Jasmine makes cut for final 12 on 'Idol'

• Jonah won't be in 'wild card' show

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

In a squeaker of a finish, Hawai'i's Jasmine Trias advanced to the final 12 of Fox-TV's "American Idol" last night.

That means Hawai'i will have two contestants when the "Idol" countdown begins on March 16; Trias, a 17-year-old Maryknoll High School senior, joins Camile Velasco, 18, a Ha'iku, Maui, waitress, who won a spot two weeks ago. "Wild card" contestants compete next Tuesday.

"I'm so happy," Trias said from her Hollywood hotel room last night. "I think everybody did so well in this group. I'm thrilled America loved me. I'm coming home Friday night, and song selection will be one of the things I'll work on."

Simon Cowell was the lone judge to correctly predict last night's results. Cowell, and fellow judges Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul were unanimous in naming Trias as a finalist, but only Cowell named John Stevens, a crooner in the style of the Dean Martin of the Rat Pack, as a finalist. Stevens was a surprise winner, who pulled 28 percent of the votes, according to host Ryan Seacrest.

Trias ultimately squeaked by George Huff, a last-minute replacement contestant, as the second-highest vote-getter.

In the competition broadcast Tuesday night, Trias performed the Whitney Houston ballad, "Run to You."

On last night's show, as she was hoping to hear her name, Trias — clad in a pink blouse and jeans, her plumeria blossom over her right ear — closed her eyes on camera. "I was thinking, 'Oh my God, if it's not going to happen to me, I should be confident that I might be a wild card.' I'd win either way," she said.

When her name was announced, she said in a choked voice: "I'm overwhelmed. I'm so grateful. So thankful." She put her hands in a prayer mode, whispering, "Thank you."

Last week was a long and stressful one, Trias said, and awaiting her appearance Tuesday night "was the longest 30 minutes of my life."

Raquel Hironaka and her 17-year-old daughter, Trisha, were watching "Idol" in a live satellite at Eastside Grill yesterday and quickly called the Trias clan to offer congratulations. "I'm her mom's cousin," Hironaka said. "She looked real relaxed and having a good time. But I thought she would lead the vote."

Betsey Gunderson, Maryknoll principal, was thrilled with Trias' achievement. "She represents us so well," Gunderson said. "We are so proud of her and what she has accomplished so far to follow her dream."

Tuesday's phone tally reached the 1.3 million-call level, said Ann Nishida, media relations manager for Verizon Hawai'i. That number does not include AT&T Wireless calls and text messaging and the figure reflects calls transferred but not necessarily connected. Still, the total reflected a 10 percent increase in call volume over normal Tuesday night levels between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.

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

Jonah won't be in 'wild card' show

Hawai'i's third "American Idol," Jonah Moananu, 22, did not make a "wild card" spot on next Tuesday's show.

Twelve contestants from the past four weeks of competition earned a wild-card spot: Matt Metzger, Jennifer Hudson, Marque Lynch, Katie Webber, Lisa Leuschner, Leah LaBelle, Jon Peter Lewis, Eric Yoder, Elizabeth LeTendre, Susie Vulaca, Tiara Purifoy and George Huff.

Four of those will join the following to make up the final 12 :

• From last night: John Stevens and Jasmine Trias.
• From last week: Latoya London and Amy Adams.
• From Feb. 17: Camile Velasco and Matthew Rogers.
• From Feb. 10: Fantasia Barrino and Diana DeGarmo.