Cha Thompson thought she was going to have a cozy dinner with four church pals last Tuesday night in Roy's Hawai'i Kai private party room, but was greeted with "Surprise!" and "Happy Birthday" choruses from a gallery of 60, mostly family but some friends dating back 30 years.

"I don't believe it," said the overwhelmed kupuna and co-proprietor of Tihati Productions. She didn't expect such a gathering, since hubby Jack Thompson had taken her out the night before at Morton's. That was a decoy, of course, so when she was cheered by family, including son Afatia and daughters Misty and Ruana, along with a dozen or so mo'o-puna, she was momentarily speechless. For Cha, that was a rarity.

Three "crashers" also arrived, in the form of Karen Keawehawai'i, Jimmy Borges and Jim Nabors, and Cha shrieked with glee. Afatia sang Christmas carols and a few bluesy pop tunes; the entertainer guests were able to party, eat and soak in the fellowship without taking the mike, another rarity. Nabors flashed a diamond-studded Rolex, one of 80 once owned by Bernie Madoff — a Christmas gift from a friend who bought it at an auction. ...

"We can't afford this," Cha whispered under her breath about the celebration, knowing the state of the visitor industry, which powers her Polynesian productions. She kept asking Tihati's money man, Alan Kutaka, "How are we going to pay for this?"

Roy Yamaguchi, a golfing buddy of Jack Thompson, was on hand for the preparations, and he was applauded for the mini-banquet menu that offered a half-dozen options for the main entree. Cha, joyful and grateful, muttered: "Oh, this is just so awesome." ...

HITHER 'N' YON: Following a poignant memorial service for the late Jennie M. Von Rohr (mother of entertainer Loretta Ables Sayre), a recording of the Rev. Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" was played as guests said their final alohas to the Ables and Von Rohr families. "That was Mom's favorite song," said Ables Sayre of the R&B hit. "You should hear the pumped-up volume when she played it at home," said the Broadway star's spouse, publicist David Sayre. Von Rohr, who died last Dec. 16 at age 75, probably would have tried, surely, to take in the Green concert set for Jan. 23 at Blaisdell Arena. Meanwhile, Ables Sayre is back at Lincoln Center, doing her Bloody Mary role in "South Pacific," but hopes to back for a vacation — and a delayed Christmas celebration — in March. ...

Gloria and Yemun Chung have relocated to Las Vegas, pulling up stakes to be with her granddaughter. The Tihati Productions/Pacific Expo ex-staffers could likely plant seeds for future Tihati acts being booked in the gambling capital. ...

Before they left town, the Chungs were hosted by Jack and Maydelle Cione to partake in "Santa's Bistro," the Christmas special within the dining hall at Arcadia, which was shimmering with lights and displays — with sit-down menu and amid an environment of Santa and snowmen and holiday cheer. The gardens were like a mini Honolulu City Lights, too, with decorated trees and some animated figures — all assembled under the mentorship of the masterful Cione. ...

KEYBOARDERS: Kit Samson's happy to be back home, following pre-holiday treks to Manila and Hong Kong. ...

"Dueling Pianos," with Ginny Tiu and Noly Paa, are a Friday-night treat at the Sheraton's Hanohano Room. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Reach Wayne Harada at 266-0926. Read his blog Fridays in TGIF and online at http://showandtellhawaii.honadvblogs.com.