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Caribbean-cruising
Yee makes holiday
giving easy as abCD

Matt Yee e-mails from Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas that he's heading back to Port Canaveral, Fla., from Cozumel, Mexico, and will be home for Christmas. For those who have missed his performances here, he has a new CD out, "Matt Yee Live: The Late Night Sing Along Show," available online at www.cdbaby. com/cd/mattyee2.

Kimee Balmilero is getting ready to go on a 12-city tour Dec. 29, as part of Hi-5, the five-member singing and dancing ensemble of TLC's children's show. The 1997 Castle High School graduate has been a member of Hi-5 since 2002. The group recently completed a tour of Australia and appeared in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. ...

The Korean American Foundation will honor contributors to Hawaii's Korean community at its inaugural "Light of the Orient" Banquet Jan. 13 at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki. Honorees are Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim, Honolulu Councilmember Ann Kobayashi, and community advocates Agnes Rho Chun, Rev. Tongjin Samuel Lee, Frank Min and Evelyn Choi Shon. Tickets are $75. Call 275-3002 for reservations or sponsorships.

Dis 'n' dat

Jessica Simpson and her parents arrived on Maui last week to celebrate the holidays ... Happy birthday to Emilie de Ravin, who plays the pregnant Claire on ABC's "Lost." She turns 23 on Monday. ... Congratulations to Honolulu Marathon finishers: Ryan Greene of Showtime's "Queer as Folk" (four hours, 30 minutes), Kristoffer Polaha of Fox's "North Shore" (seven hours, 19 minutes) and Stephnie Weir of Fox's "MADtv" (five hours, 14 minutes) ...

Season givings

Military families dining out on Christmas may want to give Don Ho's Island Grill in Aloha Tower a visit. The restaurant will take 50 percent off their lunch and dinner food bill on Christmas Day. Call 528-0807 for reservations. ... Also kudos go out to the group that went Christmas caroling on Friday at the Queen's Medical Center. Organized by Barbara Ritchie and led by Wanda Gerebin, this year marked the group's 25 year of sharing their holiday spirit. ... Merry Christmas everyone!