The beard did not shield the identity of actor Paul William Walker, who dined last week at Keo's in Waikiki. Since his daughter lives on O'ahu, his trips are frequent. You know him from "The Fast and the Furious," "Into the Blue," "Eight Below" and "Flags of Our Fathers." He's reportedly in negotiations to do an untitled "Fast and the Furious" sequel this year. His thriller, "The Heaven Project," is due later this year. ...

Comedian-actor Jon Lovitz, the "Saturday Night Live" alumnus who's appeared in such films as "The Producers" and "The Wedding Singer," was in town for the recent launch of the Wyland Hotel. He also made a guest appearance on "NightTime With Andy Bumatai" last week, which will air Thursday. "He was hard to get," said Don Stroud, who helps assemble guests. "Once he came, we couldn't get rid of him. ... He enjoyed it so much." Lovitz last year launched The Jon Lovitz Comedy Club at Aubergine, in San Diego's Gaslamp district. Bumatai, who now has filmed 100 episodes, plans to do a February hour-long special, originating at Paliku Theatre at Windward Community College, as a benefit for the theater. Taping will be Feb. 22, with a screening date on KFVE (K5) on Feb. 27. ...

Opera stars Fabiana Bravo and Jessie Raven dined on chicken Parmesan and 'ahi poke a few nights back at one of Raven's favorite destinations, the Hawaiian-retro tiki bar/restaurant La Mariana Sailing Club. Bravo and Raven will appear in "Don Carlo," launching Hawaii Opera Theatre's 2008 season, starting Feb. 1 at Blaisdell Concert Hall. Bravo makes her HOT debut as Elisabetta, a role she covets. At a cast luncheon recently hosted at the home of Evelyn Lance, Bravo told HOT honcho Henry Akina (who's directing) that she has waited all her life to play this role. ...

Indashio, the couture designer appearing at the Starlight Ball at the Honolulu Academy of Arts recently, was hosted by Peter Aaron Maharaj at dinner at Aaron's Atop the Ala Moana hotel. The fashion maven's models and photographer were there and a gang returned another night for partying till 4 a.m. Aaron's DJ Billy G played at Indashio's fashion show. ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Taimane Gardner has been added to the Monday and Thursday Royal Hawaiian hotel lu'au show. She's the superb 'ukulele stylist who was discovered by the late Don Ho and featured in his Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel show before it shuttered following his death. ...

Taimane was among the scores of entertainers, peers and friends of Don Ho and wife Haumea Hebenstreit Ho, who flocked to Don Ho's Island Grill last Wednesday to support and applaud the "Don Ho: My Music, My Life" biography. Haumea was visibly touched by the aloha; she danced to "I'll Remember You" while program host Al Waterson sang, and she later said she deemed the gathering "a very special time" with emotions shared "coming from the heart." KGMB 9 provided an eight-minute clip of "Don Ho Remembered," to be aired at 8 p.m. today. ...

Localite Lester Mau showed up in a speaking role on last Wednesday's "Law & Order." ...

TRADE WINDS: David "Kawika" Talisman, who runs an Internet business, hopes to be home soon. He's been in treatment — 45 days of radiation — at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda, Calif., since Thanksgiving, even spending his Nov. 24 birthday, Christmas and New Year's under duress. He dined with comedian Frank DeLima (for whom he used to write comedy sketches) before departing, and only few know about his illness. "The doctors say I have a good chance to beat the cancer but I won't know much until four months after I finish here when I can be tested again," Talisman said in an e-mail. "I can tell you I pray every day.... and growing old ain't for sissies." So you can say prayers, too. ...

The hospitalization had an upside; his Hollywood pals rallied. Gregory Harrison, a buddy of "Trapper John" fame, helped cheer him up. Ditto, Alan O'Day, a bandmate of Talisman (they recorded "Undercover Angel" and "Rock and Roll Heaven" together). Jay Moriarty, Talisman's former boss and producer on "The Jeffersons" (for which Talisman wrote a script), also has visited. ...

Michael Ondaatje, whose books include "The English Patient" and "Divisadero," will be among the national authors heading this-a-way for the third Hawaii Book & Music Festival, May 17-18 at the Frank F. Fasi Civic Grounds at Honolulu Hale. The event, assembling authors, storytellers, musicians, hula dancers and playwrights, will be the first community event sponsored by Target, which will present a Keiki Festival within the book-and-music framework. ...

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.