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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, February 7, 2006

SHOW BIZ
Unexpected commercial break for Audy Kimura

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Columnist

Audy Kimura

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Matthew Fox

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Vanita Rae Smith

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Bill Tapia

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When singer-composer Audy Kimura visited Aloha Flower Leis to buy some blooms and gift baskets, he told shop owner David Paik that the florist should launch a commercial to spread its message. "You're right — make one for me," Paik told Kimura, who wound up writing and producing a 30-second spot (now airing) that features vocals by Gail Mack-Nowicki and voice-over by Noe Tanigawa, with production by Dean Sensui of Hawai'i Production Associates. ...

TROPICAL TOPICS: It's been widely reported since Season 1 that Matthew Fox, who plays Jack on ABC's "Lost," loves nude swimming. He tells "Extra," the syndicated TV magazine show, that "any chance I get to swim naked in the warm Hawai'i water, I do." The bare-bottom posture must be catching. Josh Holloway, who plays Sawyer, tells "Extra," "Yes, I've gone with Matthew a few times ... and others ... the brave ones." Holloway also reveals that the paparazzi have stalked his Hawai'i Kai home. "They take pictures of my wife and me in our backyard ... we get angry. We like to walk around naked ... now I have to be careful." Indeed. ...

NAMES 'N' FACES: Oops, she did it again. Britney Spears loves Cheeseburger at the Oasis in Las Vegas. She visited twice, at the Aladdin's Desert Passage. And was wearing a Cheeseburger T-shirt in US magazine. Which makes the folks who also run Cheeseburger in Paradise on O'ahu and Maui mighty happy. ...

Bruce Shimabukuro, brother of Jake Shimabukuro, will be releasing his debut CD, "Incognito," on Feb. 28. Hard to be incognito, however, with a name like Shimabukuro, right? They've taught 'ukulele side by side, so clearly, the talent's rubbed off between the siblings. ...

Speaking of Jake: He has left the ranks of the highly touted William Morris Agency to follow his agent, Scott Galloway, who is exiting to join APA, an association of talent agents and the nation's fourth-largest. "It's always about the personal relationships in business," Shimabukuro said about Galloway and the move. "It feels right." ...

Vanita Rae Smith, Army Community Theatre honcho, marked her 62nd birthday at — surprise! — a theater. She and her sister and two pals, who flew in for the celebration, attended the preview of "Enchanted April," which is in production Thursdays through Sundays through Feb. 19. DHT artistic director John Rampage acknowledged the birthday and the audience sang "Happy Birthday," eliciting a beaming face from Smith, who's directing ACT's "Cats." ...

CALENDAR CUES: Tracie and Keawe Lopes are mounting quite a celebration of aloha, "Ku'u Ha'eha'e 2006," from 6:30 to 9 p.m. March 12 at the Hawai'i Theatre. The kumu hula of Ka La 'Onohi Mai o Ha'eha'e are rounding up an all-star cast for its halau benefit, including her singing mom Karen Keawehawai'i and dancing aunt Johnette Keawehawai'i, plus such folks as Jerry Santos, Kimo Alama Henderson, O'Brian Eselu, Nau'oli Akaka, Natalie and 'Iolani Kamauu, Aaron J. Sala, Peter Rockford Espiritu, Auntie Flo Koanui, Pi'ilani Smith, Jeff Au Hoy and more. Tickets are $25 and $30; call the theater box office at 528-0506. ...

The spry, stylish Duke of Uke, Bill Tapia, will appear with Mihana Souza — and Raiatea Helm as special guest — in the next Hawaiian Music Night, at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Hawai'i Convention Center. Tapia, 98, is remarkably energetic — he's wrapping up a tour that began last fall. Souza puts her stamp on Island classics and standards, and golden child Helm (whose Grammy-nominated "Sweet & Lovely" was highlighted in last Sunday's New York Times) will share her falsetto. Tickets: $27.50. Call 550-8457. ...

Speaking of the Grammys: Steve Topley, Hawai'i-based manager of Sly & the Family Stone, has headed for tomorrow's hoopla at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. He says his client is performing. ...

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.