NAME-DROPPING: Hester Kamin is the new — well, the first — education director at the Hawai'i Theatre Center, moving from the Honolulu Theatre for Youth, where she was a drama education associate. Her new job includes leadership of the Hawai'i Young Actors Ensemble, a youth theater program involving Maryknoll High School, and creating an apprenticeship program and eventual student matinees in theater and dance at the Hawai'i. ...

And Nola A. Nahulu is interim chorus director for the Honolulu Symphony Chorus, filling in for the departed Karen Kennedy who has accepted a position at Towson University in Maryland. ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: The Bayanihan Dinner, set for Oct. 20 at the Sheraton Waikiki's Hawaii Ballroom, is the first-ever benefit gala for the Filipino Community Center. Cocktails begin at 6 p.m.; dinner and show at 7 p.m. Cha Thompson of Tihati Productions honors her lola (grandmother) by assembling a top-notch revue with Filipino talent, including son Afatia Thompson, Matt Catingub, Rocky Brown and Kristian Lei. Chef Ron Amasol of the hotel's Hanohano Room is preparing a haute Filipino dinner. Tickets are $250, with corporate tables ranging from $2,500 to $20,000. Call 680-0451. ...

The James Tams — parents of actor Jason Tam — took in the Broadway opening on Sunday of "A Chorus Line," in which Jason plays Paul San Marco. Haven't yet heard about how it went. ...

SIGHTS 'N' SOUNDS: During a recent dinner at the Shanghai Bistro, singer-composer-pianist Jay Larrin and his manager (and KINE radio account specialist) Alan Yamamoto had a group doodle. They left their "art" for owner Li May Tang. ...

Seen the Rice Krispies TV commercial yet? Israel Kama-kawiwo'ole's uplifting humming from his lilting "Over the Rainbow" is helping sell yet another product. If you haven't caught the spot, go to www.mountainapplecompany .com/ricekrispies for your Bruddah Iz snap-crackle-and-pop fix. ...

The Travel Channel and the History Channel both shot back-to-back segments at Bishop Museum recently, for viewing in the first half of 2007. The Travel Channel did a "Do's and Don'ts" show, highlighting activities and sites suitable for a Hawaiian vacation, and the History Channel zoomed in on history and culture for its "The States!" series. Among the Bishop personnel interviewed: Betty Kam, vice president of culture resources; Blair Collis, vice president of public operations; and DeSoto Brown, collections manager for archives. ...

GREAT EXPECTATIONS: A great collection of CDs are expected in the days and weeks ahead.

Johnny Helm's "Divide" drops today, with a CD release party at 9 p.m. Saturday at Anna Bannana's. The disc revisits some tunes circa 1996 to the present and includes a tribute to radio fave Wili Moku. ...

Brittni Paiva's third CD, out Nov. 7, was produced by Wendell Ching, and among the contents: a duet with Melveen Leed. ...

"Moonbeams for Christmas," also expected Nov. 7, assembles a number of local notables (Jake Shimabukuro, Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, Eric Gilliom, George Kahumoku Jr., Cyril Pahinui and more). It will benefit local educational programs in the Islands. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...