ISLAND BREEZES: We're just back from a visit to Providence, R.I., where my wife delivered the keynote address at an American Association of School Librarians conference in nearby Warwick. The big thrill was being in New England at the start of the changing hues of the fall foliage — never thought one could get excited about leaves — which we saw on treks to Newport, R.I., Concord, Mass., and Mystic, Conn.

It was somewhat refreshing to open up the Providence Journal and see a familiar face — Illinois Sen. Barack Obama was stumping for fellow Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse; the Hawai'i native (on the Oct. 23 Time magazine cover) could not catch a flight from Newark, N.J., because of the Northeast snowfall, so he drove two hours to arrive on "Hawaiian time." But better late than never. ...

A Hawai'i contingent at the AASL conference had heard about the Big Island temblor that disabled the Islands that Sunday, and we all had mixed feelings: concern for family safety back home, happy to be away from the discomfort of being powerless. It was nice to catch Mahealani Richardson of KITV-4 doing live feeds for CNN, Howard Dashefsky of KHNL-8 providing reports for NBC's "Today" show, and Kim Gennaula of KGMB-9 doing similar duties for Katie Couric on CBS. ...

AFTERMATH: Star of the Sea School's 60th anniversary lu'au went on as planned on that shaky Sunday, even without electricity. But acts that needed amplification didn't show, so the school recruited Keith and Carmen Haugen, no strangers to Star of the Sea because Keith teaches Hawaiian language on campus and has produced campus Lei Day and Christmas concerts over the past 13 years. The Haugens imposed on The Rev. Fred McGowan to sing, former student Pomaika'i Lush and a senior citizen group to dance, and among the appreciative audience was Bishop Larry Silva. All by candlelight. ...

No sooner did restaurateur Randy Schoch have Sen. Dan Akaka bless his newest Ruth's Chris Steak House at the Shops at Mauna Lani, when the earthquake hit, which was quite a shock for Schoch. Glassware and bottles of wine were lost. ...

Comedian Frank DeLima thinks a bad luck streak started from Friday the 13th, when his Hawaiian flight to Maui (he was destined for the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk, for which he was spokesman) was canceled. A gate agent reminded him of a nun from yesteryear — rigid and not very accommodating — but he got a blessing when he finally got a flight and was upgraded to first class. But his good fortune dissipated when he attempted to get his Budget car rental, and he encountered a surly visitor. A moped, driven by an elderly woman, nearly collided with him as he walked from Maui Seaside Hotel to Manana Garage Mexican restaurant. Still shaken and his ego damaged, DeLima's escapade had a happy ending: The Memory Walk attracted 1,000 and had virtually no problems. ...

And if you're Mainland-bound, DeLima performs at 8 p.m. Nov. 4 at the 'Ohana Room of the California Hotel in Vegas (tickets are $20, (800) 634-8505) and at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Nov. 11 at L.A.'s Normandie Casino ($15 pre-sale, $20 at the door; (800) 991-6637). ...

NAMES 'N' FACES: Frequent visitor Mary Gutzi auditioned for "Wicked" on the Mainland, then flew here to perform Edith Piaf-style at Ballet Hawaii's "Moulin Rouge Black, White & Haute Ball" recently. Kevin Bailey (from Broadway), Derek Daniels (former "Cats" actor) and Olga Supphozova (from Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo) also performed. ...

Though the Aloha Festivals' Hawaiian Falsetto Concert is open only to males 18 and older, a 6-year-old lad, Zane Ka'aiali'i, enchanted the audience. Turns out he is the nephew of Lawrence Pau, 2004 contest winner, whose family provided the opening entertainment at the Oct. 13 contest at The Royal Hawaiian's Monarch Rom. The winner was Bill Kapahu Lyman, who sang "Waiomina." ...

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.