Here's a rare chance to hear Nina Keali'iwahamana and Mahi Beamer, classic Hawaiian music faves, who will make guest appearances at the sixth annual Hapa Haole Hula & Vocal Competition, at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Lu'au Garden of the Hale Koa Hotel. This is a rare instance when civvies and military may attend.

The competition, an annual endeavor of kumu hula Vicky Holt Takamine (who wants to revive and showcase hapa-haole music as part of the hula culture and history), will feature past competition winners Paul Shimomoto and Mahela Ichinose.

Tickets: $20 advance, $25 at the door, $10 for keiki 6-12. Call 955-0555 or 375-0847 or go to www.hapahaolefest.org. …

CALENDAR CUES: Jazz greats Jimmy Borges, Gabe Baltazar and Betty Loo Taylor team up for a wing-ding of a jazz fest (well, mini), from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Grand Lanai of the Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk. The show is part of Na Mele No Na Pua, a series of showcases for Island music-makers, and this month's to-do taps the legendary singer with the gorgeous voice, the incomparable saxophonist and the stellar (and Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning) pianist. …

By the way, pianist Kit Samson will provide music for the aforementioned Borges for a segment that Emme Tomimbang plans for her Thanksgiving show, with a shooting scheduled this Friday. And the buzz is that Samson's back on the Waikiki nightlife scene — at the Halekulani resort. …

And Makana, the singer- guitarist, will be featured in a Second Saturday Kanikapila from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday at the Royal Grove of the Royal Hawaiian Center. There will be a hula kahiko performance by Halau o ke Aali'o Ku at 7 p.m. Admission is free and parking is free with a restaurant or vendor validation. …

FILM LOOPS: The 28th Louis Vuitton International Film Festival holds a press conference at 10 a.m. today at RumFire at the Sheraton Waikiki hotel, formally launching the 2008 festival, which continues through Oct. 19. Among those scheduled to speak at the kickoff: film exec Rick Kinsel, producer Roy Lee, state film official Georja Skinner, actor Cliff Curtis, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences director Bruce Davis, and KGMB9 "Sunrise" co-anchor Grace Lee. …

And the HIFF program guide now is available at most Starbucks locations. Former resident Julia Nickson's "Half Life" film will be on the HIFF schedule Oct. 13 and 14; the film also features Sanoe Lake, who previously was seen in "Blue Crush," who plays Nickson's daughter. Nickson, who gained wide exposure when she co-starred with Sylvester Stallone in his "Rambo: First Blood Part II," was married to actor David Soul. She has another movie, "Dim Sum Funeral," making its U.S. premiere at the American Film Institute Festival on Oct. 31. This one stars Islander Kelly Hu, Bai Ling and Russell Wong — a comedy about siblings who are forced to spend a week together to attend the funeral of their ritualistic Chinese mother. Sounds like a natural for the Hawai'i market, too. …

CHARTING 'EM: There's always a hustle and tussle on the Hawai'i CD sales charts — jockeying for the No. 1 slot — but you need to check the fine print to really "see" who is big and how many albums sold.

The winnah and hard-to-beat overall champion: Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.

His dossier — and most recent album counts:

• " 'N Dis Life," 119,812.

• "Iz: The Man and His Music," 87,144.

• "Facing Future," 84,085.

• "Alone in Iz World," 76,565.

• "Wonderful World," 62,900.

• "E Ala E," 2,501.

In comparison, Keali'i Reichel's debut CD "Kawaipunahele" has amassed sales of 137,848 copies, making him a champ, too. These figures are from a weekly DMA chart assembled here, based on local sales. …

SHORTS OF SORTS: Moloka'i native Kamakani Kiaha performed "Puna Ku'u Aloha," by Katherine Maunakea, to win first place in the Richard Ho'opi'i Leo Ki'eki'e Contest held at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center recently. Kiahi, 18, is a Pop Warner coach who loves the Hawaiian language and entered his first-ever solo music competition — and won. Dane Fujiwara was second, Dan Kaula Thompson was third. …

Princess Ka'iulani, the beloved Island royal, will be remembered in a series of birthday events this month. A lei-draping ceremony, from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Oct. 16 (her birthdate) at her statue in the Princess Ka'iulani Triangle Park, will tap Hawaiian societies; a daylong program is set from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 16 at her namesake hotel, the Sheraton Princess Ka'iulani hotel, and a Princess Ka'iulani Keiki Hula Festival, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Ainahau Showroom at the hotel, will involve Tihati Productions.…

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.