Leina'ala Kalama Heine, kumu hula of Nä Pualei O Likolehua, is recovering from a pacemaker procedure and hopes to be up and about for two big events in the weeks ahead: her "Nä Lani 'Ehä: The Royal Four" hälau fundraiser, at 3 p.m. Saturday at Mamiya Theatre; and "A Cazimero Christmas," The Brothers Cazimero's holiday hoopla at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 and 12 and 2 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Hawai'i Theatre.

"The pacemaker saved my life," she revealed in a chance meeting the other day at Hair Razing Experience, our mutual mane maintenance shop.

The procedure temporarily affects her ability to raise her left arm above shoulder level, so her hula will be adjusted to cope with the difficulty, giving her dance a lower profile.

"My heart just wasn't functioning properly," she said of her irregular heartbeat, necessitating the pacemaker implant.

But the procedure was not without trepidation.

"When I was undergoing a stress test, I nearly blacked out — so I burst out into pule (prayer), chanting and calling every kupuna and 'aumakua (deified ancestor) I could; the prayers spooked everyone there, but saved my life."

She's happy to have 13 kumu graduates who earned their hula stripes in recent 'uniki (graduation); "they can carry the weight," she said of the duties attached to Saturday's fundraiser, which will support Nä Pualei's participation in the 2010 Merrie Monarch Festival. For tickets, call 676-0056. Guests will include kumu Karl "Veto" Baker and kumu Michael "Lanakila" Casupang of Hälau I Ka Wekiu, kumu Manu Boyd of Hälau Ke 'Ali'i Ku Makani and kumu Robert Uluwehi Cazimero of Hälau Nä Kamalei O Lililehua. And she's committed to kokua Cazimero in his Christmas shows. "I wouldn't miss it," said 'Ala. "Robert was the first one I called about the pacemaker; I was worried but he supports me." ...

ITEMIZATIONS: Local boy Kevin Yamada has scenes with John Travolta, Robin Williams, Seth Green and Sab Shimono in Disney's "Old Dogs," now on local screens. Kelly Preston, who is Mrs. Travolta, also stars, along with daughter Ella Bleu Travolta. "I was fortunate enough to attend the world premiere in L.A.," said Yamada, who is host of "The Sunny Side Up Show" on PBS Kids Sprout. ...

Old teachers take pride in their ex-pupils. Star of the Sea teacher (and entertainer) Keith Haugen is aglow with pride about the achievements of his former students: Michelle Wie, who won her first LPGA tourney and is now ranked as the No. 12 female golfer; Julianne Chu, Miss Hawaii Teen 2009; and Louis Kealoha, Honolulu's new chief of police, who took 'ukulele lessons from Haugen years ago at Leeward Community College. ...

NAME-DROPPING: Weldon Kekauoha, Tuesday night performer at Kani Ka Pila Grille at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach, welcomed a son, Kuäiwakamaehu Nakapa'ahu Kekauoha, born Nov. 16 to wife Rona, and checking in at 8 pounds, 2 ounces and 20 inches long. So the couple's three daughters now have a brother. ...

Folks are still talking about Jack Johnson's "En Concert" film and sing-out at the Hawai'i Theatre. Johnson's acoustic set with Zach Gill and Adam Topol had Kokua Hawai'i Foundation board member Kawika Kahiapo sitting in; Kahiapo, a member of Kaukahi and a Kani Ka Pila trouper, has been teaching Johnson slack key, so expect the fruits of the coaching soon — maybe in the 2010 Kokua Festival? ...

And that's Show Biz. ...