Vince-Paul Puanani Hipa left Kailua in the late 1970s with a love of old Hollywood glamour and returned as makeup artist Paul Starr, along with a celebrity clientele that included Angelina Jolie, Nicole Richie, Jennifer Garner and Mariah Carey.

His parents, Iggie and Jacque Hipa of Kailua, began to realize years ago how prominent their eldest son had gotten in the Hollywood makeup industry when they went with him to the Estee Lauder counter at the old Kailua Liberty House one day.

"The gal looked at him and said, 'Oh, Mr. Starr,' " Iggie said. "He was a director with Estee Lauder and he said, 'Pick anything you want, Mom.' "

Starr, who was born at Tripler Army Medical Center and in 1974 graduated from Roosevelt High School, was found dead in his Los Angeles home on Aug. 19 at the age of 51.

He grew up on O'ahu, had a love of drawing and painting, and took courses in skin and color at Kapi'olani Community College before heading to Los Angeles in the late 1970s.

"He loved old movies where the movie stars looked so glamorous," Jacque said. "Their make up, their hair, they were picture perfect."

Starr changed his name and returned home over the years with pictures of him with celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Dolly Parton and Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley and a client list that had grown to include Michelle Pfeiffer, Jane Fonda, Scarlett Johansson, Cameron Diaz and Jessica Alba.

"We can't remember them all," Jacque said. "The list is endless. We were just blown away."

Starr was a founding beauty editor of Flaunt magazine from 1998 to 2001, and in 2005 released a book, "Paul Starr on Beauty: Conversations with Thirty Celebrated Women."

Starr is survived by his parents; brothers Stan-Kirk Hipa of Miami and Joshua K. Hipa of Hilo; and Stan-Kirk's wife, Lydia.

Funeral was pending.