SHOW BIZ
Radio personality gets boot, but why?

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Ask Shaner point-blank, and he says, "I went on vacation and was told 'don't come back.' " That was before the holidays.

He's been looking at other potential radio addresses and has begun talks with a local TV station. In stand-up comic mode, he says, "I'll even do weather. With hula girls. And sing falsetto."

What irks Shaner most is that he was never told why he was dismissed — if he had been doing a bad job or if it was simply the economics of having two guys on air at the same time.

His colleague, Brickwood Galuteria, remains in the morning-drive slot, though he had mentioned leaving. Instead, Shaner got the unceremonial boot.

"They're honoring my contract, so I'm getting paid through November," said Shaner, who still will host the Frank B. Shaner Falsetto Festival (marking its 10th anniversary) in August or September, as part of the annual Aloha Festivals.

"I'm also selling my apartment — and looking for storage space and a place to stay," he said. If he placed one, his classified ad might read: "Former radio personality looking for cottage in back of estate; Manoa preferred; will clean yard for rent and do 10 minutes of jokes before dinner." ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Figure- skating champion Michelle Kwan dined at Sansei Kapalua the other night and, we're told, "the boys went crazy." ...

Frank DeLima is on a Neighbor Island tour this month, performing with Na Kolohe at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow and Saturday at the Naniloa Hotel in Hilo ($10 advance, $15 at the door). He returns to O'ahu for a Mother's Day brunch buffet outing with Andy Bumatai and Paul Ogata at 10:45 a.m. Sunday ($45 adults, $27 children) at the Ohana Reef Towers' Palace Showroom. Then he resumes Neighbor Island performances with shows at 8 p.m. May 14-15 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center ($20 for center members, otherwise $22), 8:30 p.m. May 22 at the Hotel Moloka'i ($10 advance, $15 at the door) and 8 p.m. May 28-29 at the Radisson Kaua'i Beach Resort ($10 advance, $15 at the door). ...

HERE 'N' THERE: Lee Cataluna's pidgin musical "You Somebody," with original songs by Keola Beamer, will be revived by the Kilauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island for eight performances Aug. 6-21. The hit show, originally produced by Diamond Head Theatre, deals with a local housewife, "Ma" Pua Lusa (originally enacted by Loretta Ables Sayre, to be played by Jackie Johnson in the revival), who so wants to have a mention in somebody's Show Biz column. (Yeah, this one.) Justina Mattos directs, Wendell Ing conducts and Jodi Kaopuiki choreographs, with auditions 6 to10 p.m. June 5 and 1 to 5 p.m. June 6 at the theater. Details: (808) 967-8222. ...

Eddie Kamae & the Sons of Hawai'i will perform at the 10th anniversary lu'au of the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, from 5:30 p.m. this Saturday at the center's A&B Amphitheater. A Sons of Hawai'i documentary also screens at 7:30 p.m. in the center's Castle Theater, where the "new" Sons (Pekelo Cosma, Ocean Kaowili and Braddah Smitty Smith) will also take the stage. The Lei of Distinction Award will be bestowed upon Tadashi Sato and Keali'i Reichel. Tickets: $35, half-price for children. Reservations: (808) 242-7469. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.