The Academy of Arts' Starlight Ball fundraiser pulled in more than $40,000 last Saturday night. Dancers went at it on the floor in the Central Courtyard to the music of singer Anita Hall, backed by musicians Steve Jones, Zanuck Lindsey, Dan Del Negro and Adam Baron. They were followed by Nocturnal Sound Krew deejays. Some of the dancers went wild and tore up the floor. Guitarist Vernon Sakata in the Kinau Courtyard played soothing music. The music, food and drinks kept most people in good spirits ...

PBS Hawaii CEO Leslie Wilcox says the Broadway production of “;South Pacific,”; with Loretta Ables Sayre as Bloody Mary, will be showcased on the national PBS show “;Live From Lincoln Center.”; No word yet on when it will air, but the shoot likely will take place on Aug. 18, a week before the production closes after more than 1,000 performances ...

The Kahala Hotel will hold a Central Coast Wine Dinner on Friday followed by “;Symposia, a Celebration of Wine,”; next Saturday. The five-course dinner is in Hoku's, and wines from ABC, Costa de Oro, Qupe, Hitching Post and Au Bon Climat will be poured. Award-winning winemaker Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat will be there to discuss the wines during dinner, $90. Next Saturday's “;Celebration”; will be poolside with four culinary stations, 6:30 p.m., $60 per. Cigars at beachside starting at 8:30 p.m. ... Following his role in the Kahala Hotel's event, “;Wine Tasting with Jim Clendenen”; will be held 6 p.m. May 24 at Vino. Jim will feature five fine wines. Chuck Furuya calls him “;Kimo”; because he comes here so often. The cost is $46. Call 533-4476 for reservations ...

Food Channel's “;Diners, Drive-ins and Dives”; at 7 p.m. May 17 features Murphy's Bar & Grill. It'll repeat at 10 p.m. ... After watching ABC's “;Modern Family”; show Wednesday night that was filmed at Four Seasons Resort at Wailea, Maui, I suggest the show's brass try to land a writer such as Tina Fey ...

ONWARD: Mellow Antiques owner Laura Mellow and her manager, Greta Gallardo, were planning to relocate after Mellow had been in Davis Pacific Center for 19 years, but instead they decided to remodel and stay put. The doors reopened last week. Some of the antique jewelry worn in “;Princess Ka'iulani,”; which opened yesterday, came from Mellow's and is on display in the store. Something new: Monthly events featuring gemstones and pieces from special estates will be held. Wine, chocolates and cheese should add to the popularity of these events ...

Artist Hiroshi Tagami, one of Hawaii's best, is offering a three-day retrospective of his paintings, going back to the 1970s up to the present, starting today at his original Kahaluu Gallery and Garden, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Tagami and artist Michael Powell are based in Maui, but they hold shows at Kahaluu every three months. I remember Tagami early in his career when he sold his oils at the Honolulu Zoo fence in the 1970s along with other artists ...

Tia Carrere is a Grammy Award winner, not a Hoku winner as I had described her in last week's “;Wood Craft”; ...

Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things Saturdays. E-mail him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).