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Golden days for Brudda Iz
in the record industry

'IZ" GOES GOLD AGAIN: "Alone in IZ World" by Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole has been certified "gold" by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of more than 500,000 copies. IZ's second solo album, "Facing Future," released in 1994, went gold in 2002. Glenn Medeiros was the first Hawaii artist to have an RIAA gold record; he got it for a single in 1990. Don Ho was the first to have a gold album ...

ONE MORE, OHTA-SAN: Herb "Ohta-san" Ohta has recorded dozens of albums, but after hearing him play with guitarist Nando Suan there's no question he owes the world at least one more. The two were a big hit opening for Noel Okimoto at Mamiya Theatre on Saturday ...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: To Ellsworth "Ells" Simeona, who is celebrating today ... to Manny Lagodlagod, Shawn Pimental, Kirk Thompson and Jason Ulep (Saturday), Benny Chong (Monday) and Kealoha Kalama (Wednesday) ..

CONGRATULATIONS: To Jasmine Perri, who opens with Chita Rivera in "Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life" in June. Terrence McNally wrote the retrospective on Rivera's stellar career and included a role for a pre-teen Perri's age ... Congratulations also to Brent Evans, new assistant manager at the Hanohano Room ...

INTERESTING PEOPLE: Mike Rufino was studying massage therapy when he was offered a job as a stunt man. The money he made as a stunt man paid for his schooling and enabled him to earn his therapist's degree, but he hasn't given up doubling for Naveen Andrews on "Lost" ... Daniel Roebuck's business card bears a caricature drawn by Jack Davis (yes, the Jack Davis of MAD Magazine fame). Roebuck isn't surprised that only men make the connection. "How many girls ever read MAD?" ... Stuart Soosman logged 41,000 miles in nine months as a "Lost" driver ...

NEW LOOK FOR JAKE: Those black-frame glasses are a thing of the past for Jake Shimabukuro. He had Lasik surgery a month ago, and now has 20/20 vision. When he wears glasses these days, "It's because I don't feel comfortable without them" ...