It's been hush-hush, but broadcast mogul Oprah Winfrey was in the Islands last week, as part of a party of 24 buying out The Lodge at Koele on Lana'i, for a private soiree on a sprawling three-acre parcel behind the resort. Talk about exclusive.

The Tihati Productions 'ohana, some 30 strong, was hired to provide entertainment, including singers, conch shell blowers and Tahitian, hula and Samoan fire knife dancers. After it was all over, Winfrey — sans makeup, since she was comfy among her own — posed for photos with each performer.

"I died and went to heaven ... and came back," said Cha Thompson, one of the proprietors of the Tihati company noted for Polynesian productions throughout the state. "She was just fabulous ... and nice. I worried that our four knife dancers would dirty her, but she put her arms around them anyway." ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: You go, brah: Brother Noland's early hit, "Coconut Girl," is part of the soundtrack of the Seth Rogen-James Franco stoner buddy flick, "Pineapple Express." The Jawaiian-flavored tune is a nice fit for the comedy. Also included: Arthur Lyman's instrumental "Hi'ilawe." ...

Heads turned at Chaya Brasserie in Beverly Hills when Island actress Kelly Hu, green clothing designer Claire Pimentel and Hawai'i actress Julia Nickson all showed up to celebrate ex-pat publicist Tracy Larrua's birthday. Hu and Pimentel are developing an exercise clothing line, while Nickson continues to enjoy the success of her indie film, "Half Life," which just screened at the Director's Guild in Hollywood. Ex-Hawai'i residents Carl Lindstrom and Kristie Fujiyama Kosmides also attended, but were back home for Art on the Avenue, an exhibit at the Wyland Waikiki. ...

NOTABLE 'N' QUOTABLE: When Michael W. Perry and Larry Price marked their 25th anniversary as KSSK's morning drive invincibles, among the dignitaries stopping by was Gov. Linda Lingle. Perry quipped, "So, what, nothing better to do?" To which Lingle promptly responded, "Well, it was either this or look for Obama on the beach." She proceeded to declare August 2008 as Perry & Price month, amazing the guy on the left and the guy on the right; she explained: "When you get this old, you get a month." ...

Manoa DNA, just back from the Yokohama Hawai'i Festival last week, headed back to Japan on Tuesday to perform in Sapporo, Nagoya and Osaka. "It was pretty hot and humid in Yokohama and Tokyo last week, and it looks like it'll be even hotter on this next trip," said member Lloyd Kawakami — the dad of the bunch. "The boys (Nick and Alex) and I performed our version of Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room theme song at the Yokohama and Tokyo venues, and the audiences just loved it!" ...

It might be on Hawaiian time, since the flick premiered yesterday, but Kaua'i will hold a Hawaiian-style launch for Ben Stiller's "Tropic Thunder" at 7:30 p.m. today at the Kukui Grove Cinemas in Lihu'e. Marlene Blair, who operates the multiplex, will provide popcorn and refreshments free for invited guests.

Kaua'i film commissioner Art Umezu can't be happier. "Kaua'i is blessed to have the support of Ben Stiller, who is a Kaua'i resident," Umezu said. "The production (which stars Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr. and an unrecognizable Tom Cruise in a cameo) carried an overall budget of $100 million-plus, with expenditures on Kaua'i of more than $60 million, making it one of the largest budgeted movies filmed in Hawai'i." ...

RANDOM NOTES: J.J. Abrams, the Emmy-winning producer-director ("Lost," "Cloverfield," "Mission: Impossible III"), is planning to do a disaster film with an earthquake at its core, after he's done directing the updated "Star Trek" flick. No title, no stars, no word on where the shake-and-quake project will be lensed. ...

Now it can be told: The Makaha Sons had been asked to perform at Barack Obama's fundraiser at the Kahala Resort earlier this week; group leader Louis "Moon" Kauakahi was honored to be considered, but he knew The Sons couldn't, what with the hospitalization of John Koko, so Moon recommended Ho'okena, who brought along Horace Dudoit's wife, Nani, the group's hula stylist. Meanwhile, the Koko 'ohana is thankful for the prayers and support for John. ...

Jade Stice, who will portray Ellen in Paliku Theatre's fall production of "Miss Saigon," flew off for a few days to attend the wedding of her sister Ligaya Stice to engineer consultant Patrick Pereni in Boulder, Colo. Ligaya, a former Miss Hawaii, and hubby will make Hawai'i their home; she is a resident doctor at Kapi'olani Medical Center. ...

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.