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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, June 26, 2008

SHOW BIZ
Roy's Hawaii Kai eatery has a new look

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Columnist

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser
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Zameer Mallal, new g.m. of Roy's Restaurant in Hawai'i Kai, says the renovations are complete and the eatery has reopened without fanfare. With the upcoming Independence Day celebration at Maunalua Bay coming up, Roy Yamaguchi and staff will do the neighborly thing and celebrate the re-opening of the flagship restaurant with a Fourth of July party, from 7 to 9 p.m., keyed to the East O'ahu music-with-fireworks event, with all proceeds donated to the 442nd "Go for Broke" Regimental Combat Team. Tickets are $40, which includes pupu; you pay for your own drinks. A great way to help a cause, have some nourishment and watch the aerial fireworks from an air-conditioned perch. Call 396-7697 for details. ...

happy talk: It was a meeting of two Broadway luminaries last weekend at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre at Lincoln Center, where "South Pacific" is a smash hit. Local boy Dean Pitchford, composer of such shows as "Footloose," "Fame" and "Carrie," saw the musical and went backstage to meet Loretta Ables Sayre, who is playing Bloody Mary. "It was so wonderful to finally meet Dean — what a great guy!" said Ables Sayre, who's finally unwinding from the excitement of the Tony Awards. "South Pacific" is this year's best revival of a musical. ...

Italian TV has been in town, tracking presidential candidate Barack Obama — and one of the stops was the Chowder House at Ward Warehouse, where Obama dined. Mary Joe Cabebe, who served Obama, was interviewed; and coincidentally, she's a Punahou grad, as is Obama. And Japanese visitors — not necessarily from Obama, Japan, where our local politico has a huge following — have been stopping by, too, to pose with pics of Obama. ...

Manoa DNA will be featured in a segment of X-Terra's Eco-Adventures series, the nationally syndicated show created by Tom Kiely of Team Unlimited featuring an outdoor sports lifestyle theme. Lloyd Kawakami, patriarch of the music group, said to look for them at 10 a.m. July 5 and 1 p.m. July 19 on KITV 4. The show later will get exposure in more than 100 markets nationwide on the CBS, ABC, NBC, and FOX networks. ...

on stage: Funny, funny business onstage at the Jasmine Trias-Society of Seven Las Vegas show at the Outrigger Waikiki last Friday, when comediandeejay Frank B. Shaner was "volunteered" to join the guys in a make-like-Elvis audience-participation tidbit. Shaner, who should return to standup, identified himself as Laka, and proceeded to do shtick with the band members, much to the audience's delight. "I had so much fun, I was like a kid in a candy shop. So much stuff to pick from and the boys are pros, especially Freddy (Von Paraz), the drummer, with his rim shots at various movements and gyrations I put forth. It was all extemporaneous shooting from the hip; I don't think it could have worked any other way," said Shaner. The only thing he didn't do was share his falsetto voice. ...

And speaking of the Society of Seven: The "classic" group, with co-founders Tony Ruivivar and Bert Sagum, has added Michael Laygo, known as "the prince of pop rock" in the Philippines, to its roster. The group is awaiting word on a Las Vegas showroom destination. ...

With "Rocky Horror Show" in a time-warping revival at Manoa Valley Theatre now, entrepreneur Jack Cione, who produced a "Rocky" in 1986 at the old Queen Theatre, sent a copy of the playbill at the time, and reading the ads was as much fun as remembering the toilet tissue rolls folks hurled then. Ads for The Pottery, Kaimuki Inn, Che Pasta, Cafe Siam and King's Garden — neighborly eateries, now long gone — appear (Kim Chee II and Azteca have survived) and there was one that said "Rocky's favorite group is the Society of Seven," still at the Outrigger in a spinoff version, and another touting Frank DeLima as "the king of zanyness" at the long-gone Noodle Shop. ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: 'Ukulele guru (and now singer) Roy Sakuma managed to get a parcel of "I Am What I Am" tees for the Starbucks Wildest Show in Town crowds — Melveen Leed guest-performs next Wednesday — and it's been an instant hit. It's a promotional item, tied to Sakuma's oldie tune surging to new popularity with its inspirational message of hope and identity. "We have children's sizes," said Sakuma, "but one adult told me he'd wear one, too — so looks like we're on our way." The collectible shirt costs $15, with all proceeds going to charity. ...

Congrats to Misty and Albert Tufono, who welcomed son Albert Afatia Kawaioole Matagi Thompson Tufono on June 16 at Kapi'olani Medical Center. He weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces, measured 22 inches, and is the 10th grandchild of Jack and Cha "Tihati" Thompson. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 525-8055.