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Bruno Mars, our homegrown superstar, had two concerts in Tel Aviv, Israel, and the first one on Oct. 4 went on without issues. The Oct. 7 show, however, was logically canceled because Israel was at war with Hamas.

The venue was Park Hayarkon, and both shows were sold out, Live Nation Israel said. Refunds were automatically made via the venue where tickets were bought.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “We are at war. In war, one needs to be level-headed. I call on all citizens of Israel to unite in order to achieve our highest goal – victory in the war.”

A special night with The Krush

Wade Kuroiwa (pictured), Edwin Ramones (pictured) and Macky Galbiso are among the original  members of The Krush, who will convene in a show and dance Oct. 20 at the Mango Street Grill in Wahiawa. Doors open at 6 p.m.

The Krush was a popular recording act in the 1970s and 1980s and parlayed their disc career into fan-popular gigs at the Hilton Hawaiian Village’s Garden Bar, and the Outrigger Waikiki’s Main Showroom. Both venues are gone but the group’s roster of hits – “Waialua Sky,” “Blame It on the Night,” “Mauna Loa,” and “My Hawaii” — have endured, logically as nostalgia faves.

The group, formerly The Fabulous Krush (still fabulous but with a better, shorter name), was managed by the late Yemun Chung, whose entrepreneurial skills made the act a household name. A salute or memorial likely will be part of the evening.

Following the show, there will be dancing with What the Funk.

Pre-sale tickets are $25 (call Don at (808) 224-0776 and $30 at the door.

Mango Street Grill formerly was Dot’s in Wahiawa. ….

Money for Maui

It was “Money, Money, Money” at Diamond Head Theatre’s “Mamma Mia” production on Oct. 5, when all proceeds of the ABBA-centric musical raised more than $20,000 in support of the Hawaii Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund, benefitting the recovery needs of the Lahaina wildfires which took lives and wiped out the scenic mecca – businesses, homes, condos, schools, and iconic sites – last Aug. 9.

The cast and crew blew a kiss to Maui and yep, aloha matters. A generous act of kindness from DHT, so Trevor Tamashiro, new executive director, and his team deserve a mahalo shout-out.

“Mamma Mia” continues through Oct. 15, but tickets are sold out through the run. …

Symphony’s Moss leaving at year’s end

The Hawaii Symphony Orchestra is searching for a new president and chief executive officer to succeed David Moss (pictured), prevailing leader of the ork, who is resigning at the end of this year. HSO will conduct both an internal local search as well as candidates from abroad.

Moss was appointed to lead the HSO in March of 2020 in the midst of the Covid 19 pandemic crisis, at a time when the organization experienced financial challenges and declining audience support, but the ork launched diverse programs in non-traditional concert venues, to remain afloat. Dane Lam was hired as the first music director and conductor in the ork’s history.

 “Dave has established an incredible legacy by growing the symphony’s impact and relevance in our community. Our board remains committed to the HSO, its musicians and our community and will begin our search to replace him immediately,” said Paul Kosasa, chair of the board of directors of HSO, in a statement. “We are truly grateful for what Dave has done and the leadership he has shown. While we are sad to see him leave, we wish Dave and his family all the best in their future endeavors.” …

And that’s Show Biz. …

Graveside services for Noah Parker will be held at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 3 at Diamond Head Memorial Park, according to his widow, Ellen Parker.

Noah, a colleague from the Honolulu Advertiser days, died last July 3 at age 80,  possibly from complications due to his Merkel cell carcinoma diagnosis.

He was a product of Kalihi, attending Kalihi Waena Elementary School, Kalakaua Intermediate School, and Farrington High School.

Curiously, newspapering was part of life, from his early years. Unbeknown to many, Noah was a newspaper seller at 8 years old; he would hawk the Honolulu Advertiser on street corners, until he was 12.

In his late teens, he solicited subscriptions for circulation district managers on the Neighbor Islands and eventually became a part-time district manager for several years, until he earned a full-time position.

I met him when I was a reporter-columnist at the Advertiser, when circulation headquarters were still at the News Building at Kapiolani Boulevard and South Street.

He was a cordial, chatty sort, easy to befriend, and it was no surprise he served as district manager for more than 30 years. He eventually was promoted to the role of home delivery circulation for 10 more years, before he retired.

Because he resided in Hawaii Kai, where I also own a home, we had numerous off-hour conversations about the news biz, even following both our retirements.

One bonus for me — with an insider buddy in circulation who knew district managers even after his retirement — I was able to regularly receive a preview of the early-run entertainment section (remember those?) on Saturdays preceding the Sunday inclusion of The Advertiser.

Noah Parker discusses The Advertiser with kids during a school visit.

Frequently, Noah would ask about a local entertainer mentioned in my Show Biz column, and cordially provided extra copies to share with the subjects in the column. There wasn’t a performer he didn’t know.

Susan Lam Sinclair, who met Noah in 1986, was an Advertiser morning dispatcher, working a 3 to 7:30 a.m. shift for the circulation department, at the time he was district manager for Hawaii Kai. After her father died in January 1990, “Noah became my ‘office father’ or godfather, as some people called him,” said Lam Sinclair.

He recruited her to volunteer in his community  projects (“I was Icee Bear one year in the Christmas parade”).

When she relocated to the mainland to enter a training program with the Veterans Administration, he encouraged her to pursue her career goals and advised her, “reach for the sky as high as you can go.”

The friendship continued for 36 years with her annual Hawaii visits, for a meal or two, not knowing that  their April 10 get-together would be their last.

“He was my sounding  board, lent an ear when I need someone to listen and always had a shoulder for me to cry on.  He was a very giving man who often fed the homeless. Noah has touched many lives far and wide.  He will be missed sorely by myself and many others.”

“He was more than just a husband and father,” said wife Ellen. “His generosity towards his family and numerous community endeavors was truly never ending.”

She said Noah always recited this quote, “service to humanity is the best work of life.”. For 25 years, Noah organized the Hawaii Kai Christmas Parade along Lunalilo Home Road, and also started up the Hawaii Kai Mountain Ball League and had a hand in the short-lived Hawaii Kai fireworks display at Maunaloa Bay.

Cha Thompson, longtime buddy of Noah, received regular phone calls from Noah, and they, too, established a keen friendship, with Cha joining Noah in organizing the Hawaii Kai fireworks show. She said of him, “If he were your friend, you could consider yourself a very lucky person. He would always be there if you needed a favor, but he never expected anything in return. He was everybody’s helper and was loved for it.”

She said they had lively discussions of things in the daily paper; “he would read the newspaper and have an opinion that you would either love or hate,” said Cha.

Noah was an orphan, born June 5, 1943, who ultimately met his birth mother when he was in his 20s. Perhaps his status of being parentless gave him the personality and outlook in his life as a teen and ultimately as an adult.

All his friends know he was a most resourceful soul with the zesty spirit to serve anyone anytime, particular in a moment of need; if you asked him “where is the best place to find such-and-such, he’d tell you he knows someone who has such-and-such, and would deliver the item a day or two later. That’s one of the traits I’ll never forget. …

Noah is survived by his wife of 60 years, daughter Denise Parker Hignight, son Dennis Parker and fiancee Tricia Ezawa, and Dappy Parker, constant companion and family dog. …

And that’s Show Biz. …