By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
The Broadway Babies special guests, from left, Brian Caplan, Marc Dalio, Jay Pierce, and Christina Caplan, front, were welcomed by show organizer Kristian Lei, Eric Chandler, Takeo and singer Anita Hall.

Designers Takeo and Eric Chandler and Kristian Lei’s Broadway Babies hosted a fundraiser at the designers’ 2Couture studio May 30. The event brought together local performers, as well as visiting guest stars Brian and Christina Caplan, Marc Dalio and Jay Pierce for a night of food, wine and song.

The event offered a preview of costumes and music the Broadway Fashion Rock Revue taking place 7:30 p.m. June 4 to 6 at the Leeward Community College Theatre. The events will raise funds to construct a school for the developmentally disabled, a project Kristian undertook with inspiration from her brother Joshua Earl T. Hegwood, who, on party day had won three medals at the Special Olympics.

Here are videos of the Broadway Babies performing “Season of Love” from “Rent,” and Kristian singing “A New Life” from “Jekyll and Hyde.” If you want to catch the shows, tickets are $26, $36, $46 and $56 general, and $15 for ages 12 and younger. Call the box office at 953-5788 or visit www.honolulubroadwaybabies.com

Party guests were able to examine some of the show’s costumes.

Kristian Lei with Aureana Tseu, who’ll be performing a hula with her mom Iwalani Tseu.

Pamela Young will be dancing in this costume.

Iwalani Tseu accessorized with an abalone shell. It can’t be pinned so it’s held in place with combs inside the shell.

Don Brown, left, with Edgy Lee and Johann Bouit.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos, except for Douglas Kirkland’s, which should be evident
The third floor VIP Salon at Chanel Waikiki has been transformed into an art gallery for the exhibition of 36 photos by Douglas Kirkland of Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, taken in 1962 when the designer was 27 years old.

Chanel’s Waikiki boutique welcomed Douglas Kirkland during a reception Thursday night welcoming the photographer and opening the exhibition of 36 of his photos of Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, taken in 1962. The show continues through June 6.

The exhibition opened in New York eight months ago, and while curator James Cavello, president of Westwood Gallery in New York, said he showed 15 pieces at Art Basel in Miami — the most important art show in the nation — and in Los Angeles, but this is only the second time the exhibition is being shown in its entirety. The occasion is to mark Chanel’s 25th anniversary in Honolulu, the first city in the United States to have a Chanel boutique. To make way for the exhibition, the boutique’s third-floor was emptied of its usual displays and walls and track lighting were added to transform it into a fitting gallery space for Kirkland’s work.

Seeing the photos again, he said, “I feel Mademoiselle is here tonight.”

For many guests, meeting Kirkland provided a connection to the fashion icon, who he still refers to as Mademoiselle.

“If you knew her, you called her Mademoiselle, not Coco. She hated that. She had a short career as a cabaret singer — not a very successful one. Coco was her stage name.”

The photographer was only 27 when he got the assignment from Look magazine to photograph Chanel. The interest grew out of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s wardrobe, which included Chanel pieces, and editors at the time wanted to share a glimpse into the world of haute couture.

Kirkland said, naturally, “I felt overwhelmed, but whenever I was in these situations I would never admit this. That was my attitude.”

Because of his youth, however, he said the designer didn’t trust him and requested that he first photograph her models in her designs.

“I brought her the prints, and what she saw she liked, and the doors opened,” he said. “I was free to go anywhere in her atelier.”

Kirkland has shot in Hawaii before, during the making of the movie “Tora! Tora! Tora!” and for the “Day in the Life of Hawaii” photography project in 1983, when he photographed the Big Island by air. He also notably spent an “evening with Marilyn Monroe” for Look, photographing her in bed the year before she died.

Douglas Kirkland photo
The photographer spent an evening with Marilyn Monroe in 1961.

One party-goer, Holly Bloom, brought back more memories for Kirkland, by wearing a dress bearing an image of Audrey Hepburn, who he photographed on the set of “How to Steal a Million.” He was photographing Audrey when he met his wife Françoise, who was visiting her mother, who worked in the film’s publicity department.

“Was it love at first sight?” I asked. “Yes!” he said, before backtracking a bit, saying, “Well, you better ask her.”

Karl Lagerfeld was recently taken by one of Kirkland’s images of a Chanel dress modeled by Yves Saint Laurent muse Betty Catroux, and he plans to recreate the dress in a future collection. Inspired by the images, he also reproduced Kirkland’s images in a book, “Mademoiselle: Coco Chanel Summer 62.”

