‘Iolani Sportswear will present "‘Iolani: 60 Years of Aloha" from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the aloha wear factory and boutique at 1234 Kona St. The event marks the label’s 60th anniversary and will help raise funds for the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific (aka REHAB, coincidentally celebrating its sixth decade of operations this year).
"REHAB has helped so many people in our community, including family and friends," said Lloyd Kawakami, ‘Iolani president. "We are very proud to support this wonderful organization as they and ‘Iolani celebrate their 60th anniversaries."
The evening will feature food, fashion and music, said Kawakami, who will perform as one-third of the ManoaDNA group featuring sons Alex and Nick Kawakami.
Kapala also will perform; members include Ashley Kimo Artis, Lance Kalanikai Artis, Richard Lanakila Heirakuji, Lopaka Ho‘opi‘i, Adriano Kawika Larioza and Zanuck Kapala Lindsey.
Side Street Inn, award-winning Colin Nishida‘s original and still popular hangout for locals and chefs located downstairs of‘Iolani, will provide the kau kau, and because this also is Hawai‘i Fashion Month, there will be "fashion flashes" by ‘Iolani throughout the evening.
Sponsors such as Hawaiian Airlines and KoAloha Ukulele will provide prizes.
Pre-sale tickets are $30 ($40 at the door), with proceeds going to REHAB. For tickets, go to www.iolani60. eventbrite.com. …
ON THE MEND: Cha Thompson of Tihati Productions is recuperating gingerly after taking a spill and hitting her head in her bathroom. "I went out on my first mile-long walk," she said the other day, happy about being outdoors. Best news: Her doctor has given her the green light to drive again since the staples on her scalp have been removed. "I nap in the afternoon, when I get tired," she said.
But she had a tense incident last week when she was hit by an SUV hatchback door on the precise spot of her surgery; she was rushed to the ER at Queen’s, and luckily X-rays proved there was no damage. "Never a dull moment," said hubby Jack "Tihati" Thompson.…
PLEDGING ALLEGIANCE: Telly Leung, one of the actors in the Broadway-bound musical "Allegiance: A New American Musical,"was teaching and sharing his theatrical insights with students at ‘Iolani School last week, culminating in a concert Friday. Leung will star as Young Sammy Kimura alongside fellow Asians Lea Salonga and George Takei in "Allegiance," a new show set against the Japanese-American internment injustices during World War II. Leung’s Broadway credits include "Rent," "M. Butterfly," "Flower Drum Song" and "Godspell 2012" and such TV shows as "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" and "Glee." …
MARS IN ORBIT: Gotta hand it to homegrown superstar Bruno Mars. He’ll score big time as the Feb. 2 Super Bowl XLVIII halftime performer, live from MetLife Stadium at the Meadowlands. After all, he sings mostly his own compositions, has a look and style of his own and is riveting as a headliner, according to the reviews he’s collecting on his current"Unorthodox Jukebox" tour.
Further, he’s hot, current, hip, charismatic and still ascending, not like most previous Super Bowl headliners who may have had bigger name status and tenure, but with diminishing luster. You go, Bruno — show ’em your allure. …
And: if you’re in Las Vegas for New Year’s Eve, Mars will headline at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas’ new venue, The Chelsea. He’ll be there Dec. 29 and 31 with his eight-piece band, The Hooligans, and again Feb. 15-16, May 23-24 and Aug. 22-23. Plan your travels accordingly, since he’s apparently skipping hometown Hawaii on this tour. …
And that’s "Show Biz." …
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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.
