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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, October 6, 2005

SHOW BIZ
Celebrity wedding bells rumored to ring

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Columnist

COCONUT WIRELESS: There are unconfirmed reports that actress Cameron Diaz and singer Justin Timberlake, who regularly zip in and out of town, are looking to a Christmas marriage in which Hawai'i might have a role. At least that's the buzz — that the nuptials will be in an undisclosed Island destination, with 150 people invited to celebrate. A British source, the Daily Star, has not called the to-do a wedding, saying instead "it will be a time of new beginnings."

Timberlake has publicly expressed his desire to wed Diaz, but he's opting for a low-key, low-profile event. No evidence or details yet of an Island rendezvous. ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: The Honolulu Advertiser's 10th Annual 'Ilima Awards, honoring Hawai'i's top restaurants while helping raise money for Diamond Head Theatre, will be held from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday at the Diamond Head Theatre. See a brief awards show, then chow down with tasting portions served by winning restaurants. The venerable Kit Samson will provide entertainment and jazz, and he's happy about this year's attire advisory: crisp aloha. Tables of 10 begin at $2,000; call 733-0277, ext. 305; limited individual tickets, $175; call 733-0274. ...

Samson, by the way, is putting the final touches on his "Encore" CD. Heard a preview — lovely! ...

Tracy Larrua is new public relations director at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica, Calif. Her Island ties include stints with the Sheraton hotels, the Ritz Carlton Kapalua, and the Ogilvy & Mather agency, where she handled Hyatt Regency Waikiki and Hyatt Regency Maui accounts. ...

Tony Cho, who has been with the Hawai'i Opera Theatre's education staff as pianist for many HOT Studio programs and the Opera Express road show to schools, has been invited to join the teaching staff at Juilliard. Of course he accepted. ...

Karen Keawehawai'i and husband Jackie Farias are proud of their daughters' achievements. Three of the four are teachers — Traci Lopes teaches at the University of Hawai'i, Winona Farias at Kamehameha, Melody Farias at Pearl Harbor Elementary. Dad Jackie occasionally jokes about fourth daughter Stacy (aka Kalani) and tells friends she's "a druggie"; in reality, she's with the Kaiser hospital pharmacy. ...

When publicist David Patterson was in Los Angeles for business recently, he noticed local girl Carter Evans reporting for KCBS-TV about New Orleans residents at LAX trying to get home before Hurricane Katrina hit. Another localite, Maria Quiban, was reporting for KCOP-TV. Quiban, who earned her meteorology degree, now is the station's weekend anchor and remains weather anchor Saturdays through Wednesdays for KCOP and sister station Fox 11. ...

Singer-educator John Mount, who is marking 30 years at the University of Hawai'i this year, gets to test his voice, too, after a 170-pound weight loss. His recital, "Of All the Girls I've Sung Before," will be at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at Orvis Auditorium, on the UH campus. Pianist Beebe Freitas will accompany him. ...

ALOHA LIVES: At the upcoming "Sittin' in Again" reunion gigs of Loggins & Messina (Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina, of course), you can latch on to a nostalgic aloha shirt inspired by the duo's "Full Sail" regalia (where the cover shot was done in Lahaina, aboard Peter Fonda's boat). The retro keepsake is being produced expressly for the Hawai'i-bound duo (tomorrow at the Blaisdell Arena, Sunday at the A&B Amphitheater at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center) by longtime pal Emme Tomimbang in a partnership with her EMME. Inc. and Hilo Hattie. Loggins and Tomimbang decided together on the print for the commemorative edition, so the shirt has been on sale at all tour stops. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Wayne Harada is on vacation but prepared this column before his departure.

Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 525-8055.