HONOLULU -- Legendary Hawaiian entertainer Don Ho talked to KITV about his recovery from a controversial medical procedure he recently underwent in Thailand.

He's recovering in an undisclosed location. He said he is doing great and is in great spirits.

He returned from Bangkok on Monday. His publicist said doctors' orders require that he recover in privacy to reduce any complications.

"I'm just taking it easy; just enjoying beautiful Hawaii," Ho said.

The world-famous entertainer said he made a life-or-death decision to undergo experimental adult stem cell injection in Thailand.

"If I didn't go, I'd be dead by now because they couldn't do anything here," he said.

At 75 years old, he is too old for a transplant. Doctors said they had done as much as they could to repair his ailing, weak heart.

Two weeks ago in Bangkok, Ho had stem cells cultivated from his blood injected by catheter into his heart. The cells are expected to attach and reproduce, creating new muscle.

Ho said so far so good.

"Before the surgery, I could hardly move," he said. "I could tell a difference already a week after the operation. Right now, I feel 100 times better."

The procedure has raised ethical questions about allowing an American company to test in the U.S. while conducting it overseas.

Ho calls it a miracle and is anxious to start performing again.

"As soon as I get the green light from my doctor, who says my heart is strong enough for some excitement," Ho said, laughing.

It will be several more months before he'll be out of recovery. Ho said if all goes well, he'll be 75 percent better than he was before the procedure.

The holidays are even sweeter this year, and he will be spending them with family, Ho said.