Dazzler for Damon, lei for Carrere, wrap for Wisteria Lane

whee, the people: Actor Eric Manke is off to the House of Mouse in Orlando after a busy year appearing in shows such as "Miss Saigon" at Army Community Theatre and "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" at Diamond Head Theatre. Manke will enroll in the Walt Disney World College Program and appear as the Pluto character through New Year's, after which he will resume classes at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, where he is a sophomore. He probably will have tales to share then. ...

Manke and singer Jasmine Trias shot their "Save Time, Go Online" public-service announcements for Mayor Mufi Hannemann at the Ho'omaluhia park recently. Manke and Trias appear in one spot to show would-be drivers how to make an appointment for a road test; in the other, Trias and Hannemann show how easy it is to do vehiclerelated business by logging on (www.honolulu.gov). ...

LIFE IN THE TROPICS: That " '70s Salute to Our Troops," featuring Liz Damon and a cluster of flashback bands, raised $10,000 for Hawai'i's 29th Battalion. More than 800 folks strolled down memory lane at the Renaissance Ilikai hotel, where Flashback pretended to be the Orient Express to back up Damon on her "1900 Yesterday" hit. Damon, who stayed in an oceanview Ilikai suite, was thrilled before the performance Friday with fireworks practically in her face — it was the usual ritual at the neighboring Hilton Hawaiian Village — and she thought it was part of her welcome. She ventured to old pal Lynn Nakamura's Krazy Karaoke for communal singing before returning to Las Vegas. ...

While Tia Carrere still voiced Nani in "Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch," the straight-to-DVD sequel due Aug. 30, she wasn't able to attend the launch party earlier this week at the Turtle Bay resort because she's expecting a baby girl around Sept. 22. Her pals staged a baby shower for her at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills, and she asked Emme Tomimbang to send a haku lei to maintain a local touch. ...

Maui designer Maggie Coulombe's $150 wrap-top garment is featured in the Aug. 22 Life & Style magazine, in a piece titled "Teri, a master wrapper." The Teri is Teri Hatcher, Susan Mayer of "Desperate Housewives," and Coulombe is just wondering if it'll be seen and worn on Wisteria Lane, considering the top can be donned eight different ways. ...

Vanita Rae Smith, director of Army Entertainment, is a member of AWON, the American World War II Orphans Network, one of four members she knows who live in Hawai'i — and she's looking for more. The organization is composed of sons or daughters of an American soldier, sailor, airman or marine who was lost in World War II; its purpose is to honor the memory of their fathers. Smith is the daughter of Pfc. Ray Smith, who was in Luzon, in the Philippines, as a member of F Troop, 8th Cavalry Regiment, of the 1st Cavalry Division; he died April 28, 1945. Smith can be reached at vanita raesmith@hawaii.rr.com or 261-2150; she wants to link up survivors before the 60th anniversary celebration of the end of WW II, aboard the USS Missouri on Sept. 2. ...

Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett's 28th annual Ho'ike will be at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Ronald E. Bright Theatre at Castle High School. Olomana, Auntie Genoa Keawe, 'Ale'a and The Makaha Sons will perform. Tickets are $20; call 245-1155. ...

itemizations: Dale Machado, KSSK's chief engineer, normally works the microphones from behind the scenes at the Michael W. Perry-Larry Price Saturday morning show at John Dominis. Last weekend, Machado was front and center with his Honolulu Blue Devils band, promoting its Aug. 28 appearance at the grand opening of Wally Amos' new Kailua store, Chip and Cookie Cookies. With Machado on stage, who handled the mix? Turned out to be location producer Sweetie Pacarro, a do-it-all sort. ...

Laughter rippled through Sansei Saturday night after Gary Gulman performed at the Blaisdell Center. He and presenters John and Ellie Schneider of The Laugh Factory enjoyed sushi and karaoke singing. Next on the Laugh Factory bill: "Saturday Night Live" comedian Jim Breuer Sept. 10 at Blaisdell Concert Hall. ...

'Ukulele stylist Jake Shimabukuro is blitzing his way through Japan with his "Dragon" tour this month. He'll be on Okinawa on Sunday, in Fukuoka Aug. 23, Sapporo Aug. 25, Tokyo Aug. 27, Yokohama Aug. 28, Nagoya Aug. 29 and Osaka Aug. 30. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 525-8055.