TheBuzz Erika Engle

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Ex-pat DJ Kamasami Kong talks story with the Do-na-ru-do in Tokyo

FORMER Hawaii disc jockey Kamasami Kong is not officially the booking agent for Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, but Kong did obtain Donald Trump's approval for hizzoner to sing at the future grand opening of the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Waikiki.

"I would love to have him sing, because from what I hear he's got a great voice," Trump said.

» Kong's MP3 podcast with Donald Trump

Trump appears to be a big Hannemann fan, not just for his pipes.

"I happen to think he's a great mayor. I know him fairly well. He's a spectacular person."

Trump continued, "He fought very hard, that we build in Hawaii ... he really wanted that $450 (million) to $500 million to be spent there and let it be known ... and you can tell the folks back there what I said."

Kong met the Do-na-ru-do at a news conference where the Trumpmeister and his development partners announced a simultaneous Hawaii-Japan selection event for units in the yet-to-be-built luxury high-rise in Waikiki.

Kong has put some of the audio in his podcast for Metropolis Magazine at www.metpod.com.

At the event, to be held Nov. 9 in Hawaii and Nov. 10 in Japan, agents for the project will choose names of buyers who have made a reservation and deposit, and who have qualified financially.

Kong also asked what plans Trump had for his short visit to Tokyo last week. The Donald planned to walk some streets and look around -- and this may have been the biggest statement of the event: "I intend to invest in Japan," To-rahm-pu-san said.

Honolulu-based PacRim Marketing Group Inc. was tapped to set up the news conference and other VIP events for Trump's Tokyo trip.

Trump "did take a stroll through Ginza," said PacRim President Dave Erdman. "He wanted to look at some of the new retail stores in Ginza and get a feel for what was new on the street."

Erdman said Trump seemed to enjoy answering questions from the media and the VIPs, including those who plan to buy units in the Waikiki development. "But most important, he talked about his confidence in the Hawaii market" as well as how encouraged he is about the Japanese economy.