It's a shrinking world Nicole Scherzinger and her fellow Pussycat Dolls live in.

Google the all-female song/dance troupe, and you'll get nearly 7 million returns.

Type in "Nicole Scherzinger," and besides four of the hottest images you'll ever see instantly popping up on your computer screen, you can get a near-daily report of Scherzinger's love life, alleged infighting among the Pussycat Dolls, and any other bits of gossip, news or photos making the Internet rounds.

So, in short order, before we get into how it hasn't always been this way for the Pussycat Dolls' lead singer, and what to expect at Saturday night's concert at the Blaisdell Arena, a little clarity is in order:

No, the Pussycat Dolls aren't splitting up. Yes, the Hawai'i-born Scherzinger does plan to finish a solo album. No, she's not married (yet), but she is seriously in love with British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton.

And, yes, she's had Saturday's concert at the Blaisdell circled on her calendar since it was announced, and she's dreamed about playing here since she became the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls in 2003.

"When we get there, I want to bring (the Pussycat Dolls) to Waimea Bay and have them jump off the rock like we used to do when I was growing up, and take them to the North Shore get some shave ice," Scherzinger said, slipping in a touch of pidgin when she talked about Hawai'i.

"This concert is special for me. I've toured around the world a few times, but I'm always asking, 'When I can come home?' Getting to play in front of my family makes this special. I have a huge family on O'ahu, and I can't wait to get back and spend some time with them, get some local grindz and hit the beach. A big part of my heart is there."

Scherzinger made the comments when she called from Switzerland to talk about the upcoming concert.

She was on a "secret" rendezvous with Hamilton in between Doll Domination shows, and the interview was supposed to be limited to 10 minutes.

That we stayed on the phone for more than an hour talking story didn't surprise Kapiolani Nozawa, Scherzinger's second cousin, who lives on O'ahu.

Nor was it a surprise that paparazzi had already posted images of the jet-set couple on their retreat within hours of her call back to Honolulu.

"She's done so much, but she has never changed," Nozawa said. "We've gone to Pearl and other clubs when she comes here, and she's so down to earth if somebody stops to say 'hi,' she'll stop and talk story.

"She's a typical local girl. Friendly. She's not high maka maka. I know she gets tired sometimes of all the attention from paparazzi, but she's worked so hard she deserves all the success she's had. She knows how to deal with it."

HUMBLE START

Scherzinger (also known as Nicole Kea) was born Nicole Prescovia Elikolani Valiente, on June 29, 1978, on O'ahu.

She's Hawaiian, Filipino, Russian and German, and even though her family moved to Kentucky when she was 6 — and she took the Scherzinger name when her stepdad adopted her — she spent summers growing up on the Wai'anae Coast, where her tutu and many of her aunts, uncles and cousins still live.

"We have an unbelievably big family," Nozawa said. "Her dad's family had 15 brothers and sisters, and her tutu had 10 kids. If you go down the line, almost every one of them has their own big family.

"I remember one time when we were maybe 12 or 13, and were up at the Palisades Community Center for a birthday party for her auntie, and Nicole wanted to sing. But she was too shy to get in front of the family.

"I remember telling her 'Nicole, God gave you a beautiful talent. No sense in hiding it. Sing!' She finally decided to do a Disney song, and it was great. Even then, you could tell she had a gift."

A DOLL'S DOMINATION

Scherzinger returns to the Islands more often than most people know. She was last here in February, with Hamilton, for her sister Ke'ala's wedding.

Because of her schedule, she's usually here for only two or three days before she heads off to some other part of the world.

In May, the Pussycat Dolls held Doll Domination concerts in New Zealand and Australia, and last night, they played the Mall of Asia in the Philippines.

That followed gigs at the Olympic Cycling Stadium in Seoul, and stadium gigs in Singapore, Bangkok and Jakarta.

But the Pussycats' most-buzzed-about recent performance was in April, when they opened for Britney Spears in Arizona. The concert followed the Dolls' release of their second CD "Doll Domination," which included "Jai Ho!" and "Hush Hush; Hush Hush" and coincided with the group being billed as "The Pussycat Dolls featuring Nicole Scherzinger," the first time a specific member has been featured.

The Phoenix concert was in fellow Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton's hometown, and as she addressed her fans, it appeared as though a catfight was about to start:

"Thank you for your for supporting me even though I'm not featured! You know what I'm saying?" Thornton said, drawing a glare from Scherzinger.

The comments live on, largely because YouTube videos of the show have gone viral, and they've led to questions about Scherzinger's future with the group.

Scherzinger downplayed the incident, saying the group members all get along great and are good friends, and she plans on showing them her old haunts around the island while they're here.

She also brushed over her future plans.

"Right now, my life is so crazy. I'm in another country, sometimes two countries in a day," she said. "I feel like the group is going strong. We've had tours all over the world.

"I haven't left the group. The Pussycat Dolls is a huge part of me, and I'm a huge part of the group. My dream is to come out with my music, my stuff. You can't predict the future. You just try to do the best you can every night."

BEYOND THE BEAUTY

There is no way not to look at the Pussycat Dolls and be drawn in by their sex appeal and dancing.

"Hot" comes to mind, and the group parlayed its risque song-and-dance image into a 2005 Grammy nomination with "Stickwitu," a single off their first CD "PCD," which also produced "Don't Cha" and "Buttons" and sold more than 8 million copies.

But the group has evolved since choreographer Robin Antin started the group as a burlesque troupe in 1995, particularly after 2003, when Scherzinger came on board and Interscope became their record label.

The sex appeal remains key, however, and their high-energy dance routines still make them one of the most popular all-girl-bands of all time.

"When the Pussycat Dolls started, celebrities would come in and perform with them," Scherzinger said. "But the group today is driven more by music."

Part of that reason for the change is Scherzinger, who has written more than 100 songs and collaborated with singers and songwriters such as Timbaland, P. Diddy, Rihanna, Shaggy and Will Smith.

With "Jai Ho!," the Dolls were on their European tour when she was approached about the "Slumdog Millionaire" music long before the movie became a multi-Oscar winner.

"The producer flew to Europe to meet us and watch the movie," she said. "You knew right away there was just something special about it, and you wanted to be a part of it. After we watched, they asked me to rewrite the English adaptation of 'Jai Ho!' So while I was on the European tour, I was working on the song. It's a blessing how it all worked out.

"I'm always writing and co-writing a lot of songs. It's a love of mine and a labor of mine."

SPECIAL SHOW

Doll Domination is typically a can't-miss live show, but Scherzinger said she wants to "represent" Saturday night and make it a special evening.

"I may break out my Hawaiian song 'Puak- enikeni,' as a tribute to my family," she said. "It will be my little wink, my nod to Hawai'i. I'll throw something out there."