Kimo’s Vegas

Holly Madison, Jack Effel and Phil Hellmuth at the WSOP. Photo from Kimo Akane

WELCOME TO Kimo’s Vegas … the Player’s Edge!

THE BIG PAPA of all poker tourneys, the 42nd annual World Series of Poker, is going on now at the Rio. This year’s main event is the third-largest field ever, with 6,865 participants with a prize pool of $64,531,000 and an $8,711,956 payday for the winner. This year’s oldest player is 91-year-old Ellen Deeb, who unfortunately didn’t make it past day one. Holly Madison did the time-honored “Shuffle Up and Deal” with tournament director Jack Effel and the game’s most winningest player Phil Hellmuth.

VEGAS INC HAS a compilation of the Top 10 Suites in Vegas that includes the Chairman’s Suite at Bellagio and Hugh Hefner’s playpen in the Palms, but the “spank me who’s your daddy award” goes to the Octavius Villas at Caesars Palace that run $40,000 a night … Get the link to check ‘em out at KimosVegas.com.

DENNIS RODMAN celebrated his 50th birthday and kicked off his latest venture, WB Brand Cigars, July 19 at Chateau Nightclub & Gardens.

SERENDIPITY, the ice cream parlor in Caesars, has a sundae that’s made with scoops of Tahitian vanilla bean and Ecuadoran chocolate, exotic fruits, truffles, an orchid made from sugar, a flower made from the finest white chocolate and gold leaf. For the insatiably inquisitive with wallets to match, the Golden Opulence Sundae will set you back a cool $1,000. But what’s it look like on the flip side?

HOMEBOY DEVIN HASHIMOTO is the new executive chef of Okada in the Wynn. He has put his mark on the fine dining establishment’s menu, drawing on his Japanese heritage and classical French training to create flavorful, modern Japanese dishes. The Iolani grad got his start at Sam Choy’s and most recently held the same position at Alex. Fellow columnist Jo McGarry did a great interview with the master flavor maker in the Jan. 14, 2009, issue … Search midweek.com to check it out.

THE HILTON is holding a three-day $30,000 Hawaii Ohana Slot Tournament in August, and everyone who enters “no can lose” … Yep, everyone wins at least $50 in free play and the top finishers win $1,000, $2,000 or $3,000 in cash. Just be thankful that Sweetie Pacarro (who’s also known as Lucky for her slot machine prowess) is hosting and not playing in the tourney. Get the link to enter at KimosVegas.com.

THE SILVER STATE is probably the No. 1 state for buffets … No wonder its populace is the 35th most obese in the country.