Posted on: Tuesday, June 14, 2005

SHOWBIZ

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

STAND UPS: Comedian Kaleo Pilanca did a stint at the recent graduation party for Daniel Bumangalag at the Hale Koa Hotel — which could have gone awry. The gig, arranged by JJ Productions, turned out comedic in the end, but there were tense moments when Pilanca, who brought along comedienne Jody D (who did shticks about growing up Filipino), appeared on stage completely masked with pantyhose over his head. Hotel security had seen that image — think bank robber — on the video monitors, and hustled over to investigate. But Pilanca's ill-executed disguise was quickly explained, so the moral of the story is: Put hose over head backstage, not in the corridor of the showroom. ...

Pilanca, by the way, will be joined by Da Braddahs (Tony Silva and James Roche) in a Daddy's Day funfest, from 10:30 a.m. June 19 at the Magic of Polynesia Showroom at the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel. Maunalua (Bruce Spencer, Bobby Moderow Jr. and Kahi Kaonohi), 2001 Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner for Best Hawaiian Album and 2004 Favorite Entertainers of the Year and Best Album of the Year victor, will also perform. Tickets are $39 for adults, $29.95 for children 12 and younger. ...

Comedian Andy Bumatai, who has been hosting the Thursday "Open Mic" nights at the HighTide Cafe in Mo'ili'ili, said 12 comics with varying degrees of success took to the stage last week, and club owner Gregg Fraser had to install more seats and tables for the crowd. Bumatai has a gig in San Francisco Thursday through Saturday; Paul Ogata will fill in. Bumatai is playing the "A Taste of Aloha" club on S. Market Street. Promotional T-shirts are emblazoned with a photo of a brassiere with "Howzit Brah?" around it. Sounds like a keeper. ...

Duh. Frank DeLima's Father's Day show, set for June 19, indeed will be at Dot's — in Wahiawa. We listed another locale earlier. ...

Ray Romano, the "Everybody Loves Raymond" star, must've found show fodder for his Blaisdell Concert Hall shows while staying at the Kahala Mandarin. He mentioned a dolphin with a broken fin. ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: When Brittni Paiva, the 16-year-old Big Island 'ukulele and slack-key whiz, was in town for the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (she was voted most promising artist), she was a darling on the club circuit, particularly at Honey's, where Ledward Ka'apana, a ki ho'alu whiz, waved a white "surrender" flag (signifying her instrumental savvy). Owana Salazar, the Best Jazz Album winner, offered her a free steel-guitar lesson, and Keith and Carmen Haugen offered, manuahi, the use of a 1920 Rickenbacher steel for as long as she wants to use it. Paiva sat in with the Honey's crew, including Mike Ka'awa, Ocean Kaowili, Paul Kim, Bryan Tolentino, and Eddie Kamae (who was grinning ear to ear with delight), making her feel like one of the boys. ...

Na Palapalai, Na Hoku winner for group of the year and best Hawaiian album ("Ke 'Ala Beauty"), is revving up for its Ke Kani O Ke Kai summer concert, 7 p.m. June 28, at Waikiki Aquarium. Dancers from Sonny Ching's Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu will also perform. Tickets: $18 ...

Hoku nominees and winners with best Hawaiian album prospects in the Grammy Awards should mark Feb. 8 on their calendars. The National Academy of Arts and Sciences returns to Los Angeles for the 48th annual hoopla with CBS carrying the telecast. Nominees will be announced Dec. 7. ...

TRADE WINDS: Margaret Doversola, the local casting director, has been named to the "Lost" team to find actors for the hit ABC show's second season here. ...

Juggler Greg Gabaylo debuts in the Philippines for two weeks beginning June 29. "I gotta brush up on my Filipino because I don't speak the language," he said. ...

Skyline's "The White Party," held recently at the Sheraton Waikiki's Hanohano Room, attracted a white-clad crowd including reggae star Ra Sun (at a VIP table with 98.5's Lanai, Fiji, Jordan Segundo, former Miss Hawai'i USA Juliet Lighter and ex-Ms. Waikiki Jenn Abreu, among others). Crowd pleaser: a 45-minute DJ set, arranged by Matty Boy and Flash, delivered by the Beastie Boy's DJ Mix Master Mike. Others there: turntablist Qbert, fashion photog Russell Tanoue, Sheraton Waikiki g.m. Ryan Laskey, promoter Roni Yuong, Peter of Artist Groove Network, G-Spot of Double-O-Spot and Vertical Junkies. Skyline hosts Smart mag's launch of its third issue Saturday. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8067.