I asked people throughout the evening which was their favorite photo, and many chose this image of the iconic Chanel, observing a sitting in her 31 Rue Cambon atelier, cigarette hanging from her lips, and scissors dangling from a length of ribbon around her neck.

Douglas Kirkland holds court, surrounded by a circle of admirers in the center of the salon.

Douglas, at 27, with Mademoiselle.

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By Nadine Kam

Miss Universe pageant photos

The Miss Hawaii USA has sent a request for a show of support for Aureana Tseu, who is competing for the title of Miss Universe, along with some online competitions.

Go to http://missuniverse.com/members/signup to vote for Best Hair by CHI and Most Glam photographs.

“It is a little humbug because you must create an account first,” they said by email from Las Vegas. But hey, we supported Jasmine Trias on “American Idol” and Mark Kanemura on “So You Think You Can Dance.”

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Shari Saiki and Bryan Kitashima in the midst of their photogenic home furnishings store, Mesh.

Shari Saiki and Bryan Kitashima hosted a TEN/3 anniversary party March 27, the dual numbers marking the respective 10th year for the Shari Saiki Design Studio and third year of their home-oriented retail shop, Mesh.

The event, held at Mesh at Dole Cannery, was a way to thank clients, customers and friends, who seemed to make themselves at home, sinking into comfy sofas amidst beautiful lamps and decor.

The party flowed from the shop into outdoor corridors where wine was served under hanging lanterns reminiscent of bird cages, and there was plenty of pupu, including samosas deemed too spicy by Kim Gennaula and Guy Hagi’s daughter Alia. At this point, she’s evidently more into fashion than food (see photo).

HIFF Special Events Coordinator Sean Shodahl with Wei Fang.

It’s a good selling point when guests feel as comfortable with the furnishings as being at home. From left, Scott and Sylvia Farley, and Michelle and Dave Gordon.

Kim Gennaula with her photogenic progeny Luke and Alia Hagi.

Candace Kelly, left, with Ken and Debbie Sorenson and their daughter Tai.

From left, home stager Karla Timon, Fran Terry and Tonya Lee.

Sonny Silva and David Chiorini, part of the Hot Club of Hulaville, performed as a duo. Give a listen to the full band here. Somehow we got on the subject of celebs they resemble and Chiorini was sad to admit he hears Joe Jonas and Joey Lawrence a lot.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photo
Almost walking on water, clockwise from left, Eric Kamakahia’ai Chandler, Aureana Tseu, Pamela Young and Takeo.

Before The Counter party Saturday night, I was at the sendoff party for 2009 Miss Hawaii USA Aureana Tseu, held at the home of Dr. Lawrence Tseu. She leaves April 1 for the national competition April 19 at Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, and the party was an opportunity to thank the many who have supported her throughout the years, with food provided by 3660 on the Rise, drinks, and a mini fashion show of all the ensembles she’ll be wearing through judges interviews, and yes, lunch with The Donald, of Trump and “Celebrity Apprentice” fame.

It’s scary to think I’ve known Aureana since she was too young to be in pageants. Even at something like 14, she was always poised, outgoing, articulate and positive, so I always knew this day would come, as I’m sure those closest to her felt as well.

Good luck, Aureana!

2 Couture photo
Evening gown designed by Eric Chandler and Takeo, and made from multicolor silk with Austrian yellow and gold crystals. (more…)

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
The owners, from left, Ed Robles, Daniel Dae Kam, Pablo Buckingham and DK Kodama.

The Counter celebrated its grand opening with a party Saturday night that included the red-carpet (that was actually blue) arrivals of “Lost” castmates of Daniel Dae Kim, a co-owner in the endeavor with DK Kodama, Ed Robles and Pablo Buckingham, all there to make sure guests had their fill of mini Counter burgers plus sushi and more grinds from DK’s other restaurant, Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar.

Currently the most buzzed-about restaurant in town, The Counter has been open a month and is already the top-performing franchise in the country. Popularity still has its drawbacks as I keep hearing about hourlong waits, but, like I said in my review, the solution is to go at off-peak hours, like 3 p.m., making it one of those rare places where people are willing to make accomodations rather than be accommodated. When does that ever happen?

From left, Beth Shady, Jorge Garcia, Hannah Cornett and pro surfer turned actress Keala Kennelly.

The space is rather small for a party of the magnitude of Saturday’s event, so people flowed in and out for air. It was probably just as much fun outside with the paparazzi as inside, because the celebs were in a good mood and willing to do just about anything for the cameras, whether stuff their faces or ham it up with mock interviews.

