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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, September 21, 2006

SHOW BIZ
Toguchi lends singing, speaking skills to expo

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Columnist

Traci Toguchi

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Matsudaira Ken

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Lopaka Colón

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Tony Conjugacion

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BREEZING ALONG: Now that she's launched "Feel the Breeze," her inspirational CD, singer Traci Toguchi is hitting the books as a full-time student, studying speech communications at Hawai'i Pacific University. She tests her skills this weekend when she delivers the keynote address at the Holistic Hawai'i Expo at the Outrigger Keauhou Beach resort in Kona. Her topic: "Live Your Potential." She'll also sing. ...

Matsudaira Ken's Hawai'i Theatre concerts last weekend were classic stage shows, reminiscent of the Takarazuka spectacles of yesteryear. Drawn by curiosity, I attended the Saturday opener and initially felt like an outsider because the 400 Japan fan clubbers dominated front orchestra seats. For the second half, I ventured to a balcony perch to savor the impeccable lighting and exquisite kimono and their incredible palette of hues. Matsudaira's "Matsuken Samba" was a satisfying finale, with all the expected bells and whistles, and while there was a certain sameness throughout his delivery — most vocals accompanied by choreography, performed to tracks with as many as 20 kimono-clad dancers — Matsuken was a marvelous workhorse with an ingratiating, personable manner and a quick-change-artist stance. The star of TV's "Abarenbo Shogun" is hot. Don't be surprised if there's a return visit next year. ...

HITHER 'N' YON: Don Tiki provided entertainment at Microsoft's "Fun in the Sun" convention recently at the Grand Wailea, with 1,000 attendees. After staging its "Forbidden World of Don Tiki," a dance event dubbed "Don Tiki's Inferno" followed, with guest troupers Lopaka Colón, Willow Chang, Sherry Shaoling and Abe Lagrimas Jr. lending their talents. ...

Diamond Head Theatre's John Rampage and his "Thoroughly Modern Millie" cast trekked to "Sweeney Todd" last week at Richardson Theatre (the play closes this weekend) and led the standing ovation. Next up at Army Community Theatre: the Brad Powell-directed "Annie." ...

Randy and Gay Hongo's Christian Vision foundation marks its 25th anniversary next year, but the first of a series of celebrations starts this Saturday, with a 7 p.m. free concert at Makiki Christian Church. Guests will be Cornerstone, Tony and Shayna Fuller and the Hula Ministries of the Makiki church. The Hongos also plan a silver anniversary CD on which Randy will finally do a piano solo. ...

STAR-STUDDED: Tony Conjugacion's Halau Na Wainohia's "Kamau Pono IX," at 7 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Hawai'i Theatre, will pay tribute to Leila Hohu Ki'aha, an undisputed force in Hawaiian and choral music. The program will include hula plus piano stylings of Mahi Beamer, Robert Cazimero, Les Ceballos, Aaron Sala and Alika Young, along with other surprise guest singers. Tickets are $23; call 528-0506 or go to www.hawaiitheatre.com. ...

The Rotary Club of Kapolei's seventh Taste at Kapolei, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Ko Olina Resort's 4th Lagoon, features kaukau from 33 restaurants and music by Henry Kapono, Dita Holifield & Red-Handed and others. A VIP sponsor tent for corporate guests features Eddie Kamae and the Sons of Hawai'i. ...

MENTIONABLES: Ron Gibson and Mark Mellick, the principals in GM Entertainment (which produced the Crater Celebration April 1 at Diamond Head Crater), had cocktails and pupu at Compadres the other evening, prompting employees to wonder: Is a 2007 craterfest inevitable? Yep, but details are forthcoming. ...

ClayHui Hawaii, an Island fan club for Clay Aiken, will hold a Clay Aiken CD release party from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday at Sizzler's Pearlridge. Aiken's "A Thousand Different Ways," released Tuesday, triggered similar fan-based launches in 80 cities in the U.S., Canada and Singapore on release day; Hawai'i's is fashionably late, on Hawaiian time. Reservations: www.clayhuihawaii.com. ...

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.