Posted on: Tuesday, October 12, 2004

SHOW BIZ
Idols lunch at marina, shop at Ala Moana

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

OFF THE RECORD: Diana DeGarmo, second finisher in the "American Idol" competition, and her mom, Brenda, visited the Avex Honolulu Studios at the Hawai'i Kai marina while here. After lunch at nearby BluWater Grill, they toured the studio, according to Gaylord Holomalia, a member of Kalapana, who manages the operation. "She was very impressed and promised to come back and record some of her album in Hawai'i," Holomalia said. DeGarmo already has finished some work with David Foster in Los Angeles. ...

Those who saw her shopping at Ala Moana Center say Maui's "Idol" Camile Velasco was totally cool, relaxed, outgoing and agreeable for photo ops when she was here. She's come a long way from being the shy one. Velasco, by the way, is being sought by NBC's "Fear Factor" casting agents for a future show. ...

When Randy Hongo was en route home recently from New York, where he caught a few Broadway shows ("Wicked," "The Frogs," "Here Comes Jenny"), his seatmate on a United flight out of Los Angeles looked very familiar. He introduced himself, and the gent responded, "Hey, I'm Paul." "I knew I'd seen him before but not exactly sure from where," said Hongo, but he resembled Paul Walker from "The Fast and the Furious" and "Timeline." So Hongo, itching for confirmation, asked: "Are you in the movies?" Walker admitted he was, and revealed that he did live in Hawai'i as a youth, attending Punahou School until third grade. He ultimately moved to Southern California, but because some family has returned to Honolulu, he commutes here every three or four months. Hongo said Walker has finished "Into the Blue," with Jessica Alba, which John Stockwell ("Blue Crush") directed; and for Christmas, "Noel," with Robin Williams, Susan Sarandon and Penelope Cruz. And guess what Walker misses most when he's not in town: "loco moco." ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: What do Trent Nakamura and Rich Miano Sr. have in common? They dined (separately) at Auntie Pasto's recently, when Mushroom Mania (the festival of funghi) was launched. Miano is a regular at Pasto's. And Nakamura is that budding actor remembered for a multitude of roles, including "Merry Christmas with Friends and Nabors" (the Jim Nabors holiday extravaganza) at the Hawai'i Theatre, "You Somebody" at Diamond Head Theatre and 'Ohia Productions' "On Dragonfly Wings." Of course, Nakamura has been a focal point of TV commercials (Oceanic, Longs). Next up: Lisa Matsumoto's Christmas special at Ala Moana Center. ...

Alex Selma continues to play the title character in Disneyland's "Aladdin the Musical." Joseph Morales, another actor with Island credits, has been hired as an understudy. An earlier item here contained incorrect information from well-meaning sources who confused the status of both performers. ...

DATES TO CIRCLE: "Divas From the Silver Screen" is the theme of Nake'u Awai's pre-holiday musical fashion revue, Nov. 21 at the Ko'olau Ballroom in Kane'ohe. A marketplace opens at 10 a.m., before the 11:30 a.m. luncheon. The 12:30 p.m. show will feature Marie Takazawa, Mona Loy Lum, Debbie Kuni Kelsey, Dell-Finn Poaha, Nani Medeiros, Puanani Higgins, Tootsie Cazimero and Blossom Lam Huffman. Tickets are $38; call Nake'u at 841-1221. ...

Greg Zane, the director-choreographer-dancer, will direct Diamond Head Theatre's holiday musical, "Seussical," which opens Dec. 3. ...

Out today: "Iz: the Man Behind the Music," the DVD based on the recent KGMB-9 TV special. ...

NAMES 'N' PLACES: Ex-resident Stan Egi played a baddie on a recent "Hawaii," and it was a reunion with Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (they both were in the movie "Rising Sun"). Egi has been doing stand-up as part of "Lanai and Friends" Wednesdays at Brew Moon. Egi also appeared recently at the Palace Showroom of the Ohana Reef Towers Hotel, where he finally returned to stand-up Paul Ogata a pair of pants Ogata forgot months ago at a Craig Kilborn taping in Los Angeles. ...

Lanai and Augie will do shows at 7 and 10 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Normandy Casino in Gardena, Calif. The duo's Comedy Shack gang also will perform, including Shawn Felipe, Stan Egi, Champ and Timmy Mattos. Augie T. heads for Alaska next month and the twosome will perform at the California Hotel in December. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

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