STAR-BULLETIN / 1970
Don Ho chats with his mother, Honey, and father, Jimmy, at a cocktail party in 1970.
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Here’s to Don!
Star-Bulletin staff
To honor the memory of Don Ho, a birthday bash will thrown for the late entertainment icon, who would've turned 78 on Aug. 13.
DON HO BIRTHDAY BASH
Place: Don Ho's Island Grill, Aloha Tower Marketplace
Time: 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday
Admission: No cover, no minimum
Call: 528-0807
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Those who shared the stage with the man throughout his long career will perform, along with winners of the "Al Waterson and You" singing competitions, many of whom went on to sing with Ho.
Special logo items will be on sale as well, including books, CDs and DVDs, coffee mugs, "Suck 'Em Up" glasses and more.
Confirmed performers include Melveen Leed, Iva Kinimaka, Angel Pablo, Jordan Segundo, and contest winners Maka'ala Perry, Jasmin Idica, Briana Pratt and Amado Cacho.
STAR-BULLETIN / 1970
Don Ho in September 1970. The legendary entertainer would have turned 78 on Aug. 13. A birthday bash will be held for him that day at Don Ho's Island Grill at Aloha Tower Marketplace.
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Pablo, one of the featured entertainers with Ho's stage show for 40 years, still refers to him in the present tense when he says that "Don Ho is Mr. Aloha. He is an entertainer's entertainer. He has a magnetic personality and once you meet him, he is a friend for life. I miss him! He probably has his own show in heaven."
FILE PHOTO / 2004
Don Ho during his nightly show at the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel in 2004.
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Jordan Segundo, Hawaii's first "American Idol" contestant-turned-pro, guested with Ho on one occasion and said that "he was a supporter of young artists and an inspiration to me and I have so much respect for him."
The Perry family - husband and wife Jerome and Brandy, and their daughter Maka'ala - were all associated with Ho at one time or another.
Jerome and Brandy were part of "The Don Ho Show" when it was at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in the early '90s.
In a joint statement, the Perry said that "the years we danced for Don were some of the most memorable, as we toured with Don to places across the nation. Every show was an adventure, as you never know what to expect from Don, and that made it fun for the entire cast."
Daughter Maka'ala would later win an "Al Waterson and You" keiki singing competition at Ho's namesake restaurant at Aloha Tower Marketplace, and Ho himself offered the then 6-year-old a spot in his show every week. Not only would she sing her own song, but she would duet with Ho on his signature "Tiny Bubbles" and "Pearly Shells."
"Don Ho was incredibly kind-hearted and very encouraging to aspiring singers of all ages," Waterson and Nancy Bernal said in a statement. The two continue to coordinate the singing contests at Don Ho's Island Grill Sunday evenings.
"His fame as an entertainer around the world did not affect his humble and warm personality and he always made you feel special when you were around him. He welcomed entertainers of all ages onto his stage and allowed them to shine."