WHO'S NEWS: Deborah Lippmann, a manicurist to the stars, is joining the Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawaii's "Return to Romance" festival next month — as a singer. She'll be on a "Romantic Jazz" bill March 2 at the Halekulani's Lewers Lounge and on March 5 in a show at the Kahala Hotel & Resort. While she has a new jazz CD out, "Nightingale," the Hollywood crowd knows Lippmann for her hand-holding and manicuring artistry. Her clientele includes Cher, Faith Hill, Fergie, Jamie Foxx, Kate Winslet, Pat Benatar, Reese Witherspoon, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Kelly Ripa, Martha Stewart, Sarah Jessica Parker and Renée Zellweger.

She is founder-CEO of lippmann collection, a nail product line boasting lacquers with tuneful names: Love Shack, Makin' Whoopee, Stardust, My Funny Valentine, Fever and The Way We Were. Could I'll Remember You be next? ...

RANDOM NOTES: The Makaha Sons, back from Los Angeles, will issue another Live in Concert DVD in November, composed of road-trip music. The 'ohana will include Keali'i Ceballos and Halau Keali'i O Nalani, the hula of Jeri-Lynn Kealo Koko and the falsetto voice of Hoku Zuttermeister. Further, a new CD, " 'Aina Kupuna," is due in March, and after tonight's performance at Chai's Island Bistro, Louis "Moon" Kauakahi, Jerome Koko and John Koko whisk off to Japan. ...

By the way, Kauakahi is a grandpa again; daughter Hoku recently delivered a baby girl. And John Koko's son, John Jr., told dad that his wife is expecting — a boy — in May.

Expect, too, a weekly TV show from Augie T., the zany stand-up, who's huddling with Ryan Kawamoto and James Sereno of Kinetic Films. No timetable or destination yet, but should be a riot, if it's from Augie. He's been selling out shows in Anchorage and Vallejo and even the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, where, on one night, Kris Kristofferson popped in. Augie's also prepping for his May 25 Blaisdell Arena concert, when he awards scholarships from his Speak the Dream foundation he and his wife started to kokua underprivileged kids. ...

Manoa DNA, the family trio Lloyd, Nick and Alex Kawakami, will be among the performers at the Punahou Carnival on Friday. "If I Ever," a tune from the group's debut CD, "Follow Me," recently was No. 1 on Japan's InterFM hosted by local boy Vance K. A second CD will be in the works this month. For a "live" fix, check out the band every Thursday evening at E&O Trading Co. at Ward Centre. ...

The Royal Hawaiian hotel, is marking its 80th anniversary this evening with an invitational to-do in the Monarch Room. An exhibition that tracks the Pink Palace's glorious past and legacy includes art that the Matson Navigation Co. commissioned from such artists as Eugene Savage, John Kelly, Frank McIntosh and Louis Macouillard from 1930 to 1960 (remember those stunning menu covers?). ...

PROGRAMMING CUES: "Na Mele: Brother Noland," a PBS Hawaii special airing at 8 p.m. today, is a revealing portrait of Noland Conjugacion, the singer-composer-performer committed to the aloha spirit and giving back to the 'aina.

PBS crews shadowed Noland to document his love of the Islands, with scenes of him at work and play, throwing his fishnet on Moloka'i, teaching local keiki to play the 'ukulele. The musical riches are largely from Noland's most recent CD, "Mystical Fish," and there are live performances taped at the PBS studios in Manoa. ...

Maui Gold pineapples made their TV debut on Wednesday in the season finale of Bravo's filmed-in-Hawai'i "Top Chef."

Wes Nohara, Maui Pineapple Co.'s vice president of production management, showcases the company's signature product when the reality show's chef finalists — Ilan Hall and the reviled Marcel Vigneron — selected ingredients from the "Fall Harvest Market" featuring a host of Island agricultural products. ...

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.