Ten semifinalists give it their
all at Don Ho's tonight
Local people sure love their karaoke. In one of the few places in the U.S. where the word's pronunciation isn't butchered (it isn't "carrie-oh-key," OK?!?), amateur warblers give their all in homes, parties, bars, clubs and restaurants on any given night in Hawaii.
DAVID SWANN / DSWANN@STARBULLETIN.COM
Some of them aspire for karaoke fame, honing their craft via competitions and hoping for a shot at "Hawaii Stars," the popular KHON-TV Sunday show that starts up again in April, or -- dare to dream! -- "American Idol."
It'll be down to the wire tonight as Don Ho's Island Grill at Aloha Tower Marketplace wraps up its yearlong Talent Search & Karaoke Contest 2003. Ten semifinalists will be vying for a grand prize of a trip for two to Las Vegas to perform in Don Ho's Holiday Showcase at Boyd's Hotel and Casino. The winner will also receive a recording deal with Mountain Apple.
Hosted by congenial host Al Waterson, the local king of karaoke, more than 500 contestants have gone through the competition since it started in February.
Tickets for tonight's finals go for $25, which includes dinner. The contest will begin at 8 p.m. Local "American Idol" fave Jordan Segundo and Tani Lynn will also be guest singers.
Amado Cacho
Benjamin Cross
Tahiti Fernandez
Sandy Kinoshita
Katie Leiva
Alison Maldonado
Lisa Lehua Taylor
Frankie Villanueva
Rita Yaber
Christina Youngs
And for those who didn't make the finals, fear not, there's always next year. The event has proven so popular that the restaurant will be starting nightly contests again on Jan. 6, 2004. Interested singers can call Waterson at 947-5736. Contestants must be 18 years and older.
Here are tonight's 10 finalists:
February winner Amado Cacho: An Internet marketing company owner, Cacho spent five years as a "Miss Saigon" national touring company cast member. He enjoys singing contemporary Christian songs and Broadway tunes.
March winner Tahiti Fernandez: The retail manager at Mac Company in Kona enjoys singing jazz and blues tunes.
April winner Benjamin Cross: This system analyst computer programmer claims to have started singing at a year old, and sang to his wife, Tiffany, at their wedding. He enjoys singing gospel tunes and love ballads.
May winner Rita Yaber: The singer of gospel and R&B songs is an electrical engineer technician representative for Naval P-3 Aircraft.
June winner Alison Maldonado: The personnel specialist in the Hawaii Air National Guard sang the national anthem at the 50th anniversary of the Korean War veterans gathering at Punchbowl Cemetery in 1998. She enjoys singing R&B and Broadway tunes.
July winner Lisa Lehua Taylor: Taylor works in sales and has sung in Japan and other countries. Her forté is pop songs and R&B tunes.
August winner Sandy Kinoshita: The wholesale coordinator at the Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa at Ko Olina sang the national anthem at the 2000 Great Aloha Run. She enjoys singing pop songs and standard show tunes.
September winner Katie Leiva: Leiva won a Po'okela award as Best Leading Female in a Musical for her role in "Song of Singapore." In addition to performing musical theater, she enjoys singing jazz tunes. In her other life, Leiva is campus college chair for general and professional studies at The University of Phoenix.
October winner Christina Youngs: Youngs enjoys singing songs of inspiration. The Windward Community College student performed with her sister during a Christian-themed concert at Hawaii Theatre a few years ago.
November winner Frankie Villanueva: The Foodland trainer won the "Brown Bags to Stardom" competition at Pearl City High School as a teen.
Good luck to all!
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