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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, January 10, 2010

Boxing great Muhammad Ali feels magic of Isles


By Wayne Harada

"The Greatest" one, the incomparable boxing champ Muhammad Ali, was visiting here with his sister-in-law Marilyn, at a friend's house, and also flew to Maui to visit pal Kris Kristofferson, who lives there part-time.

Through Marilyn, Island entertainer Cathy Foy Mahi learned that Ali is a fan of magic. So, Foy Mahi took him and friends to see John Hirokawa's "Magic of Polynesia" show at the Ohana Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel.

"Although John was on vacation, Muhammad absolutely loved the show and even stayed afterward to take photos with the cast, wait staff and crew," said Foy Mahi. "It was amazing to see young children come up to him and he was smiling all the time." ...

CELEB-RATIONS: While he didn't schedule a Christmas concert this past season, singer Neil Sedaka made his annual pilgrimage here, dining with Tom Moffatt and a party of eight at Roy's in Hawai'i Kai. The "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" composer made two visits to Roy's. ...

Another night, UFC champion BJ Penn brought his friends and his star power to savor the joys of Roy's. On Tuesday night, Sir Elton John and the Osbournes held court at Roy's — a grand party of 28.

And was that Kelly Osbourne, daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, enjoying the cheeseburger babies at the Waikiki Cheeseburger Land? According to staff, she was down-to-earth, sweet, and in a talk-story mood. ...

Meanwhile, Olympic silver medalist Michelle Kwan, in town for her brother's December wedding, skated to Doraku Sushi at the Royal Hawaiian Center three times. At lunch, she chose a seafood salad but nibbled sushi during nocturnal visits with pals. ...

And out Honoka'a way on the Big Island, actress Roseanne Barr just bought property and showed up at a party with her boyfriend. The "Roseanne" star also has Waikoloa digs but enjoys upcountry living. ...

HITHER 'N' YON: Loretta Ables Sayre was tapped to give the aloha/farewell message for fellow Tony nominee Kelli O'Hara — Nellie Forbush to Ables Sayre's Bloody Mary in Lincoln Center's "South Pacific." After nearly two years, O'Hara left for travel, concerts and motherhood; she gave birth last year to a boy named Owen. ...

Also, when Ables Sayre e-mailed that she and hubby David Sayre tried without luck to locate a New Year's kadomatsu for their New York apartment, we shipped her one. "We immediately put it outside our front door. We were thrilled," said Ables Sayre. "I'm sure we're the only people in our building and probably the only ones on the Upper West Side to have one." Yeah, and having one means explaining its cultural significance. ...

THE LOCAL ANGLE: Carolyn Sapp Daniels, first Miss Hawai'i to be crowned Miss America (1992), was in Hale'iwa last Sunday for a one-year baby lū'au for Keira Makanalani Daniels. Her son, Kai, is 3 — now, and mom is hāpai again, expecting another girl in April or early May. Among the guests: Eric Chandler and Takeo, the designer team that cloaked Sapp in her competition finery, as well as designer Mamo Howell, Dr. Angela Pratt, Leilani Keough, and ex-Miss Hawai'i Candes Meijide Gentry. And David Hasselhoff sang at the party. ...

Hawai'i boosters of Rain, the K-pop superstar from South Korea, swarmed Caesars Palace during the holidays to catch the singer-actor in action at the Colosseum. "Hawai'i fans were everywhere," said Geri Mehrtens. "We absolutely went ballistic when he responded with a shaka sign to our shaka signs in his closing song." ...

And that's Show Biz. ...