wayneharada.com

Award-winning Robert Cazimero and his hula Halau Na Kamalei O Lililehua will go Windward in March, making their debut at  the Windward Community College’s Paliku Theatre in two shows at 2 and 6 p.m. March 22.

The concerts, themed “A Ko‘olau Au” (“I Am the Windward Side”), will pay tribute to the region. Cazimero said the show’s title is derived “from an old chant many schools perform.”

He added, “What is most important is the fact that we are going to be doing songs for the Windward side of O‘ahu, from Waimanalo to Paumalū. It’s a celebration for its people, ‘aina and mele.”

The Windward side, with its verdant and dominating Ko‘olau rmountain range, is notably impressive and inspiring especially during the winter raining season, like now. Over the decades, it has motivated and stimulated the imagination of many. Windward resources are plentiful;  the Pahinui family in Waimanalo has been prolific singers-musicians, Singers-composers have made their marks with hit songs (think Jerry Santos of Olomana, with “Kuu Home O Kahaluu” and Jay Larrin, with “The Ko‘olaus Are Sleeping Now.”

Historic towns and communities like Lanikai, Kailua, Kaneohe, Waiahole, Ka‘a,’awa, Kahana, Punalu’u and La’ie have also inspired songs and mele;  even Hollywood has been lured to a popular site, Kualoa Ranch, and welcomed filmdom’s Steven Spielberg and his “Jurassic Park” dinosaur box office hits.

So there is no shortage of titles and theses from Cazimero and Halau Na Kamalei, reigning Merrie Monarch Festival winners.

“I am a towny,” said Cazimero, “and there is no doubt and I do love it. But it’s easy to let what you see at face value overshadow what you need for my heart’s value. When that happens, I drive through the Pali, to the Windward side of the Ko`olau. It fills and replenish me and is the inspiration for our show.”

A few other performers will be secured, but not yet  named. Negotiatons also are underway for “the conglomerate of three hula halau,” he noted.

He added, “As should be expected, HNKOL will be there as well as Bob’s Boys. That would be my band consisting of Kaipo Hale, Keala Chock and Richard Heirakuji. (The gents made their debut as a backup band) at Cazimerio’s two concerts last Oct. 11 and 12 at Leeward Communty Theatre). I’m hoping that Miss Kanoe Kaumeheiwa Miller will be there, but I haven’t heard back from her yet.”

“It is my birthday month, but we’re not gonna be celebrating that too much. Cazimero will perform at his birthday bash at 6:30 p.m. March 19 at Chef Chai and it’s already virtually sold out. For reservation inquiries, call the retaurant at (808) 585-0011.

Cazimero, a legendary vocalist, showman, and recording artist, is featured at his first-time art show in the Gallery Iolani adjoining Paliki Theatre. The display, focusing on Robert and his brother Roland Cazimero and the Cazimero ‘ohana, will be open before the 2 p.m. Paliku concert and after the show, and also before the 6 p.m. finale.

“We’re taking advantage of the gallery next door and incorporating what’s there for the show,” said Cazimero. “It’s an opportunity to talk about those that I love in the gallery that are no longer here. I’m hoping that after the concert people will go to the gallery and appreciate it even more. It gives me chicken skin.”

Proceeds from the concerts will go to the sponsoring Wahea Foundation, and beneficiaries include Cazimero and his singing-and-dancing halau gentlemen.

Tickets go on sale this week, with all seats priced at $50, though University of Hawaii students with student ID cards can purchase limited student tickets for $25, with a link at www.waheafoundationb@gmail.com

And that’s Show Biz…

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You are what you eat. Sometimes.

Recently, I had a yummy dinner the likes of which I haven’t had for perhaps 50 years.

It was fried aku bones.

Yep, many families used to dine on aku bones when available. No, you don’t eat the skeletal remains, but you’d nibble on the flesh of the bones of fish, which were seasoned with salt and pepper and served as a casual meal.

You were able to buy uncooked aku bones at your neighborhood market; if it sold aku filet, it would have had the aku bones – remnants of the fish – the home chefs would buy and then serve. Ono stuff.

But I don’t know how long ago that markets pulled the plug on aku bones. After all, it’s supposed to be a discarded item. If they’re still sold, it must be a regional secret.

But my nephew, who was on a mission to purchase aku filets at Tamashiro Market in Palama, noticed the availability of aku bones. He managed to score enough and save some for me.

These bones were simply wrapped up in a market’s pink paper, and given to regular customers. I mean, come on, you can’t buy/sell steak bones, so why can you sell aku bones?

Folks of a certain vintage will remember aku bones. You’d have to grab the bones with your fingers cuz you couldn’t use a knife and fork to cut the flesh off the fish, since there wasn’t much on the bone. Yet if you had two or three of these critters, you had a meal in the old days.

After salt and peppering – you could add a dash of garlic – you simply fried till it was koge – blackened or  charred – and  some folks deep-fried the aku bones. White rice wouldn’t have been the only other component you’d  need to have a feast.  Since the bone would be a hand-held item, a musubi would have been the perfect partner.

Then you’d suck away, till every morsel of the aku flesh would be slurped and consumed. But eating the aku bones required some skill and caution, because the bones were sharp and subject to poke and wound you. So you’d have to learn to use your tongue to navigate. Honest!

This all might sound gross and disgusting, but if you have elders in your household, ask ‘em about aku bones. It was an incredible edible, only consumed at home. You’d never  serve it to guests at your dinner table and you’re never find it on a restaurant menu. But if you remember and treasured aku bones, you’d never forget ‘em.

So: If you’re a fan of fried aku bones, share your memories here.