Aloha spirit guest-stars in ‘Mad Men’ season debut

Waikiki Beach and The Royal Hawaiian hotel received major plugs in the two-hour "Mad Men" season 6 opener Sunday night on AMC. King Kamehameha and Don Ho were mentioned as well. The show was set in 1967 and started on the beach with main man Don Draper (Jon Hamm) and wife Megan (Jessica Paré), and continued for 12 minutes in and around the hotel. A luau show was presented on the grounds of the Pink Palace by Tihati performers. Cha Thompson, who founded Tihati with her husband, Jack Thompson, in the 1960s, was hired as a cultural consultant.

"How fortunate we are to have the show remember Hawaii the way we were in the ’60s," Cha said. She ordered Hawaiian food for the luau scene from Mel Tani-oka of Tanioka’s Seafoods and Catering. During the luau show, Draper said "no" when asked to get on stage and dance with the performers. But his wife got up and moved suggestively with the show’s host, played by a mainland hire.

The Drapers made the Hawaii trip because ad man Don was to map a promotional campaign for the hotel. Besides island music and scenery of the beach and Diamond Head, references to beautiful, warm Hawaii and the hotel were sprinkled throughout the show by Draper’s colleagues and others in cold New York (it was the holiday season). The episode wound up with the English version of "Hawaiian Wedding Song." The show repeats tonight at 7:30 and Sunday at 5:30 a.m. on AMC …

HAWAII OPERA Theatre presents "Tosca" at the Blaisdell Concert Hall April 26, 28 and 30. At an April 5 pre-rehearsal "Tosca" cast party, visiting principals traded tales about the storied opera. Tongan tenor Ta’u Pupu’a (a former NFL football player) talked about one of the highlights of his life: seeing Luciano Pavarotti in 2004 at the Met, in his last opera performance, as Cavaradossi in "Tosca," the role Pupu’a is playing at HOT. Pavarotti had announced his retirement and, as his character was executed in the final scene, he clutched his chest and fell backward, dead — according to direction — then (unscripted) he slowly lifted a hand and waved goodbye to the audience, which exploded.

Pupu‘a, 41, stands 6 feet 5 and weighed about 290 pounds when he was a standout defensive end at Weber State University in Utah. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1995, spent a year there and then a year with the Baltimore Ravens. After suffering an injury, he said aloha to football, lost weight and focused on his singing …

THE 14TH ANNUAL Alexander Joy Cartwright celebration will once again be observed April 17 at 11 a.m. at Oahu Cemetery. Cartwright is recognized by the baseball Hall of Fame as the "father of baseball. Cartwright arrived in Hono­lulu in 1850 and was a prominent Hawaii resident until his death in 1892. The public is invited to a program featuring the usual suspects: Lyle Nelson, Jack Sullivan, Bob Corboy and Korky Gallagher. Others expected include Jim Leahey, Pal Eldredge, Don Robbs and Hervy Kurisu. Bring your glove for some fun …

The Willows is marking Administrative Professionals Week, April 22-26, with a lunch buffet created by executive chef Craig Yasaka. On April 24, Manuheali‘i fashions will be presented in shows at 11:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. Manuheali‘i also will operate a pop-up store in The Willows’ chapel throughout lunch …

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Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.