Darin Brooks, the 2002 Kaiser High grad who has been a regular (Max Brady) on NBC's soap, "Days of Our Lives," is now involved in a charitable project called Tag the World, for which he serves on the honorary board.

Brooks, who also has done films ("Blue Crush"), modeling and Japanese commercials, has drawn younger fans as the lothario stock-car driver and younger brother of Frankie (Billy Warlock) for daytime viewers.

Tag the World raises funds to aid children, cancer research, animals, African issues and eco-causes of Go Green through the sale of Tag necklaces and pendants with a unique design. A Web site (www.tagtheworld.com) is forthcoming. ...

Actress Natalie Portman and three friends did the late-night thing at Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar Waikoloa last weekend, enjoying sushi and sake at the bar. Apparently, they were eager to learn more about sake so "sake guru" bartender Craig Tabandera gave them a little "schooling." Portman has been all over the movie map - a trio of "Star Wars" installments, "Garden State," "V for Vendetta" and "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium," among others — and soon will be in "Brothers." ...

HERE 'N' THERE: Though she's pau with the Society of Seven Las Vegas at the Outrigger Waikiki, Jasmine Trias is busy. She'll work on her second album and reunite with her "American Idol" alums for shows Sept. 23 through Oct. 26 in Branson, Mo. Her mom, Nora, cooked a feast for the closing-night party. ...

This, from R. Falter in Oakton, Va., who took in The Brothers Cazimero's Wolf Trap concert recently: "To open the show, Roland said 'It is a beautiful night here in the Waikiki Shell,' " said Falter, who noticed many lei-decked attendees. Nothing like feeling at home on the road. ...

And from Lloyd Kandell, of globetrotting Don Tiki: "Don Tiki was the highlight of the Wassermusik Festival in Berlin, according to the executive director. We drew over 1,000 people as the headline act on Friday night and she said that she wished she booked us for Saturday night as well. People stood, danced and sang along! We hope to book a full Euro summer fest tour for next year." Guess the willkommen mat will be out. ...

JAPAN CONNECTION: Kamasami Kong, the one-time Isle deejay, is all over the dial in Japan. Besides his weekly Tokyo-FM show and daily 'cast on the JFN Network (38 stations throughout Japan), Kong hosts a Saturday morning show on InterFM (with an array of local guests, such as Na Leo, Raiatea Helm, Frank Hewett, Makana, Kalapana and Taimane Gardner) and delivers a two-hour daily program in Sapporo and Hokkaido on Northwave FM ... in addition to podcasts. ...

Remember the Japanese girl group, Coconuts Musume, from the early 2000s? Lehua Sandbo Nahina, a Saint Francis School alumna (class of 2001), was part of the group then and became a quick celeb. Last month, at age 25, she won her first beauty pageant and became Mrs. Hawaii United States and participated in the finals last month in Las Vegas. Her husband is surfer Kapono Nahina. ...

THE LOCAL ANGLE: Was that Tom Cruise in Romano's Macaroni Grill the other night? Food servers did a double take when they saw handsome John Selya, in town for Ballet Hawaii's "Giselle" at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Blaisdell Concert Hall. He was just in "Damn Yankees" on Broadway with Sean Hayes and Jane Krakowski and he just might be that "twin" everyone is supposed to have ...

"Hair," the tribal love rock musical now in a revival at New York's Central Park, is a bona fide hit. And it's free. The cast, as itemed here earlier, includes Islander Kaitlin Kiyan, and she's among those pictured in Time magazine's coverage recently in the Arts section. ...

When The Three Phantoms return to the Islands for a three-show gig Sept. 12, 13 and 14 at the Hawai'i Theatre, they will recreate that "Masquerade" scene from "The Phantom of the Opera." Ballet Hawaii dancers will provide a dance element for the trio - Craig Schulman, Cris Groenendaal and Kevin Gray, who each has played the Phantom over time - who will largely be unmasked during the evening. ...

FINALLY: The Honolulu Symphony Chorus is holding auditions this week at Davies Hall at St. Andrew's Cathedral for slots in the chorus. Call Ross Taosaka, chorus manager, for a time slot, at 524-0815, ext. 257, or e-mail him at symphonychorus@gmail.com. Those who are tapped need to join the first rehearsal at 6:30 p.m. Monday in room 36 of the University of Hawai'i-Manoa's music department. The first appearance with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra will be Sept. 6 and 7 at Blaisdell Concert Hall. ...

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.