Sherry Shaoling, the island model-actress-fashionista now based in Los Angeles, is back home following what she dubs an "unbelievable excellent adventure" – her marriage to Xiaojun Wang in his native village, Dengfeng, in Henan province, home of the legendary Shaolin temple in remote central China.

"We had a traditional village wedding feast reception there amidst a poor coal-mining town," said Shaoling, who found the raw and rural environs initially stunning but incomprehensible for one accustomed to the glam and glitz of Hollywood, where she has been ensconced the past four years. "The community there received me with love and acceptance despite their spare lives and surroundings – truly something I will not forget."

The newlyweds just opened a Shaolin training center in L.A.’s Chinatown, where Wang, a Shaolin-trained warrior, will conduct classes in kung fu, qi gong and strength and stamina training. Wang is a martial arts notable, thanks to his demo and training work with a group called "The Shaolin Warriors of Chinatown" and his TV and film work in Spike’s "The Deadliest Warrior," National Geographic’s "Fight Science" and the History Channel’s "The Art of War," as well as stunts for "Heroes" and "Kung Fu Panda." …

AROUND TOWN: Ran into Taizo Braden, the enthusiastic "Sunrise" traffic watcher for Hawaii News Now, at breakfast last week (he was on vacation) at Jack’s Restaurant in Aina Haina. About his Taizo name: He’s Japanese-born and his parents anticipated having a girl and chose Emiko as a name, but he showed up instead. "It means ‘third-born son,’" said Braden, who isn’t a third-born son, "but my dad wanted a dog named Taizo." So Dad got a traffic watchdog instead. …

At the Hawaii Kai Costco, as much a destination for kibitzing as shopping and noshing, we’ve encountered Tony and Karen Ruivivar (he of the Society of Seven) a couple of times, and last week, other SOSers Bert Sagum and Hoku Low. The last two were out to score sample nibbles. …

By the way, the "other" SOS – Society of Seven LV – is rehearsing to launch their new "Hot, Hot, Hot" show Nov. 9 at the Outrigger’s Main Showroom, with ex-LVer Jan Luna rejoining, along with a new gal singer, Melinda. …

TRAVEL LOG: Comedians Augie T. and Frank De Lima will cap their duo shows with a Nov. 12 gig at the Hawaii Theatre. Just did shows in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas last week, so De Lima heads to Minneapolis to visit his sister and then Ohio to see his brother. …

Cha Thompson and Misty Tufono, the mom-and-daughter team from Tihati Productions, leave today on a recruiting/hiring mission to American Samoa to seek Polynesian entertainers and warehousemen. As part of a federal grant following the closure of two tuna factories in American Samoa, Uncle Sam underwrites part of the salaries, since the U.S. territory has few job ops along with a high rate of military deaths in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. …

Steve and Lee Ann Jones (he’s the musician) are back from Boston, visiting acting son Sean Jones, a freshman at Boston Conservatory. Sean was one of the rare underclassmen to perform in a gala to dedicate a new theater on the site. Alumni attending included Tommy Tune ("Best Little Whorehouse in Texas") and Chad Kimball ("Memphis"). "We brought leis for all of his directors and also gave one to BoCo president Richard Ortner, who was impressed by the show of aloha," said dad Jones. …

FINALLY: Sorry to hear of the death Thursday of James MacArthur, the original "Danno" of the "Hawaii Five-0" that starred Jack Lord. Learned last Wednesday that he was admitted to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., and that was the real reason he couldn’t appear when the reboot premiered Sept. 13 at Sunset on the Beach. MacArthur maintained an island condo but also lived in Palm Springs, Calif. …

And that’s "Show Biz." …

Wayne Harada’s "Show Biz," a fixture for more than 40 years in the Honolulu Advertiser, appears Sundays in the Star-Advertiser. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com. Read his Show and Tell Hawaii blog at staradvertiser.com.