Posted on: Tuesday, April 19, 2005

SHOW BIZ
Tihati to be toasted with birthday bash

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

CELEBRATIONS: Jack "Tihati" Thompson turns 60 on May 11, and his children are marking the milestone with a birthday bash May 10 at the Wai'alae Country Club. Thompson and his wife, Cha, have been pillars of Polynesian entertainment in the Islands for more than three decades, through their Tihati Productions company, with ongoing shows on all islands. Tihati, whose full (and titled) name is High Chief Papaliitele Jack Eli "Tihati" Thompson, is a native of the remote Tokelau atoll Olosega, also known as Swains Island. ...

And Ron Bright, the celebrated director and mentor to scores of Broadway actors, will be honored in "Mr. B: A Salute to Ron Bright and His Students," a Spotlight on the Arts benefit, 7:30 p.m. May 7 at Paliku Theatre, Windward Community College. The evening of Broadway song and dance, benefiting Paliku, will assemble a roster of Bright's former students, many who've gone on to the legit stage, including Jade Stice, Jade Anguay, Jordan Shanahan, Tricia Marciel, Michael Bright, Johnson Enos, Mahiai Kekumu, Alex Selma and Robert Orosco. Marcelo Pacleb will choreograph; John Bryan and Jodi Leong will emcee. Selections from "Fiddler on the Roof," "My Fair Lady" and "Big River," musicals Bright directed at Paliku, will be featured. Tickets are $50, with initial invitations in the mail. Call 235-7433 for tickets. ...

"LOST" AND FOUND: ABC's "Lost" crew found its way to Bali by the-Sea at the Hilton Hawaiian Village recently, and executive chef Daniel LaGarde and his staff created a number of choice items, like summer rolls with Thai mint sauce, coconut shrimp, filet mignon and macadamia-crusted 'opakapaka. Gathered around the table: Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Dominic Monaghan, Jorge Garcia, Malcolm David Kelley, Harold Perrineau, Josh Holloway, Maggie Grace, Emilie de Ravin, Daniel Dae Kim, Yunjin Kim, and Naveen Andrews, as well as executive producers Bryan Burk and Jack Bender. ...

Cause and effect: Before his TV life was cut short on "Lost," actor Ian Somerhalder was house-shopping in Hawai'i. Now that his Boone character has been eliminated from the cast of survivors, perhaps taking along the knowledge of other beings on the deserted island (heard on the airplane radio, shortly before his fatal fall in the ditched aircraft), Somerhalder is looking to buy a place in Venice, Calif. ...

DATES TO CIRCLE: Na Leo gives a Mother's Day breakfast show May 8 at the Sheraton Waikiki's Hawai'i Ballroom. Doors open at 9 a.m.; showtime is 10:30 a.m. Tickets are $42 in advance, $45 at the door; keiki 11 and younger, $21. Call 921-4600. ...

The Makaha Sons also mark Mother's Day May 8 at the Renaissance Ilikai hotel, with Ho'okena (and hula dancer Nani Dudoit), Na Kama, Natalie Kamauu, Pilioha, and Chinky Mahoe and his Halau Hula 'O Kawailiula as guests. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., dinner will be at 6 p.m. and show at 7 p.m., with Tony Solis emceeing. Tickets: $50 for adults, $25 for children under 10 and $75 for VIP seating. ...

The Honolulu Boy Choir will do a May Day dinner concert May 1 at Don Ho's Island Grill. Al Waterson will emcee. Tickets: $25 for dinner and the show. Call 528-0807. The choir also will hold a fund-raiser event, I Have a Dream, May 23 at Mamiya Theatre, Saint Louis School, with 'Ale'a, Danny Kaleikini and Vaihi guest-performing. Tickets are $50. Call 596-7464. ...

AROUND TOWN: Mairi Bell, 15, will compete in the Youth America Grand Prix shortly in New York. Bell, a student at La Pietra who has studied ballet with John Landovsky and Gina Surles at Hawaii State Ballet since she was 4, is the daughter of Larry and Hatsue Bell. ...

The Brothers Cazimero's Lei Day reserved seats are sold out, lawn space remains. ...

Olena Rubin hosts "Countdown Hawai'i," which premieres at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow on Oceanic 16. The show tracks community notables, including Andy Bumatai, Mel Cabang, Rodney Villanueva, Maa Tanuvasa, Chris Fuamatu Maafala, Benny Agbayani, Sweetie Pacarro, Kathy With a K, and Gregg Hammer. A radio dude, Rory Wild of Hot 93.9, is the exec producer. ...

Mike Buck of KHVH radio and Kathy with a K of KSSK co-hosted a Ronald McDonald House pre-show benefit when "Cats" opened at the Blaisdell Concert Hall last week. Buck has shed 220 pounds (and counting) since he had stomach bypass surgery, and a book detailing his weight-battling journey is in the works. ...

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.