Rock powerhouse Foreigner will ring out the old and bring in the new at the Sheraton Waikiki's New Year's Eve gala Dec. 31 in the hotel's Hawaii Ballroom.

Mick Jones, the group's founder, principal tunesmith, guitarist and producer, will pump out the rock with lead singer Kelly Hansen, bassist Jeff Pilson, drummer Bryan Head, rhythm guitarist Tom Gimble and newly inducted keyboarder Michael Bluestein.

Foreigner is the creator of such hits as "Feels Like the First Time," "I Want to Know What Love Is," "Waiting for a Girl Like You," "Cold as Ice" and "Hot Blooded." The Sheraton's foray into mainstream pop (Cindy Lauper was last year's attraction) reflects changing eve formats in a venue where Hawaiiana once prevailed. Interestingly, the Foreigner tour is sponsored by AARP — the times (and sponsorships) are a-changing.

Tickets — $250 for VIP seating (including a meet-and-greet with the band), $175 for platinum front-row seating, $150 for gold seating and $125 for silver seating — will be available Nov. 29 through Ticketmaster. ...

YULE LOG: The Makaha Sons — Louis "Moon" Kauakahi, John Koko and Jerome Koko — have set a date for their "Makaha Kalikimaka 2008," a buffet luncheon event set for 11 a.m. Dec. 13 at the Dole Cannery Ballroom. The show features Bernard Kalua and Friends, hula stylist Kealo Koko and the Merrie Monarch Festival-winning Halau I Ka Wekiu led by kumu hula Michael Casupang and Karl "Veto" Baker. For ticket details, call 536-0545. ...

The Makaha Sons also share their Christmas mana'o Dec. 5 in Thousand Oaks, Calif., Dec. 6 in San Diego and Dec. 24 in Vegas. ...

ABOUT PEOPLE: Kyle Kakuno, drama director at Saint Louis School, is hoping to bring last summer's "Rent" production to Edinburgh, Scotland, for a summer 2009 tour. "We still have a few hurdles to go through," said Kakuno. Among them: getting approval from the show's co-producer, New York-based Kevin McCollum, the Tony Award-winning Broadway player who has Honolulu roots. ...

Lee Cataluna, a playwright when she's not an Advertiser columnist, trekked to her old Maui 'hood last week to catch "Da Mayah," her politically inspired comedy in revival at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center (after its Kumu Kahua run). Cataluna stays at The Old Wailuku Inn in Ulupono when she's on the Valley Isle; she used to live right across the street. This adorable B&B is quaint, with old-world charm and plenty aloha, thanks to innkeeper Janice Fairbanks. ...

Quite a few "names" showed up for the first Ko'olau Classic recently at the Ko'olau Golf Course. Some played, some performed, some just enjoyed the awards banquet. The roster: Tito Berinobis, Ben Cayetano, Rodney Cazimero, Linda Coble, Danny Couch, Ben Dowling, Haumea Habenstreit Ho, Kenny Harrison, Kimo Kahoano, Francis Kamahele, Melveen Leed, Kirk Matthews, Mike Nakapui, Augie Rey, Shannon Scott, Jordan Segundo and Al Waterson. Proceeds will be shared with nonprofits such as Adult Friends for Youth, Partners in Development Hui Ho'omalu and Kokua 'Ohana. ...

GRIDDLED: Only at the Society of Professional Journalists' Gridiron Show (held last weekend in a mostly sold-out run at Diamond Head Theatre) do you get the lampooner on stage with the real deal in the house. The griddled gang included Mayor Mufi Hannemann (who stayed for the first act and disappeared at intermission), his mayoral opponent Ann Kobayashi (who stayed for the whole show) — their actions not necessarily a reflection on whether they'll stay for their full term, or not, if elected. Gov. Linda Lingle, who was skewered, was noticeably absent this year.

Both Senate President Colleen Hanabusa and Sen. Norman Sakamoto watched; ditto Honolulu City Council member and former TV reporter Nestor Garcia.

Kitty Lagareta, Communications Pacific president, was a willing target on "Blame It on the Lagareta (Blame It on the Bossa Nova)," with her UH Board of Regents hot buttons. Sample lyrics:

"Blame it on Ms. Lagareta

"Everything's her fault!

"Blame it on Ms. Lagareta

"It's her own gestalt!

"Lack of openness at meetings, too, as well,

"The fire at the lab school?

"What the hell!

"Blame it on Ms. Lagareta, it's all her fault! ..."

"Herman Frazier's luck?" (What else? Blame Lagareta)"

"Coach McMackin's cost?

"(Of course! Blame Lagareta)

"More than a million bucks?

"(Yeah, yeah, blame Lagareta!) It's all her fault."...

A parody of departed Coach June Jones, performed to Michael Jackson's "Thriller," made Lagareta quip (to laughter), "That was me! I did it!" ...

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.