For the umpteenth year, Kit Samson’s Sound Advice will provide the supper and dance music at this year’s ‘Ilima Awards, set for Oct. 8 at Diamond Head Theatre. The event honors top chefs and restaurants and is an annual presentation by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser to benefit DHT. Keyboarder Samson has tapped Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning jazz singer Starr Kalahiki to provide the vocals; musicians will be David Yamasaki, bass and guitar; Aaron Aranita, saxophone and flute; Butch Nicolas, drums; and Alan Suzuki, percussion.Customarily a sellout, the evening features onstage entertainment followed by a tasting gala. Tickets: 733-0277. …
HOME AGAIN: Entertainer Randy Hongo, who underwent a stem cell transplant in July at City of Hope in California, is back in his Salt Lake condo, finally sleeping in his own bed. "There is no place like home," said Hongo in an email. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow.
His recuperation is far from over, however. "I have a lot of doctor’s rules to follow: avoid crowds, so I am staying indoors, going out only to doctor’s appointments and dialysis (in Liliha); follow strict dietary rules; avoid direct sunlight (I go out in the daytime with big hat, long-sleeve shirt, long pants — I look like a sugar plantation worker)," Hongo said. …
He misses his church allies and vows to visit them when he can. Wife Gay continues caregiving, preparing healthful meals and "soon will be returning to her part-time job of singing for Japanese weddings in town." …
AROUND ‘N’ ABOUT: Christopher Diprete is Hawaii’s Most Beautiful Man 2012, a title he won at last weekend’s Hawaii Woman Expo. He’s a hula dancer, too. …
Singer Joy Abbott brought pianist pal Betty Loo Taylor (aka Lady Fingers) to perform a parcel of Hollywood tunes for Arcadia retiree residents recently. What makes Abbott’s performance special? The footnotes and back stories to the songs she sings and her reflections as a Broadway insider for years. Playwright pal Willard Beckham even flew in from the Big Apple to share applause — and a song. …
RANDOM NOTES: Designer Anne Namba and Hawaii Opera Theatre’s Henry Akina are partnering again — remember the Finnish Opera Company’s "Madame Butterfly"? — with fashion, music and camaraderiein "A Special Sunday Brunch" from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Halekulani Hotel. Participating talent will be bass-baritone Jamie Offenbach, tenor Richard Troxell and sopranos Nancy AllenLundy and Barbara Shirvis, who are principals in "Die Fledermaus," the HOT season’s opening production playing Oct. 12, 14 and 16 at Blaisdell Concert Hall. Premium and standard seating are available; call Tracy Jefferson at 596-7372, ext. 200. …
Roy Tokujo, who was hired by Roberts Hawaii toproduce the singer Lani Misalucha‘s now-shuttered show as well as fine-tune magician John Hirokawa‘s endeavor at the Magic of Polynesia showroom at the Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel, is still with Roberts. And the buzz is stronger than ever that another Waikiki hotel will place Misalucha in a limited-run showroom slot. Meanwhile, she has isolated gigs here and abroad. …
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.
