SHOW BIZ

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

FUNDAMENTALS: Willie Nelson, the country music icon and a sometimes Maui resident, has signed a new Jasmine guitar by Takamine (the instrument was donated by Bounty Music of Maui), and the instrument now up for bid on eBay through Sunday (www.ebay.com, item number 3836629480). The autographed guitar is part of a movement to raise money to support Maui Tomorrow's Malama Makena drive to preserve the cultural and national treasures in the area surrounding Makena State Beach. ...

Karen Huffman is the founding president of the Hawai'i Theatre Stars, a new support group established to help with fund-raising events for the historic downtown venue, such as The Caper at Neiman Marcus on Oct. 16, Light Up the Hawai'i Celebration Nov. 1-5 and the annual Hawai'i Theatre Gala at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental on April 29. ...

SMALL WORLD: Jordan Segundo and his manager, Nancy Bernal, returned from Las Vegas last Tuesday from his first-ever visit to the gambling capital, where the former "American Idol" singer and the local TV pitchman for Subway sandwiches gave a concert at the Asian Pacific Trade Show and Expo at the Stardust Resort and Casino. The local duo also took in the Clint Holmes Show at Harrah's and a karaoke venue, Bootleggers, where coincidentally Holmes popped in — along with a group of folks with local ties, including Martin Nievera, Bobby Brooks, Nito Larioza, Jason Kina, Lydia Mook Mahelona and Alexia Lau. Nievera and Segundo performed separately, earning compliments from the audience and from Holmes. Segundo and Bernal also saw Gisselle Tejada of Forte, Albert Maligmat, the Society of Seven, and Todd Pritchard of KITV-4 — indicating how "local" Vegas is. ...

It felt like old home week for Cristi Ann Olson, when she dined with her husband recently at The Ocean House at the Outrigger Reef Hotel. David Nagaishi, operations director of the lovely beachfront restaurant, was formerly associated with Randy Schoch, at Nick's Fishmarket and The Black Orchid, for whom Olson previously worked (she's now gallery director for Wyland Galleries at the Desert Passage at the Aladdin in Las Vegas). At at nearby table: Wendy Nagaishi, spouse of David and a Sheraton concierge, with publicist Lisa Josephsohn, who handled P.R. for Schoch's former restaurant as well as the current one, Ruth's Chris Steak House. ...

AROUND TOWN: Tzi Ma, an actor from New York seen in such films as "Rush Hour," "Quiet American" and "The Ladykillers," has been in town for NBC's "Hawaii" filming. ...

To clarify an item here the other day (we were misinformed), about busy actress Jo Pruden: she's done only one "Hawaii" episode ... but two Fox "North Shore" shows. And her box-office sales at Army Community Theatre are brisk for "West Side," a bona fide hit at Richardson Theatre at Fort Shafter. ...

Theater types flocked to "West Side," when it opened last Thursday. Among the first-nighters: director Jim Hutchison, singer-actor-educator John Mount (who directed ACT's "Man of La Mancha" last season), actors Richard Pellett and Sylvia Hormann-Alper, Nanilisa Pascua (Kaimuki High School musical director), Larry Paxton (University of Hawai'i-Manoa music prof who played Tony some years back), performers Rex Nockengust and Gene Allen (of Beach Glass Bingo) and Steve Harmon (Mainland actor who has settled in Kailua). Harmon was cast in the original "West Side Story" in the 1950s but decided to do TV and an industrial program instead of the innovative Jerome Robbins musical. He was shocked somewhat when the musical evolved as not only a domestic but international hit, but Harmon eventually played Riff in a California production opposite the original Tony, Larry Kert. ...

THE LOCAL ANGLE: After two false starts, D.K. and Lori Kodama — he's the Sansei wizard — will finally hold the formal invitational blessing of their Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar and Steak House on Sept. 20, at its new Waikiki site, on the third floor of the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa. ...

Sudden Rush's "Ride Through Paradise," featuring Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, is expected to be heard on tonight's Duane "Dog" Chapman reality show, "Dog the Bounty Hunter," on A&E. ...

Jason Momoa, co-star of Fox's "North Shore," marked his 25th birthday with a recent dinner at Palomino. In attendance: his mom, Connie, and mentors Takeo Kobayashi and Eric Chandler. ... 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.