DAY TRIPPER: Talk about coming and going. Society of Seven founder Tony Ruivivar, who performs with the Las Vegas-based original SOS group on Wednesdays and Sundays at the Flamingo hotel, was scheduled to be in town yesterday, arriving in time to help judge the finals of "Hawaii Stars," the karaoke contest, which was to tape last night at the Outrigger Waikiki's Main Showroom, and returned moments after an overnight flight. The current Society of Seven Las Vegas, so named because that spin-off group was to be anchored in the gambling capital, is the Waikiki showroom tenant and has been judging the Carole Kai-Kimo Kahoano-hosted competition for 12 years. Five women and a lone gent remained for the run-off, which will air on KHON 2 at 6:30 and 10:30 p.m. Sunday. ...

Ruivivar and co-founder Bert Sagum and the other SOSers (including Lani Misalucha) will be inducted onto the Las Vegas Walk of Stars at 2 p.m. Nov. 28. A host of celebrities will be in attendance; one of the first RSVPs came from Billy Hinsche, formerly with the Dino, Desi and Billy group (whose partners were the sons of Dean Martin and Desi Arnaz). And Mayor Mufi Hannemann likely will head an Island delegation. The ceremony at the Flamingo Las Vegas showroom is open to the public, so locals who might be in Vegas may want to attend. ...

HITHER 'N' YON: Afatia Thompson will get five minutes of airtime on "Good Morning Hawai'i" this morning on KHON 2. The filmed-in-the-Islands show, hosted by former Islander Branscombe Richmond, will be syndicated on the Mainland starting in December. Richmond called Afa's mom, Cha Thompson, because he heard the trouper's R&B hit, "All I Got" (off his solo "5:54" CD), on local radio and figured folks here and abroad would be interested in "discovering" this talent. So a sequence was taped at the Turtle Bay Resort. ...

Richmond commutes between Hawai'i and Los Angeles, since he's filming "Taken by Force" there. "I'm blessed," he said of the frantic pace. He was on Maui last week, taping segments with members of The Doobie Brothers and Willie Nelson. Among the locals he's tapped: Jordan Segundo, Karen Keawehawai'i, Genoa Keawe, Owana Salazar. And Sean Na'auao provides the house band music. ...

ABOUT PEOPLE: Former Islander Liz Damon, who lives and works in the gambling capital, was in town last week for a private gig. She surprised her hospitalized mom with a visit and managed to prep her voice at her Orient Express-era pal Lynn Nakamura Shiroma's Krazy Karaoke club. ...

"A Night with Hapa and Ernie Cruz Jr. and Friends," from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Punahou School, is a benefit for Kako'o 'Oiwi. For tickets: 550-8457 or www.honolulubox office.com. ...

John Bryan, local theater type, is on a one-year contract with Universal Studios in Osaka, Japan. He sent a congratulatory note to his "Oklahoma!" colleagues via actress Tracy Yamamoto, who played Aunt Eller in the Paliku Theatre run, and the note was read to director Ron Bright and the cast recently. Afterward, Bryan emerged in the flesh, surprising everyone (including Yamamoto). ...

RANDOM NOTES: In case you're logging dates, May 19, is the Diamond Head Crater Celebration. Organizer Ron Gibson, the Napa-based former Islander, is setting up the musical acts. And next year, the event expects to add a Maui play date. Gibson so enjoyed his Shanghai Bistro meal earlier this year, he had to take David Zimmerman, a sponsor exec, for dinner there. Restaurant owner Li May Tang introduced them to Cinderella Lia, a Taiwanese opera singer, who'll give a Hawai'i Theatre concert next year. ...

Carlos Dos Santos, a New York choreographer-dancer, was here to choreograph Pacific Ballet Academy dancers Brittany Hill, Rochelle Chang, Ken Dwigans and Alyssandra Baniqued for the Youth America Grand Prix International Ballet Competition in January. ...

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.