Entertainer Don Ho was released from a Honolulu hospital yesterday after 15 days of rest and recuperation. He headed straight to one of his favorite restaurants, Eastern Paradise on Ke'eaumoku Street, for some Chinese food.

Reinforcing his determination to eat healthy, Ho, who is 76, ordered vegetarian long rice and jaja min, rather than deep-fried garlic shrimp. Asked how he felt, he paused from his lunch to say, "I'm recuperating from the hospital! I feel great."

Ho was hospitalized Sept. 13 and had a new pacemaker installed a few days later in an effort to stabilize his heart condition. Last November he underwent a stem cell procedure in Thailand to strengthen his heart muscle. While hospitalized, he said he would consider further stem cell therapy.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.