GOIN' GLOBAL: Keahi Conjugacion, sister of Tony Conjugacion and Brother Noland, has been developing her own 'ukulele style, composing new music and angling for a European tour (with promoters from the Netherlands). "I will be promoting my new CD, 'My Paradise,' in Europe," she said. "I have built a big fan base in Italy, France, Germany and many other European countries." That's why she's been under the radar since earlier this year. ...

Conjugacion's composition, "My Paradise," will be in a charity CD in support of World Hunger, the lone local joining other artists from abroad. "My song speaks of the love and serenity that people feel when they come to Hawai'i and those who are dreaming to come to Hawai'i." Go to www.songweavers.com. ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: That was local girl Nicole Scherzinger, leader of the Pussycat Dolls of "Don't Cha" fame, dining last Friday night at Aaron's atop the Ala Moana Hotel. She's prepping for "Her Name Is Nicole," her solo CD, which is due Nov. 11. A track, "Whatever U Like," featuring T.I., is available on iTunes. ...

New York actor Richard Vida, in rehearsals as George for the Sept. 19 launch of the touring company of Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, "The Drowsy Chaperone" in Toronto, has been hanging out with Georgia Engel, the local actress who is reprising Mrs. Tottendale from the original company. She's still remembered from Kennedy Theatre's "Camelot," in which she played Morgan Le Fay, and the chatter revolved around her Island memories, which included living at the Diamond Head Lighthouse since her dad was the admiral. Engel, of course, created the Georgette character in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." ...

PERSONALITIES: Tahiti Fernandez, daughter of Augie Rey, has survived rejection twice from "American Idol" auditions in San Diego and Omaha and was told that she doesn't have the "look" for the upcoming season. So she's refocusing her performing career as half of the Tahiti & Kaleo duo, Kaleo being Kaleo Agsalda, a singer-guitarist who collaborates in song composition. They appeared Saturday at Roy's Hawai'i Kai, and will return there Sept. 15 and Oct. 6 and 20, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tahiti & Kaleo also sing the first Wednesday of each month at P.F. Chang's. ...

Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom appeared in front of 12,000 folks at the California State Fair in Sacramento last weekend (followed on subsequent nights by The Commodores and Chicago) and held her own in the company of local musicians Jeff Peterson, Chino Montero, Steve Jones, Gilbert Emata and Garin Poliahu. Gov. Linda Lingle has tapped her as an Ambassador of Hawai'i, so her Hawaiian and English melodies likely will soar in a cluster of "official" state functions.

A BIGGIE COMING UP: Gilliom appearing with Matt Catingub, debuting her "Generation U.S.A." album (a spinoff of her "Generation Hawai'i" CD) at Feinstein's at the Regency in New York City. ...

Local comic and Island Radio DJ Lanai had dinner at Ruth's Chris Steak House in Restaurant Row on Labor Day. Few folks know his last name is Tabura — and his brother, Adam Tabura, is the executive chef for Ruth's Chris at The Shops at Wailea on Maui. ...

TRADE WINDS: Manoa Valley Theatre launched its 2007-08 season last night with "The Musical of Musicals — The Musical," with Jim Hutchison directing. MVT also has tapped directors for its shows the rest of the season — Andrew Saka-guchi for "Plaid Tidings," Vanita Rae Smith for "Doubt," Linda Johnson for "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," Betty Burdick for "And Then There Were None," and Jerry Tracy for "Rocky Horror Show." ...

Congrats to Toni and Pierre Grill, who recently celebrated their marriage with a to-do at The Dragon Upstairs, above Hanks Cafe, in Chinatown, where he's a regular performer. ...

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.