Hawaii’s Bruno Mars is the No. 2 touring attraction this summer, according to Pollstar, right behind Bruce Springsteen at No. 1 and ahead of Cher at No. 3.
According to The Associated Press, Springsteen and the E Street Band lead the Top 20 Pollstar concert tour list, with average box office gross at $1.5 million and a $97.32 average ticket price. Mars, the "Treasure" and "Just the Way You Are" hometowner, follows at $1.2 million and $88.65, trailed by Cher with $1.1 million and $90.36.It’s Mars’ first appearance on Pollstar’s chart. …
Further, Mars’ February Super Bowl XLVIII TV halftime show with his Hooligans and the Red Hot Chili Peppers earned two Emmy Award nominations, for best short-format live-action entertainment program and best lighting design and lighting direction for a variety special. A delighted Mars tweeted his 18.5 million followers, "#Hooligans! Jus got word that the Super Bowl halftime show got nominated for an Emmy! That’s pretty funky if you ask me. Congrats @nfl#!!!" …
And Mars wowed ’em in his Madison Square Garden debut Monday night — yet another conquest. …
HIT HER ‘N’ YON: When we were in New York we ventured to the trendy Uniqlo store on Fifth Avenue at West 53rd Street and were bowled over by the sunny summer promotion of Hawaiian wear. Turns out the aloha gear is part of the Iolani Collection deal the local clothier has with the Japan-based retailer, and Iolani President Lloyd Kawakami, also a member of the ManoaDNA music group, got a firsthand glimpse, too. "We made a stopover at JFK on our way back from Paris and London, and went over to see the Iolani Collection," Kawakami said. "We were told that the product had pretty much sold out during the first weeks after its launch in June." A bright moment, considering his plane sat two hours on the tarmac due to a storm. …
It was a game of toes when Hawaii actor Jason Momoa, who played the powerful warrior Khal Drogo on HBO’s "Game of Thrones," showed up barefoot at"AnEveningwithJasonMomoaandThelma Adams"July 8 inNew York. The film he directed, "Road to Paloma," was screened. …
WINE AND WAVES: Singer Amy Hanaiali’i has her own signature wine from Napa, which she announced via Facebook."A big mahalo to the Peju and Truchard ohana for partnering with me on this. Wanted to offer friends and family pre-orders first," she said. "This is how I like merlot." …
Makua Rothman, whose Mountain Apple CD "Soundwave" is making waves, is having a great year. He won the Big Wave World Tour season’s opener, the Billabong Pico Alto in Peru, on July 3. Two days earlier, he became a father for the second time when his daughter Hikianalia was born. Rothman’s music endeavors will include tours with Matisyahu, Ozomatli and Donavon Frankenreiter in August and the Wailers in September. …
SHOW BITS: For the first time in 43 years, Herb "Ohta-san" Ohta, will miss Sunday’s Ukulele Festival at Kapiolani Park; son Herb Ohta Jr. (joined by Jon Yamasato) will sub. And Jake Shimabukuro has confirmed his participation. …
"Honu by the Sea" is back at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel’s Monarch Room for final performances at 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday. Tickets: 554-2320. Marcelo Pacleb is directing; show creator Johnson Enos took "Honu" for a Washington, D.C., run earlier this month. …
The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii’s Taste of Hawaii Tuesday and Wednesday in D.C. will feature Aidan James, the ukulele whiz, and The Aloha Boys (Glen Hirabayashi, Isaac Hoopii and Irv Queja), former Hawaii residents. Island yummies are being assembled on the Hill for Taste, at which U.S. Sens. Maizie Hirono and Brian Schatz and Reps. Colleen Hanabusa and Tulsi Gabbard will be guests. …
And that’s "Show Biz." …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist; reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com; read his Show and Tell Hawaii blog at www.staradvertiser.com.
