Posted on: Tuesday, April 5, 2005
SHOWBIZ
Shimabukuro signs with strings maker
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
STRINGING ALONG: Hawai'i's Jake Shimabukuro has become the first 'ukulele stylist to sign with J. D'Addario & Co. Inc., a maker of musical strings. He joins a short list of D'Addario stylists that includes Beck, Sheryl Crow, Ani DiFranco, Ben Harper, John Mayer and Jeff Tweedy of Wilco. "I have been a D'Addario user for about six years now and I absolutely love the sound of their Pro Arte set on my 'ukulele," said Shimabukuro in a statement. "D'Addario strings are so dynamic and expressive! You can pound away on them all you want and they'll respond amazingly to anything you can dish out." ...
SPEAKING OF THE 'UKE: The Starbucks 35th annual 'Ukulele Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on July 31 at Kapi'olani Park Bandstand, with singer James Ingram ("Somewhere Out There," "Just Once," "One Hundred Ways") joining Raiatea Helm, Ohta-san (Herb Ohta Sr.), Daniel Ho, Joy, Holunape, the Nihon 'Ukulele Association, Keale 'Ohana and Roy Sakuma's 800-piece 'Ukulele Band. Danny Kaleikini emcees.
TRADE WINDS: Andrew Friedlander and wife Janis were invited to a pinot noir tasting party — think "Sideways," with a local spin — at a friend's house recently. Wanting to bring some good food to pair with the pinot, Friedlander logged on to askjeeves.com and was surprised that Hawaiian food was suggested as the perfect match. So Friedlander got some pipikaula, laulau, lomi salmon and poi at Fort Ruger Market. He and his friends marveled at how Jeeves was right on the money. "The pipikaula, especially, was excellent with the pinot," Friedlander said, "but all the Hawaiian food really complemented the wine. We were pleasantly surprised, to say the least." ...
If you're a fan of The Makaha Sons, these are dates you should log: Secretary's Day concert, April 26 at the Renaissance Ilikai hotel; Mother's Day concert, May 8, also at the Ilikai; and "Take a Walk in the Country 3" concert, June 11 at the Waikiki Shell, with Keali'i Reichel among the guests, according to Sons member John Koko.
ITEMIZATIONS: "Lost" star Evangeline Lilly "found" her way back to dinner at Morton's The Steakhouse Honolulu. The actress and a friend dined on filet mignon and lobster, followed by the Grand Marnier Souffle.
Being on a deserted island surely builds an appetite. ...
Bianca Norris, a server at Dixie Grill 'Aiea, left her job earlier because husband Brian was deployed to the Middle East, and she moved to Texas. Well, she's back, had a baby, and Brian is back at Schofield Barracks. She hopes to return to her job — but returned to Dixie Grill for her first meal back in town. ...
Members of the Chippendale's cast also dined at Dixie Grill. And Kym Chambers and Justin Wingenroth, two "Cats" members here for promotional interviews (the show bows April 12 at Blaisdell Concert Hall) happened to be staying at the Radisson Prince Kuhio Hotel, so they took in the Chippendale's performance, too. ...
Manoa Valley Theatre's "Cabaret" has been extended again, which means a seven-week run by the time it closes April 24. And you haven't gone yet?
SHORTS OF SORTS: A new date has been set for this year's Na Hoku Hanohano Awards: It's June 3 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village's Coral Ballroom, with no-host cocktails from 5 p.m. and dinner service from 6 p.m. The awards show will be televised at 7:30 p.m. on KFVE. Tickets to the black-tie-optional gala are on sale via the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts. Individual tickets are $85 for members ($95 after May 10). Call 235-9424 for specifics. ...
And the Hoku-related Bill Murata Scholarship, offering two $2,500 grants, is accepting applications through May 1. Check the HARA Web site, Nahokuhanohano.org, or Nahenahe.net/HARA. ...
George Noory, America's No. 1 overnight radio talk-show host, visited Perry & Price recently at John Dominis during his first trip to Hawai'i. Noory, who reaches nearly 10 million listeners each week night, did a live broadcast across the country on a Friday evening from the Clear Channel Hawai'i studios at Dole Cannery. Noting that his island show was on the full moon, he quipped to the No. 1 local deejays: "We had some interesting callers from around the country last night ... even one who said he was the devil. Thank God it wasn't collect!" ...
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.
