Jack "Tihati" Thompson, co-founder of Tihati Productions, is Hawaii’s new honorary consul of Samoa.
He was appointed before the holidays by Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Malielegaoi and already has received the proper credentials and set up an office in his Portlock home.
Thus, Thompson is the official disseminator of things Samoan. He will monitor the state of visitor and investor trade in Hawaii affecting Samoa and oversee prospective tourism moves there. He reports to the office of Samoa’s ambassador, Ali’ioaiga Feturi Elisaia,at the Samoa embassy in New York.
"Cha and I will have to live in Samoa for a month or so to get acquainted with the responsibilities," Thompson said of the couple’s impending orientation to learn the protocol and rituals of consulship.
The honor comes as Tihati Productions, for four decades ensconced in a Sheraton/Starwood hotel, prepares for a Feb. 3 debut of its new flagship "Te Moana Nui" Polynesian production at the Pacific Beach Hotel. This will become the venue of choice when the new Samoan consul hosts dignitaries from the South Seas. …
NAME-DROPPING: Hawaii’s superstar Bruno Mars,who is headlining the halftime show at the Feb. 2 Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, has just been named one of Forbes magazine’s "30 Under 30" luminaries.
"I go for the underdog," Mars is quoted about the game. "Hawaii doesn’t have a team, so I bounce around." As for the possibility of singing in the snow, he notes: "You gotta be fearless, man … if I’m ever gonna sing in a blizzard, it may as well be at the Super Bowl."
The snow biz might even inspire Mars to compose and sing about the frost. …
Mars also has the dubious honor of being the most pirated artist in 2013, with 5.8 million illegal downloads of his music, according to Musicmetric.Rihanna was second with 5.4 million. …
When Times Square’s New Year’s Eve celebrants bid 2013 adieu with the dropping of the iconic crystal ball in 30-degree temps, the lilting tones of Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole singing "Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" brought a touch of aloha to 2014. …
THE LOCAL ANGLE: Society of Seven co-founders Tony Ruivivar and Bert Sagum, now based in Las Vegas, will join author Frances Kirk at a book signing for her dual biography (the group’s as well as hers), "The Society of Seven: Last of the Great Show Bands," from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at a sidewalk sale outside Jungle Fun near Ala Moana Center’s Centerstage. Fans and friends can pick up the book at a 30 percent discount and secure autographs. The signings, sponsored by Carole Kai’s Great Aloha Run in February, coincide with the race’s 30th anniversary this year. …
Reminder: "The Lion King" opens Tuesday at Blaisdell Concert Hall. Even if you’ve seen it, go again and embrace the "Circle of Life." …
CELEB CITY: President Barack Obama and his family topped the parade of boldfaced names in our midst over the holidays. Add actors Ben Stiller and Sean Penn, both in "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," who found time for fun in the sun — the latter with Charlize Theron. Paris Jackson, daughter of the late Michael Jackson, holidayed with mom Debbie Rowe. Sacha Baron Cohen and his family hit our beaches. The neighbor isles hosted Oscar- winning Anne Hathaway (Kauai) and Adam Sandler (Maui). …
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.
