ALL IN THE 'OHANA: Now that hanai daughter Chahati is at Occidental College in Los Angeles, Jack and Cha Thompson of Tihati Productions have been experiencing the Empty Nest Syndrome — there's now a noticeable hush at their Portlock home. The couple accompanied Chahati to school, buying stuff for her dorm. During a campus visit, Cha sighted a celebrity, without her usual glam makeup, "and it turned out to be actress Cybill Shepherd, who was enrolling her son Zach at the college," said Cha. ...

Designer Puamana Crabbe had similar blues when she accompanied her daughter, Ka'ili, to Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, Calif., in the company of Mogul Crabbe of Kona, who is the student's grandfather. "Now I know what those empty-nesters must feel and hear when they're 'listening' to silent echoes," said Puamana. ...

ABOUT PEOPLE: Jun Polistico, former Society of Seven member, did a concert for the Filipino community recently. He's taken a religious turn and also has earned his Realtor's credentials in Las Vegas, where he continues to live and perform — but mostly for church gatherings. ...

Benji Schwimmer, who won the "So You Think You Can Dance 2" competition and is the son of the Society of Seven's choreographer Buddy Schwimmer, made a surprise visit to the SOS show at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. SOS member Bert Sagum's son Christian, possibly Benji's No. 1 fan, went bonkers when Schwimmer and his sister Lacey got on stage to do a swing routine together. Movie offers have been coming Schwimmer's way, along with a bid from Celine Dion to dance with her in her Caesars Palace show. ...

THE LOCAL ANGLE: Afatia Thompson, formerly of the group Reign, drops his first solo CD, "5:54," on Sept. 19. The numerals refer to his and his late brother Eli Thompson's football jersey numbers. ...

See if you agree: Larry Paxton turns in a career-best performance as the title character in "Sweeney Todd," playing weekends through Sept. 23 at Army Community Theatre's Richardson Theatre at Fort Shafter. Tough show, demanding lyrics, an unsavory theme enacted by a great ensemble cast (Stefanie Smart, John and Lorna Mount, Megan Mount, Scott Moura, Justin Hashimoto) on an eye-filling set (by Dennis L. Hassan) — a triumph, despite opening-night miking problems. ...

A photo of Jason Elento, who has Down syndrome, will be shown in a 20-minute video at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 17 (New York time) on the mammoth Panasonic TV screen at Times Square. It's part of an awareness campaign involving actor John C. McGinley (NBC's "Scrubs") and Chris Burke (ABC's "Life Goes On") who will lead a one-mile Buddy Walk through Central Park after the screening. Jason is the son of Willard and Linda Elento of Kane'ohe. ...

Renee Loux, a Maui resident, has a new cookbook, "The Balanced Plate: The Essential Elements of Whole Foods and Good Health" (Rodale Press). Loux, the wife of entrepreneur Shep Gordon, will tape Emeril Lagasse's "Emeril Live" show on The Food Network on Thursday. ...

DATES TO LOG: Momix, that incredible dance-performance company, will return to the Islands Oct. 13 and 14 at the Hawai'i Theatre. ...

For the first time, the Windward Ho'olaule'a, set for Saturday at the Windward Community College campus, will offer Music Institute 'ukulele and hula workshops led by experts. The uke crew will include Benny Chong, Gordon Mark, Herb Ohta Jr., Bruce Shimabukuro and Ron Loo; the hula leaders will be Noenoe Zuttermeister and Holoua Stender. Sessions will be one hour and 45 minutes each, between 8:30 a.m. and 2:45; cost is $30 per session or $80 all day (assuming you take in several sessions). Same-day registration is possible, if there's space. Call 235-7433 or visit ocet.wcc.hawaii.edu. ...

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.