Oh, and the burgers were truly yummy!

I left before Josh Holloway got there, but you can see photos of him at photographer Jeannemarie Viggiano’s Web site blog. She’s in many of the photos, and yours truly is in one of them. (more…)

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Prada area manager Joe Incao with stylist Crystal Pancipanci, left, and makeup artist Jessica Hoffman.

Prada Corp. celebrated the grand opening of its Miu Miu store last night with a well-attended party of some of Honolulu’s most stylish, as well as a handful of celebs, including “Lost’s” Michael Emerson, dressed in crisp white linen, homegrown actress/singer Tia Carrere and “American Idol” season five finalist Katharine McPhee, who’s also working on her acting skills.

Of course dozens came dressed in Prada or Miu Miu, but the person drawing circles of interrogators all night was Ronald Cheung, dressed in a black Commes de Garcons kilt worn over Louis Vuitton neon leggings, with white shirt and very cool cinched buckled top that had an edgy bondage-meets-straitjacket vibe.

Tia Carrere and Katharine McPhee, both dressed in Miu Miu and in town filming “You May Not Kiss the Bride,” produced by Hawaii Film Partners and also starring Mena Suvari. It’s said to about an American pet photographer who gets caught up with Croatian gangsters while on honeymoon with one of the mobster’s daughters.

It was a great party and the floor was so packed that if you saw someone you knew, you had to grab them right away, before they got swallowed up by the crowd, never to be seen again.

From left, party-goers Denise Nakano, Chanel Wong, Candace Konievic, Rod Iasuda and Lesli-Ann Yano.

(more…)

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Hayden Panettiere flashes a shaka sign at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel grand opening gala Saturday night.

Guests had a date with history when The Royal Hawaiian Hotel celebrated its grand reopening with a fundraising gala Saturday night for The Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific Foundation in partnership with Louis Vuitton Hawai‘i.

Recalling the days of the Pink Palace’s original opening on Feb. 1, 1927, there was a King’s Guard posted at the driveway gate, along with conch shell blowers and female greeters whose topless figures were draped with veils of long hair and lei. Inside, a poi pounder was also at work performing a demonstration on the Ocean Lawn.

Royal guests in 1928.

Echoing the hotel’s Hollywood connection as the location for films from the 1930s through the present, as well as resting spot for vacationing celebrities, the guest list included “Heroes” star Hayden Panettiere, actor Justin Long and Heather Graham. Much is being said about Hayden telling one reporter, “Don’t touch me,” but it can be justified. Put yourself in her shoes. People have boundaries and when you’re always surrounded by crowds and paparazzi, it must get old. I remember feeling that way when I was singing and guys would grab my arm coming off stage and talk/yell in my ear. Even if it was to say the show was great, I wanted to say, “Don’t touch me, boy.” At the time I just said, “Thanks.” Most people are well-intentioned and don’t know they might have been hurting my ear or arm or spitting beer.

I missed Heather’s red-carpet appearance while talking story outside, where it was pretty quiet so I had no idea about the commotion just beyond the entry. Madness. Oh well. I saw her later having dinner in the new Azure restaurant, but it’s just wrong to bother people when they’re eating, so I think everyone gave the celebs their space.

Celebrity event planner David Beahm was called in for his expertise for the $350 to $1,250 per person event. It was sad that it was raining that night, so many of the guests stuck to walkways and roofed areas rather than allow their heels to sink into the lawn. Pink and white hotel umbrellas were offered to guests who did want to make forays out to the food tents, where there were shrimp and crab cocktails, poke, crabcakes and grilled shortribs.At different times during the evening, there was music by Ginai, Bill Tapia and Makana, dressed fabulously as usual. Sorry, I don’t have a photo. I was biting into a piece of hamachi sushi when I ran into him and could not be deterred.Fireworks started about 9 p.m., and those in the Monarch Room were entertained by Grammy-nominated trumpeter Chris Botti, whose short set ranged from the romantic to jazzy, funk-driven rock.It was a party worthy of the grand dame of Waikiki.

Mac guy and actor Justin Long posed for a photo on the red carpet with Jasmine Trias. Don’t start any rumors about Drew Barrymore’s ex.

Pink is the new fabulous and the color of the evening for many of the guests. I was going to wear pink, but I only had sheer, pale pinks which I didn’t feel would hold up to rain, so I opted for black with a touch of magenta lace at the waist and shoulders. I felt that satin might hold up to the rain, and a lot of guests did opt for the shiny fabric:

At the Escada table, from left, Hawaii store manager Mariese Montano-Smith, Audra Stevenson and Lisa Higaki looked pretty in pink.

