Eddie and Myrna Kamae are off to Washington, D.C., where The Sons of Hawai'i are to perform at the Hawai'i State Society's Inaugural Ball for President-elect Barack Obama Tuesday at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in southwest Washington.

Kamae picked up a third ticket for his trusty 'ukulele for the commuter flight from Newark to D.C. He didn't want a repeat of an episode in San Francisco, when he was unable to board his one-of-a-kind uke, a prized possession, so he bought a seat for the instrument to have it safely by his side. The uke was simply ticketed as "Kamae." When wife Myrna was asked by a ticketing agent what the big deal was, she said of the instrument: "It's the only one like it in the world! It's like the 'ukulele version of a Stradivarius." ...

Island songstress Ginai will be among the performers at the National Bar Association's Inaugural Ball, tonight at the JW Marriott Hotel in D.C. "I knew when I first heard Ginai's amazing voice on her ("Jazz Island") CD that she is a 'must have' for our celebration of Obama's historic inauguration," said John Crump, the association's executive director, who expects this to be the start of a long relationship with Ginai. ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Ex-Islander Jason Momoa ("Baywatch Hawaii") and girlfriend Lisa Bonet ("The Cosby Show") welcomed their second child in early December, and named him Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa. Momoa says the tot arrived on the "stormiest, rainiest night," and the couple opted for Hawaiian names that just might define who he becomes. Nakoa means "warrior," mana is "strength" or "spirit," kaua refers to "rain" and "po" translates to the dark — reflecting circumstances of the time of birth. Namakaeha also is Momoa's middle name. ...

Ballet dancer Mark Tucker, 20, had to skip December's "Nutcracker"- but he had a valid alibi: he's a new member of the Eugene Ballet and did 30 "Nutcracker" shows in Oregon, Washington state, Idaho, Montana and Northern California. Tucker is the son of Alan and Mindy Tucker and grandson of arts patron Gaye Glaser. Next: "Swan Lake." ...

Cha Thompson and a performing troupe from Tihati Productions will be off to South Korea today for a weeklong Marriott-sponsored tour (shaped by Ed Hubennette, Marriott International vice president for North Asia, Hawai'i and the South Pacific) to promote her company's Polynesian shows to an expanding Korean market, thanks to fewer travel restrictions. With passports, visas are not required to come here. ...

HERE 'N' THERE: Loretta Ables Sayre, our beloved Bloody Mary in Lincoln Center's "South Pacific," has a new friend in popster James Taylor, who grew up listening to the Rodgers & Hammerstein soundtrack while growing up. "He asked to meet me and was incredibly gracious," said Ables Sayre. "He really loved this production." Ables Sayre continues to get somebodies knocking on her dressing room door. One night, it was the venerable legend Elaine Strich ("a kick in the pants"). Another night, it was the president of the U.S. from Fox's "24," Cherry Jones ("I couldn't believe I was meeting her"), who originated and won a Tony for the Sister Aloysius role in "Doubt" (Meryl Streep plays it in the movie version). Small world: ex-local Jim Lapidus is costumer for "24." ...

Battling cancer's not easy; publicist Lisa Josephsohn is in the midst of an L.A. trek for treatment and doctor's visits. ...

TV TIP: Even if you've seen both, two KGMB9 specials, produced by Phil Arnone and airing tonight, are worth a re-watch: "IZ — the Man Behind the Music" at 6 p.m., on Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, followed by "C&K — Back in the Day" at 7 p.m., with Cecilio and Kapono. Talk about music legends. ...

For late-nighters, Al Waterson performs 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Saturday at Nick's Fishmarket lounge. You may order food till 10:30 p.m., desserts and drinks till closing. Valet parking at the Waikiki Gateway hotel; validated parking ($2) at the nearby Nike building. ...

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.