STAR WATCH: That was Blake Lively, who played Bridget in "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," enjoying a sunset dinner at the Kamuela Provision Company at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Big Island recently. She was on a family vacation. ...

And Jason Kidd, an NBA ace with the New Jersey Nets, brought his children to the same Hilton to frolic in the pools, glide down the water slides, soak in the lagoon and visit the resident dolphins. Kidd booked the Hemmeter Suite and had dinner at the Kamuela Provision Company. ...

Reggie Miller, the NBA retiree from the Indiana Pacers, was all smiles at Diamond Head Grill recently. He and "Baywatch" actress Stacy Kamano enjoyed the food of executive chef Guillaume Burlion; the couple made good use of the dance floor till closing. ...

GREAT READS: Aloha lives in Brother Noland's "The Lessons of Aloha: Stories of the Human Spirit," which shares positive, inspirational tales of some known and not-so-known citizens. A celebration of the Watermark Publishing book will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at the Mission Memorial Auditorium on South King Street ...

"Da Kine Dictionary," compiled and edited by Lee A. Tonouchi, is this generation's guide to pidgin. Though the Bess Press volume has some questionable spellings, the dictionary is a natural for a Hawai'i newbie eager to make one beeg plunge into da world of da kine talk. Plenny pictures, too, of sistahs and blalahs, acting out some words. Tonouchi will be at a fun book event, from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Native Books/Na Mea Hawai'i at Ward Warehouse, where "How For Be Local in 5 Easy Steps" will be enacted. Actors will flesh out pidgin terms, with Tonouchi's fiancee, Tracie Akayama, doing "stink eye." Tonouchi turns 33 that day. ...

Del Courtney's "Hey! The Band's Too Loud," published by Author House, is crammed with delightful personal memories. Here's a big-band national treasure who played at President Ronald Reagan's inaugural ball, frequented a string of hotels and theatrical venues on both coasts, but has been an Island resident for years. ...

DATEBOOK: Natalie Cole hopes it will be an "Unforgettable" or even "Inseparable" New Year's Eve this year. She'll headline the year-ender gala Dec. 31 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort & Spa's Coral Ballroom, where admission will be $200 (platinum), $170 (gold), $120 (silver) and $90 (general). Call 947-7877. ...

Cecilio and Kapono, on the original players' list for last weekend's KCCN FM 100 Birthday Bash at the Waikiki Shell, obviously dropped out. But Cecilio Rodriguez and Henry Kapono still have a lot to celebrate, extending their 30th anniversary (two years ago) with a follow-up "Lifetime Party — 30 Years of Friends Vol. 2," which features additional selections from their three-decades milestone not included in the first recap. The companion volume brings back "Life's Different Now," "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes," "We're All Alone," "Sunflower" and "Highway in the Sun" into the limelight. Shows also continue; Friday and Saturday at Kapono's at Aloha Tower Marketplace, then more gigs on the West Coast, Saipan and Guam, culminating in Neighbor Island stints, Sept. 24 at the Hilton Waikoloa Village and Nov. 5 at the Maui Arts&Cultural Center. ...

RANDOM NOTES: When Yvonne Elliman met Jasmine Trias for the first time, at a Perry & Price breakfast show at John Dominis last month, the elder diva told the up-and-coming star: "Keep it real ... be yourself ... your smile is gorgeous and you sing so well." The voice of experience should know; she's been there, done that, is raring to do it all over again, maybe in a touring company of "Jesus Christ Superstar." ...

Sally Parker has been one of "Peg's Legs," helping to care for artist Peggy Chun, who has been battling Lou Gehrig's disease. So now that Parker's daughter Leslie Goldman is home with her Golden Key Opera Company friends (they perform Friday and Saturday at the Hawai'i Theatre), Parker corralled them to serenade Chun at her Nu'uanu home. It was a treat for the caregivers, too, including Betsy McCreary, who sings in the Hawaii Opera Theatre chorus, and Dr. Tyne Jenkins, a HOT board member. ...

Claus Hansen's Moanalua Mortuary will be part of an indie film being produced in San Francisco. It's called "One Way to Valhalla," a comedic look at the American car culture, but no one seems to know why a casket company in Hawai'i has been selected for a scene. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...