SHIP SHAPE: U2 didn't have to journey far for its party after Saturday's rock-out at Aloha Stadium. A reception aboard the Battleship Missouri Memorial docked at Pearl Harbor was hosted by Bill Gates, the Microsoft billionaire, with Bono and U2 welcoming 300 folks including actor Pierce Brosnan, philanthropist Warren Buffett and deejay-entrepreneur Tom Moffatt. ...

On Sunday Bono joined U2ers at The Kahala resort's Veranda and Plumeria Beach House. ...

On another night, The Edge dined with pals at Jose's Mexican Restaurant in Kaimuki. ...

Carol Burnett, a close pal of Jim Nabors, will introduce him when he's honored at the USS Missouri Memorial Association's "A Night of American Heroes" fundraiser, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye is the other honoree. Among the performers slated: Jimmy Borges, Cathy Foy, the Steve Jones Band, Danny Kaleikini, Karen Keawehawai'i, Guy Merola, Emma Veary, the Sounds of Aloha Chorus. And Nabors also will entertain. ...

NAME-DROPPING: Jay Larrin will do Christmas luncheon shows at The Bistro at Century Center, 12:30 p.m. Dec. 19, 21 and 23. Seating is at 11 a.m.; cost is $20 cover, plus lunch. Call 943-6500. ...

Ukeman Herb Ohta Jr. provides holiday cheer from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow and from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 24 at Reyn's in Ala Moana Center. ...

Derek Daniels, whose extensive credits include an international tour of "Cats," will assume the role of Drosselmeyer in Ballet Hawaii's "Nutcracker" at the Blaisdell Concert Hall this weekend. And John Selya, fresh from "The Times They Are A-Changing," replaces Mark Tucker, who injured his leg in an ATV mishap. ...

ITEMIZATIONS: Wanted — five plastic piggy noses or five giant piggy banks, for The Brothers Cazimero's upcoming Christmas concerts Dec. 21 to 23 at the Hawai'i Theatre. Reason: They're props, or embellishments, for The Numbah Five Day of Christmas countdown (you know the drill). If you can loan or offer these items, call show producer Burton White at 524-2046. Oinks not required. ...

SHOW BREEZES: Holiday concerts by Na Leo Pilimehana, with the Honolulu Symphony Pops at the Blaisdell Concert Hall, and Ho'okena, with guest star Keali'i Reichel at the Ala Moana Hotel's Hibiscus Ballroom, radiated with holiday aloha. By the way, Reichel's "Maluhia" Christmas CD zoomed to No. 1 status in local sales three weeks in a row. ...

Na Leo did the unusual; Lehua Heine, Nalani Choy and Angela Morales each played instruments. The trio's trademark harmonies graced the event, though a harp-only rendering of "Ave Maria" stood out as a simple, gracious reminder of the season. Maestro Matt Catingub's occasional vocals were like warm cider, satisfying the senses; he's got a Mel Torme/Harry Connick Jr. groove going. ...

Ho'okena's Manu Boyd, Horace Dudoit, Chris Kamaka and Glen Smith, augmented by the always graceful and expressive hula of Nani Dudoit, provided delightful Hawaiian and holiday fare, with guest artist Keali'i Reichel offering a couple of his classics (plus tunes from his "Maluhia" Christmas CD). The mutual-admiration-society element is at play between these two acts, who have appeared on CD tracks together, with Ho'okena previously guesting on a Reichel show. Hana hou! ...

Planning ahead? Ho'okena will do a Mother's Day concert at the Ala Moana Hotel. ...

THE LOCAL ANGLE: In Las Vegas, the Society of Seven's Flamingo hotel contract has been extended through 2007. The SOS will take a break after Jan. 1, resuming performances Jan. 12. Earning a star on Vegas' Walk of Fame this year surely has invigorated the group's career. Channel surfers can catch the SOS on Oceanic Cable's 777 channel over the next week, on a show dubbed "Lunchtime With Ira," filmed recently at the Las Vegas Hilton. ...

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.