With soaring gasoline prices and folks thinking twice about going out, one entertainer is reducing his admission price in hopes of getting a crowd.

Augie T, the comedian-deejay doing stand-up at La Salle at the Pagoda hotel, will be dark this Friday because he'll emcee a One Hawaii concert with Keali'i Reichel, Weldon Kekauoha and Na Leo at Humphrey's in San Diego Thursday and Friday.

But when he resumes his shows on July 4, the usual $20 admission will be cut 25 percent. "I figure if I drop the price to $15, the people can use the $5 for gas," said Augie. "And it'll be $5 off, till the gas prices go down." Right on. ...

Reichel and Na Leo continue the tour, with guests, July 3 at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Calif., July 4 at MacArthur Park in Los Angeles, July 5 (with Ernie Cruz joining in) in Seattle, and July 6 at Henderson Pavilion in Las Vegas. ...

MOVEMENTS: The Makaha Sons also are on the road, headlining the World Beat Festival in Salem, Ore., this Saturday, with other stops in Grants Pass, Ore., Redding, Calif., Kennewick and Spokane, Wash. Between July and September, Louis "Moon" Kauakahi, Jerome Koko and John Koko head East, playing in Houston, New Orleans, Nashville, Orlando, New Hampshire, New York City, Pittsburgh and Cleveland. But there are hometown gigs, too: The Makaha Sons will be among the troupers performing at Ala Moana Center's Fourth of July celebration, taking the stage at 5:30 p.m. And they do the Moonlight Mele concert Aug. 14 at Bishop Museum. ...

SIGHT 'EMS: Pierce Brosnan did some shopping at Tori Richard in Wailea, when he was attending the Maui Film Festival. He is a sometime Kaua'i resident, of course, and he'll next be seen in "Mamma Mia!" — the movie version with Meryl Streep. ...

Rick Enos, founder and owner of Compadres Bar & Grill in Ward Centre, was in town recently for meetings with his staff, and took his daily walk around the neighborhood. He was so excited to find breakfast at Tango that he called up pals Eddie and Patty Sherman, inviting them to join him for dinner the same night. This really excited Goran Streng and Tami Orozco, owners of the new restaurant, who enjoyed the kudos from a neighbor and fellow restaurateur. ...

HOKU REFLECTIONS: After last week's Na Hoku Hanohano Awards at the Hawai'i Convention Center, some of the winners continued to party at Indigo in Chinatown, where an awards party formally introduced new chef Dave Cruz, who is the brother of John Cruz, whose "One of These Days" copped the contemporary album award. The brotherhood included singers Guy Cruz, Ernie Cruz Jr. and Ernie Cruz Sr. Robert Cazimero, who won the liner notes award (for Hoku Zuttermeister's " 'Aina Kupuna" CD), and Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, who earned the Christmas album trophy (for "A Hawaiian Christmas"), also attended, along with Barry Flanagan of Hapa and Eric Gilliom. ...

Joy Abbott, widow of theater legend George Abbott, just returned from an extended Miami residency (she splits time between Hawai'i and Florida), and now has a new claim to fame: Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner. Her debut CD, "For All We Know," with pianist Betty Loo Taylor, won the best jazz trophy. Not bad for these Punahou School alums. Abbott, by the way, treks to New York again in July to see a preview/revival of her late husband's "Damn Yankees" at City Center, with Cheyenne Jackson (the dude who performed, but since left the cast, in "Xanadu" on the Tony Awards show), portraying Joe Hardy. It could transit to the Broadway stage later. ...

Koa Siu, a Christian-to-rock crossover artist, was in Australia and his performing parents, Leon and Malia, were off-Island, too — and that's why Koa wasn't able to pick up his best rock award ("Where You Are") at the ceremonies. He celebrates his win in a freebie from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 30 at Tropical Smoothie Cafe, in the Hawaiki Tower, 88 Pi'ikoi St. ...

CHASING RAINBOWS: There's no end to the popularity of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's "Over the Rainbow." Last week's memorial services for Tim Russert, the astute host of NBC's "Meet the Press," concluded with the indelible and still haunting 'ukulele and voice of Bruddah Iz — the full recording was played over the TV coverage. And as mourners in Washington, D.C., exited the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a vibrant double rainbow that spanned the length of the National Cathedral was an awesome vision. Even Russert's son, Luke, was deeply moved. Russert apparently adored Iz's version of "Rainbow," so it was appropriate to punctuate the farewell with the tune. ...

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.