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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, March 28, 2010

James Taylor, Damon Wayans dine at Roy's Waikiki


By Wayne Harada

Roy's Waikiki has been a place in Honolulu where celebs dine and hang out. Singer James Taylor and his family enjoyed dinner one Saturday night, and actor Damon Wayans and a group of agent-manager types convened on another evening. ...

But where does "Up in the Air" best actor nominee George Clooney — who has been filming "The Descendants" here — chow and chill? He has been an under-the-radar houseguest at the Kahala Hotel & Resort, but no sightings of him off hours. Alexander Payne is directing the movie, based on the novel by localite Kaui Hart Hemmings, with Clooney as a father trying to rekindle a relationship with his two daughters. And hooray, Clooney dons aloha shirts on camera. ...

Meanwhile, CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" reboot pilot clearly has missed the boat because of its mostly all-Mainland casting (save Daniel Dae Kim, a "local" thanks to his "Lost" residency). The new "Five-0" will lack the Island flavor of the original, which counted Zulu, Kam Fong, Al Harrington and Herman Wedemeyer among the recurring players. Without Island regulars who gave locals a sense of ownership, the show — if tapped as a full-fledged series, as expected — might just as well shoot in coastal California. To its credit, however, the backdrops have included the National Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl, the downtown post office building and Kualoa Ranch. ...

PERSONALITIES: Actress Hester Lewellen, who along with her late husband Kirby Lewellen was part of The 4Cast group years ago, is back on stage in the comedy "Arms and the Man," premiering this Friday at Hawai'i Pacific University's Windward campus. For the Cleveland resident, it's a reunion with director Joyce Maltby, a pal from way back. Lewellen is staying at a studio rental in Kailua. ...

Miss Polynesia Tali Letuli Goeas and Mr. Polynesia Micah Tiedemann earned their titles last weekend at the Pacific Beach hotel. Tiedemann is the hānai son of Jack and Cha Thompson, purveyors of Polynesian and Hawaiian shows here, and the lad performs regularly in their Tihati Productions revues. His authentic garb — emulating Fijian Chief Lutunasombasomba — earned Tiedemann the best-costume laurels. ...

The Thompsons are bound for London this week, traveling to the private Wellingborough Golf Club, alongside Bob and Rita Riggs (Sub-Zero/Wolf) and Alan and Suzie Kimi (Sand & Sea hotels). The site is historic — Princess Kai'ulani lived there while attending school. Cha will offer a Kai'ulani oli/chant in front of a photo of the beloved princess in the club's main room, plus a lei hulu (a feather lei, framed in koa) to take a place of honor next to the vintage picture. ...

SIGHT 'EMS: Nohelani Cypriano has been renewed at the Hale Koa hotel's Banyan Tree Showroom, performing from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Call the activities desk at 955-0555. Cypriano will be on "Emme's Classic Island Moments" at 6 p.m. today on K5 television. ...

At the Hale Koa's Warrior Lounge, Augie Rey performs from 8 to 11 p.m. Fridays, backed by ex-Aliis members Bobby King and Dennis Graue. ...

TIDBITS: Nice bit of sharing at Kani Ka Pila Grille's first anniversary recently at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach. Folks like Waipuna, Martin Pahinui, Sean Na'auao and Weldon Kekauoha, among others, took the stage. Great fun, great vibes, 'ono food. ...

A crowd of 200 jammed the Waikiki Elks Club on St. Patrick's Day for the keyboard merriment of Don O'Conover. He drops the O' when he performs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. this Saturday (and the first Saturday of each month thereafter) at the Waikiki Yacht Club. ... In addition to his Sunday gig at Hickam, pianist Kit Samson mans the ivories Wednesday evenings at the aforementioned Waikiki Yacht Club. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Read his blog in Friday's TGIF section and online at http://showandtellhawaii.honadvblogs.com.