SEW BIZ: Manhattan is an island, but not exactly Hawai'i, so Loretta Ables Sayre, the Island singer-actress prepping for her Broadway debut as Bloody Mary in "South Pacific," has brought a bit of home to her temporary digs.

According to her husband David Sayre, the publicist, Loretta has photos of several of her tropical plants from their Mililani yard - to maintain her homey environment, although her apartment has sweeping views of Avery Fischer Hall and Central Park, close to the Lincoln Center, where "South Pacific" premieres April 3.

Loretta is a splendid homemaker and self-styled decorator, sewing curtains and stuff for the Sayres' Mililani Mauka home, so not surprisingly, she's sewn curtains and added aloha-print pillows for the apartment. "It's really a great oasis in the middle of the city," said hubby David, who's home for a while but who will rejoin his performing spouse later in February to catch initial preview performances.

He, like many of her fans, sees her Oceanic commercials on TV and hears her voiceovers on other ad spots. "We sure miss each other, but it's such a wonderful opportunity," David says. ...

NAME BIZ: The Mountain Apple Co.'s Jon de Mello talks story with Leslie Wilcox on PBS Hawai'i's "Long Story Short" at 7:30 p.m. today on Channel 10. He'll share his savvy about how he's taken Hawai'i's music beyond the reef. Next up on the series: Anne Namba, fashion designer, on Feb. 12 and Walter Dods, retired financier, in a two-parter Feb. 19 and 26. ...

Hapa - that's Barry Flanagan and Nathan Aweau - have been invited back to the Kahala Resort on March 14. The two are home from a fun but wearying Japan tour - 20 concerts in 19 cities over 25 days. Next up: a National Geographic April profile of the duo, "Geo Sessions With Hapa." ...

Jamie Hartnett, longtime promotions director for KSSK and Clear Channel here, is off to San Diego to join hubby John, who's taken a new post at Camp Pendleton. Her boss, Chuck Cotton, wife Shari and son Kevin, bid her aloha at a farewell dinner at Ruth's Chris Steak House in Restaurant Row. Kevin happened to be Hartnett's first intern at the radio station. ...

There's an increased presence of local entertainment these nights at the Hale Koa Hotel, a bastion for military guests. But the evening dinner shows, 6 p.m. in the Lu'au Garden, are worth an inspection and are open to the civilian public.

Tuesday's "Magic Under the Moonlight" features magician Mark Allen Mauricio in a mix of magic and comedy. Wednesday's "Nostalgic Hawai'i" productions assembles alternating troupers: "This Is Hawai'i" spotlights the incomparable Marlene Sai, joined by former-Miss Hawai'i Debbie Nakanelua-Richards and former Miss Aloha Hula Jennifer Oyama of Halau O Pu'uanahulu in a stroll to the past with vocals, chants and hula, on Feb. 13, March 5 and 26 and April 16; "Hawai'i - Forever Paradise" will offer a panorama of Island songs, legends and music (cast not revealed) on Feb. 20, March 12, April 2 and 23; and "Experience Aloha," a contemporary Hawaiian experience with Nohelani Cypriano, unfolds on Feb. 6 and 27 and March 19, April 9 and 30. Call 955-0555, ext. 546 for reservations. ...

WIZ BIZ: With the local appeal, still, of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's "Over the Rainbow," the star-making song originally chirped by Judy Garland in the "Wizard of Oz" film, it's not surprising, then, that three Oz productions are set in this market this month through summer. Paliku Theatre at Windward Community College gets first dibs with a nonmusical version adapted from the L. Frank Baum book, playing at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, with Tori Langley as Dorothy, Isaac Ligsay as the Scarecrow, Travis Schnell as the Tin Woodman, and Keith Merriam as the Cowardly Lion. Stan Egi directs. You can hum "Rainbow" into or as you exit. ...

NEXT UP: Ease on down to the Hawai'i Theatre at 7 p.m. Feb. 28-March 1, when 'Iolani School revives the spinoff musical "The Wiz." This version also has had life onstage and film. ...

Then Diamond Head Theatre dusts off the stage musical of "Oz," with the inclusive film tunes intact, for a run July 11-27. Ding-dong, the witch is not dead, it turns out, and the Munchkins also live on. ...

FAME BIZ: Ramon del Barrio, who played Chino in "West Side Story" on Broadway, is here to help director Peggy Anne Siegmund and choreographer Deanna Luster mount the mambo number in Kaimuki High School's "West Side Story," bowing Feb. 29. While on stage, who should call but Tony winner Chita Rivera, who was Anita in the original Broadway launch of "West Side" 20 years ago. ...

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.