Posted on: Thursday, February 10, 2005

SHOW BIZ
Bruddah Iz always with us on airwaves

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

NAMES 'N' PLACES: 2005 is turning into a very good year for the music of the late Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. Hallmark Greeting Cards will use Bruddah Iz's "What a Wonderful World" for an Easter TV commercial, "Bunny Tales," that begins airing in March on network, cable and syndicated TV stations in the United States and Canada. Iz — and the same song — will be heard in New Line Cinema's upcoming "Son of the Mask," opening Feb. 18. Further, the ever-popular "Over the Rainbow" was added to a new national TV music channel, The Tube. "Rainbow" emerged yet again in a January segment of National Public Radio's "Morning Edition." ...

Jason Mraz, who gives a concert Saturday night at the Hawai'i Theatre, will sing the national anthem at Sunday's Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium. Should bring a boost to his CD, "Waiting for My Rocket to Come." ...

Golf legend Arnold Palmer showed up twice at Joe's at Wailea on Maui, holding court at the restaurant and wowing the fans — and turning restaurateur Joe Gannon into something of a groupie. While wife Beverly Gannon's culinary creations were popular, Palmer stole the thunder and limelight. ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: That was Daniel Dae Kim, formerly seen in "Spider-Man 2" and "24" and who now plays Jin, half of the Korean couple on ABC's "Lost," lunching at Dixie Grill on Ward Avenue a few days back. He wasn't really lost — but found his paradise in the Mardi Gras favorite, jambalaya — and told new restaurant g.m. Jennifer Adkins that the Creole creation was "delicious." ...

Della Reese, Emmy-winning actress from "Touched by an Angel," was in town for the "Taking Control of Your Diabetes" Conference and Health Fair this month at the Hawai'i Convention Center. ...

Tracy Mee Lin Tom, the 2005 Miss Chinatown Hawai'i, is representing the Islands in the 2005 Miss Chinatown U.S.A. pageant in San Francisco this week. She is the daughter of Dr. Dewey Tom, an optometrist, and his wife Helene, and the niece of Terrence Tom, the lawyer and sometimes singer. ...

A Valentine's Day dinner concert is set for 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Radisson Prince Kuhio Hotel — with entertainment by Jerry Santos and Jay Larrin. They're slated to perform separately, but Mahlon Moore, program director of the sponsoring 99.5 The Breeze radio station, hopes to coax 'em to include a segment together, which would be a lot of fun. And The Honolulu Skylark, back on the radio, will hula while Santos sings. Tickets: $48. Reservations: 921-5523. ...

RANDOM NOTES: Tim Wright, local freelance photographer, shot a photo for the Los Angeles Times of Carmen Policy, former president of the San Francisco 49s and retired part-owner of the Cleveland Browns, at the Four Seasons resort in Kona. Policy is hoping to return to the NFL to try to put a team in Los Angeles. Wright said Policy had kind words about what June Jones has done for the University of Hawai'i football program, and was taken aback a bit when Wright said he once played defensive end for the Trojans. The Ka'u High Trojans, that is. ...

Hester Llewellyn is in town, reconnecting with Craig Lam and Diana Carter Anderson — all, with the late Kirby Llewellyn, were part of the popular vocal act 4Cast here years ago. ...

Pali, the harmonic vocal sextet, will hold its CD release party from 3 to 6 p.m. Feb. 20 at Brew Moon. The group will render selections from its "In Harmony" release and some friends will also take the stage. ...

With the Outrigger Main Showroom turning into a dance palace with eightOeight on Saturday nights after the Society of Seven Las Vegas show, it's only natural that the live entertainment showcases an "SOS Meets eightOeight" format. SOSers Glenn Miyashiro, Jonathan Kaina, Richard Natto and Jan Luna jammed; even singer Jan Brenner joined the merry-making. The dance format prevails at 10:30 p.m. every Saturday. ...

Miss Hawai'i Olena Rubin, former Miss Hawai'i U.S.A. Justine Michioka and former Miss Hawai'i Teen Kaitlyn Metcalf assembled at Russell Tanoue's Piranha Room bash recently at Ocean's. ...

Na Palapalai, which performed Friday night at the Hawai'i Theatre, has a Feb. 25 date at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre in San Francisco. ...

Perkin Lee is new g.m. of Don Ho's Island Grill. He formerly was manager of Davey Jones Ribs, owned by Fred Livingston, who also owns the Grill. Lee also previously managed the Tahitian Lanai. ...

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.