Posted on: Tuesday, November 23, 2004

SHOW BIZ
Yule special marks 10th year

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

THE YULE LOG: "Emme's Christmas Island Moments," that TV magazine show hosted by Emme Tomimbang, will mark its 10th anniversary with a holiday concert at 7:45 p.m. Dec. 8, originating from the Tapa Ballroom of the Hilton Hawaiian Village. A star-studded roster of local faves will perform, including Willie K, The Makaha Sons, Hapa, Melveen Leed and Jordan Segundo, all of whom have had previous "Moments" to remember with Tomimbang. A host of hosts will also prevail, including Kimo Kahoano, Brickwood Galuteria, Harry Soria Jr. and Al Waterson. Further, foodmeisters Alan Wong, Roy Yamaguchi, Sam Choy and Russell Siu are preparing heavy pupu for pre-concert VIPs. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; the performance will be videotaped for Emme's milestone special, airing 9 p.m. Dec. 15 (repeating at 4 p.m. Christmas Day) on KHON-2. Tickets are $100, $50 and $35, with part of the proceeds going to the Institute for Human Services and the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse & Legal Hotline. Call 545-2820. ...

The Makaha Sons will present their yuletide treat, "A Magical Christmas with The Makaha Sons," at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Pacific Ballroom of the Renaissance Ilikai Hotel (doors open at 5; dinner at 5:30). Louis "Moon" Kauakahi, John Koko and Jerome Koko welcome Natalie Kamauu, Raiatea Helm, Robi Kahakalau, Pili'oha and Chinky Mahoe's Halau Hula O Kawaili'ula. Augie T. will emcee. Tickets: $55 for adults, $17.50 for children 5-10; $100 Gold Circle tickets also are available. Call 944-6372. ...

HOLIDAZE: Singer-composer-pianist Jay Larrin is pegged to do a Christmas Eve show at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel; details are forthcoming, but you Larrin loyalists should mark your calendars. ...

Larrin is bubbling with joy after a Vancouver, British Columbia, "residency" (he was there since August), where he wrote poetry and lived like a Canadian, enjoying the weather ("like Waimea all the time") and the user-friendly cultural scene. You do know, of course, that's he's become a poet (not yet published), building quite a catalog of work. He met Canadian poet Kyle Christensson and urged him to come explore Hawai'i (he did); Christensson soon will be publishing a collection through his Island-inspired company, Honey Boy Publishing. Larrin adored the wealth of poetry-reading sessions in Vancouver and is hoping to get something similar launched here. ...

On his flight home on Aloha, Larrin met Eileen Lota (former city clerk) on board, and obliged the flight attendants who coaxed him to write (four copies!) his "The Snows of Mauna Kea" lyrics on napkins; "in exchange, I got flight pins," said Larrin. ...

BITS 'N' PIECES: Da Tita, Melveen Leed, will be having a CD release concert at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Waianae Army Recreation Center. Among those on the bill: Auntie Genoa Keawe, Bill Ka'iwa, Auntie Violet Alfapada, Chinky Mahoe and his halau, Liberty Belle (a group of former Miss Hawai'i winners) and Richard Wells.

Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona also is expected to say a few words. Those attending will be able to send a video message to the U.S. troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, South Korea and Fort Bliss, Texas. ...

Chris Lee, chairman of the Academy of Creative Media at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, is back from New York, where he took in a preview of "Pacific Overtures," the Stephen Sondheim musical. He was delighted to note that local actor-singer Alvin Ing appears as the Shogun's Mother and the Old Man. B.D. Wong, Broadway's original "M. Butterfly" (and a "Law and Order: SVU" regular), tops the cast as the reciter. Ing, who's been in a couple of revivals, was instrumental in persuading original director Hal Prince to maintain an all-Asian cast, a rarity on Broadway. ...

Three superstar chefs dined together at Hiroshi's Eurasian Tapas last week. "Iron Chef" Hiroyaki Sakai; Tetsuya Wakuda of Sydney, Australia; and Japan's Yuji Wakiya all proclaimed chef Hiroshi Fukui's food superb. Nothing like getting a thumbs up from your peers. ...

The aforementioned chefs (joined by Nobu Matsuhisa and Roy Yamaguchi) prepared dinner at Roy's for the Tom and Warren Matsuda Culinary Scholarship Fund recently, and numerous chefs were in attendance: Hubert Keller (Fleur de Lys), Fukui, Chai Chaowasaree (Chai's Island Bistro), Russell Siu (3660 on the Rise) and Beverly Gannon (Hali'imaile General Store). ...

KITV-4 airs the 2003 'Ukulele Festival at 8 p.m. Saturday — Ohta-san, Raiatea Helm, Frank DeLima perform. Ken Burgmaier hosts the Jazz Alley TV Special. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

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