Wood Craft Ben Wood

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Tucker teaches Couric how to say Hawaii

KGMB9's Keahi Tucker hooked up with CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric Wednesday at the Democratic National Convention and tried to teach Katie how to pronounce Hawaii correctly. It was a funny segment as Katie struggled and struggled with the pronunciation and she cracked up, head falling and burying her face in her hands. Keahi, a Kauai boy, also worked with Katie on pronouncing Kauai and making a shaka sign. That, too, was a riot. But she was a good sport all the way. After a hesitant, jerky start, Katie flashed a cool shaka and knocked out, "Howzit, Hawaii, thank you for watching KGMB News." Right on! She added that she had a good friend from Hawaii, Bette Midler, and besides Bette's talent, praised her for helping worthy causes ... Keahi also spoke with actress Kelly Hu and "Lost" actor Daniel Dae Kim at the convention. Kelly, a local girl, is a beauty and fashionable, but darned if the white blouse she was wearing didn't look like Jerry Seinfeld's "Puffy Shirt" ...

The Waterfront at Aloha Tower will be a hot spot today when Amy Hanaialii celebrates the release of her "'Amakua" CD with a busload of top entertainers. "Celebration 'Aumakua" is a fundraiser for Aha Punana Leo, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Hawaiian language programs in Hawaii's schools. Amy says she has lined up Mahi Beamer, Darren Benitez, Jimmy Borges, Cecilio & Kapono, Ernie Cruz, John Cruz, Raiatea Helm, Hookena, Robi Kahakalau, Maila Gibson, Eric Gilliom, Napua Greig, Kaukahi, Nina Kealiiwahamana, Genoa Keawe Ohana, Makana, Maunalua, Sean Naauao, Jeff Peterson, Pilioha, Jeff Rasmussen, Marlene Sai, Jerry Santos and more to appear. Tickets are $17. The doors open at 3 p.m., and music should start at 4 and continue past 11 p.m. ...

There will be more music tonight at Ka Himeni Ana 2008 at the Hawaii Theatre at 7:30. This is a Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame presentation, a contest featuring undiscovered Hawaiian singer-musicians performing unplugged and without microphones. Marlene Sai is emcee, and the judges are Nina Kealiiwahamana, Haunani Apoliona and Bill Kaiwa. There will also be a performance by Manoa Voices, last year's winning group ...

Halekulani Corp. has promoted Gerald Glennon to general manager of its Halekulani Hotel. Glennon joined the Halekulani as executive assistant manager in 2001. He succeeds Janis Clapoff ... The Halekulani Corp. has chosen pianist Andre Watts as recipient of its first annual Halekulani Lifetime Achievement Legend Award. Halekulani Corp. CEO Peter Shaindlin and Honolulu Symphony Executive Director Tom Gulick will present the award to Watts Friday at a Halekulani reception. The soiree will have an all Brahms theme, highlighting Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2, which Watts will perform on the opening night of the Symphony season next Saturday at the Blaisdell Concert Hall ...