HO BIZ: Hoku Ho, the late Don Ho's entertainer daughter, was to have launched a career-changing Internet-based music campaign April 14, the date her father died. "I've been working, writing and producing in the interim of my last break (from music)," she said. "With all the changes in the business, I was switching from a CD-based (push) to an Internet-based thing, and rather than putting out an entire album, we're doing an EP (extended play) project to use the power of the Internet."

Then her famous dad died. So she naturally put off a New York photo shoot and yanked the campaign "so we could memorialize Dad properly." She added: "Maybe it was an emotional decision, but I didn't feel right to go ahead with the launch; it would have been very inappropriate of me. I had to mourn a bit."

She said her Web support from fans "has been a blessing at this (difficult) time. The fans have been so great, connecting on an intimate level. It's all about what Dad was — he communicated with his fans." Hoku said she'll launch her venture in time — with the kokua of her husband, Jeremy Clements. ...

PERSONALITIES: Restaurateur Fred Livingston, owner of Don Ho's Island Grill (which was also a business partnership for entertainer Ho), is giving the Aloha Tower Marketplace an unofficial Don Ho museum flavor. He's replaced fading wall images and displays with a collection of framed Advertiser articles on Ho, spending more than $1,000 to add to the restaurant's permanent collection. When he found out about a second special Advertiser section that was published Saturday, on the morning of the massive Ho celebration of life, he mused: "Guess I'm going to have to order up more frames." ...

When Yvonne Elliman ("I Don't Know How to Love Him," "If I Can't Have You") makes her second appearance May 19 at the second Diamond Head Crater Celebration, she'll have a spiffy backup band led by Melina Lilios on keyboards (a familiar face in local theater orchestras). Musicians will include Allen Alexander (background vocals, conga, guitar); Sandy de Oliveira (background vocals, percussion); Allison Maldonado (background vocals, percussion); Kevin Hirasa and Jeffrey Iglesias (acoustic and electric guitars); John Tsukano (electric, acoustic and slide guitar); and Billy Beimes (saxophone and percussion).

When "Hawai'i Calls," the vintage radio show, came to life recently at The Royal Hawaiian hotel, there were some historical connections. Don McDiarmid and his wife, Alva, who attended, own the show name (with his son Don III, or Flip, and wife Lei). The patriarch of the 'ohana, Don McDiarmid Sr., penned some tunes while performing at the site.The McDiarmids and Hula Records provided an original "Hawai'i Calls" script — remember the Webley Edwards original from yesteryear? — to add authenticity to the program, emceed by Bill Bigelow. ...

TRADE WINDS: Sean Jones will be Kenicke in Army Community Theatre's "Grease," premiering Thursday night at Richardson Theatre, Fort Shafter. Great cast, too — Shawna Masuda as Sandy, Kekoa Young as Danny, with cameos involving the likes of Al Waterson and Lanai. ...

With "Hawai'i Stars" filming wrapping for this season — the finale is set for May 20 on KHON 2 — there also will be three weeks of Keiki Stars starting May 27. ...

"All the World's a Stage" is the theme of this year's Hawai'i Theatre Gala, set for Friday at The Kahala. Kika Matsumoto of Kika Inc. has assembled a sterling roster of troupers: Kanoe Gibson, Christina and Ryan Souza, Danny Couch, Jay Larrin, and the Almost Paradise Band with Rocky Holmes and Dan Del Negro. Billy Sage emcees. Tables are going fast, so call Elaine Evans (791-1302) for availability. ...

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.