The Honolulu Advertiser has an article on the one year anniversary of Don Ho’s death: “Hawaii marks year after Don Ho’s death … Singer’s widow, children at odds; showroom, restaurant change, too”
Since Don Ho’s death, one year ago tomorrow, his showroom has gone dark, and soon will become home to a new venue named for another celebrity. His former crew at the Hoku Hale has scattered. Family members have split over the future of his estate, and a court case is pending.
The Ho showroom space, called the Hoku Hale, on the lobby level of the Ohana Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel, is being transformed and incorporated into Jimmy Buffett’s at the Beachcomber, a new restaurant and club scheduled to open in November. The 22,000-square-foot restaurant also will take over the space once occupied by a “Blue Hawai’i” Elvis impersonator show next door and a lobby restaurant. Continuing in Ho’s tradition, there will be entertainment with the food service.
Jimmy Buffett announced on Radio Margaritaville during the Glendale show that he will be ending this year’s tour in Honolulu (probably around the same time that the new restaurant will be opening).