Anthony Bourdain, the celebrated chef-at-large of New York's Brasserie Les Halles and host of the Travel Channel's "No Reservations," has been in town to check out local grinds. As part of his visit, Bourdain shared kau kau at Colin Nishida's Side Street Inn with 150 of the town's notable culinary masters and foodies.

Bourdain is here at the invitation of the Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau to tape shows in Honolulu and on the Big Island. He broke bread (well, the fabled pork chops and fried rice, among other delicacies) with the likes of Alan Wong, Chuck Furuya, Dean Okimoto, Donato Leperfido, Fred D'Angelo and Russell Siu. Bourdain was treated to more Island-style Nishida fare, including pipikaula, raw crab leg poke and 'opihi.

— Wayne Harada, Advertiser entertainment writer

JOHN RECEIVES TOP MAORI HONOR

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Elton John has received a specially made bird-feather cloak for his many visits to Maori communities.

"It's the Maori equivalent to an Academy Award" and means the 60-year-old British singer is an honored member of the Ngati Te Whiti sub-tribe, group chairman Peter Love said yesterday in a statement.

The cloak was "gifted as recognition of the enjoyment Sir Elton John's music has given to Maori over the years and his loyal continuance to return to Aotearoa to entertain," he said. Aotearoa is the Maori name for New Zealand.

CELEBS DESIGNING KITES FOR CHARITY

Madonna, Angelina Jolie and Cher are among the celebrities designing kites for charity.

The high-flyers will auction off their authentic Afghan kites on eBay as part of the launch of Participant Productions, a social action campaign that will coincide with the delayed release of new Afghan movie "The Kite Runner."

Proceeds from the kite auction will benefit the Afghanistan Relief Organization, which helps raise cash for the training of teachers and the construction of rural libraries in Afghanistan.

James Bond star Daniel Craig, Benicio Del Toro, Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry, Reese Witherspoon, Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, Kate Winslet, Will Ferrell and acting siblings Maggie and Jake Gyllenhaal also will decorate and sign kites for the upcoming auction.

KIRK DOUGLAS, 91, STILL READY TO GO

"I'd do it! I'm still a young guy!" So says the sprightly Kirk Douglas when asked if he'd make another movie. Sprightly indeed: The film legend turns 91 tomorrow.

"I would like to make a movie with my son, Michael," says Kirk to celeb show "Entertainment Tonight."

Kirk said he regrets being so "wrapped up in making picture after picture" that he wasn't always there for Michael.