Pink hair and rosy cheeks worked, too.

Tai Busk chose a dramatic, unapologetic pink.

I didn’t notice the pink dragonfly attached to Aureana Tseu’s dress until late in the evening. She was talking story with Zeina Jafar.

Philpotts and Associates were involved in the hotel’s interior design. Representing the company, at center, with their paper umbrellas, were Marion Philpotts-Miller and Jon Staub. They’re surrounded by men with pink roses, from left, Terry Hubbard, Mike Cordeiro, Roycen Dehmer and Alvin Chung. (more…)

By Nadine Kam

Aubrey Hawk photo
The KITV Island Television News This Morning team, from left, Yasmin Dar, Dan Meisenzahl, Mahealani Richardson and Amber-Lynn Hyden had some fun at J Salon before hopping into the stylists’ chairs. At far left is J Salon owner Joe Randazzo.

Had some fun with the KITV morning news crew last Friday when they were at J Salon for a team bonding session to welcome Yasmin Dar to the telecast with makeovers that would allow them to put up a united, cohesive face on air.

That makes sense. You see some newscasts where outfits clash — some are in suits, some aloha wear, some scoop-necked T-shirts — and it’s jarring. It’s not like I’m not going to watch the news because of the way someone is dressed, but it can be distracting. Instead of listening to the news, I sometimes listen to the voice in my head that’s complaining, “Put a jacket on, will ya?” “What happened to looking like a professional?” or “Someone needs to hire a stylist.” And I’m not even that critical or distracted by looks.

I would think that the distraction of one’s appearance is a concern for anyone trying to communicate. I find that to be true when I’m talking to men sometimes. They’re looking at me and pretending to listen, but I get the feeling their mind is blank, or saying, “When will this be over,” and they’re not hearing a word. (more…)

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
“Lost’s” Michael Emerson on the red carpet.

OK, OK, so it’s been a while. Can’t a person just recover from Sunday’s Oscar Night America festivities at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel?

The event was once again presented by the Hawaii International Film Festival, against the colorful backdrop of the Pink Palace and blue skies. Guests walking the red carpet were also invited to pose for that postcard photo against Diamond Head, with some group so big, they blocked the landmark.

Photographer Jeannemarie Viggiano at work. You can visit jeannemariephoto.com or hiff.org for more photos from the event.

Some guests tried to sidestep the red carpet to avoid getting their pictures taken, but I could see how the red really highlights the person and makes what they wear pop. See how washed out it can look; otherwise, the gold would have looked terrific against red, like in the bottom photo. So if you ever have occasion to walk a red carpet, plan accordingly.

The difficult part of covering the local event means I missed seeing the actual Hollywood red carpet. Only a snippet is shown just before the Oscar ceremonies begin airing. I still haven’t caught up via TV or Internet, so when people talk about Sarah Jessica Parker’s dress or Miley Cyrus’s dress, I can’t offer an opinion. From what I saw from the awards ceremony, I liked Penelope Cruz’s dress, I thought Jennifer Aniston really needs to call a stylist, and Reese Witherspoon’s gown looked as if she had a date with Brian Boitano. The sequins and frills were a little costume-y and over-the-top, so I don’t know what happened. She’s dressed so impeccably for all her red carpet events of the past few years.

The Oscar program was great, and it was a nice touch to honor all the nominees, instead of showing yet another film clip that’s been shown dozens of times during award season. I had a couple of teary moments when Heath Ledger’s family went up to the stage, and when Anne Hathaway and Kate Winslet were being honored. They are such wonderful actresses. I see in Anne the same honesty and earnest quality that Heath brought to his roles, that made him so special, even when he appeared in lightweight fluff. It still makes me sad to think that at 28, he would have had such a brilliant career ahead of him.

Someone actually asked me if, when cameras focused on sadness in the eyes of the audience, if it was real emotion or if they were acting for the cameras. Good question. I only know I could never date an actor because it’s hard enough to gauge what’s in the heart of a normal, lousy actor sort of person.

Filmmaker Brett Wagner, left, with Christina Simpkins and Chris Lee.

Jay Chen, left, was chairman of the event and greeted guests early in the evening.

HIFF executive director Chuck Boller was the center of attention all evening. I had to drag him away for a shot, and even then, people were calling at him from behind me.

The silent auction featured a signed script, props and photos from the TV series, “House,” and some of the gear used in the George Clooney film, “Leatherheads.” (more…)