capabilities and she didn't disappoint."

Response to the viewing was overwhelming, said Malcolm Bell, assistant general manager of Dave & Buster's. "There were lines to enter the showroom at 4:45 p.m. and the showroom was filled by 5:30 p.m.," he said. Dave & Buster's quickly became standing-room-only in the showroom and Sunset Bar — the two viewing areas — by 6:30 p.m., with folks staying past airtime to vote via AT&T Wireless text-messaging or on their own cell phones. The crowd included about 20 Maryknoll students.

Trias' performance inspired yells and whistles at a satellite-live screening in the afternoon at Eastside Grill, where a full house of about 85 watched as she made most of her big moment. She was the fifth out of of eight to go on, in the last group of semifinalists and the fourth round of competition.

Tonight, we find out: Will she or won't she?

Next week, on a "Wild Card" show, some competitors from the previous four shows will get a second chance at the contest.

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