Month: April 2025

Posted on

OH, LEI! IT’S MAY DAY IN HAWAII!

Halau Na Kamalei O Lililehua earned Merrie Monarch hula laurels last week.

Make a lei, wear a lei, give a lei!

That’s the May Day mantra, established some time ago by The Brothers Cazimero, when they made lei, donned lei, and shared lei to celebrate Lei Day.

 Robert Uluwehionāpuaikawēkiuokalani Cazimero, the surviving brother, has been carrying on the tradition, and he’s assembling his usual roster of singers and hula dancers, to stage the Hawaiian Airlines May Day Concert, at 7 p.m. tomorrow (May 1) at the Great Lawn at Bishop Museum.

Robert Cazimero, singer-kumu hula.

Show-goers will reflect a garden of blooms, wearing lei they’ve sewn, , they’ve purchased, or braided if it’s faux lei (hey, some are gorgeous!) The dude to look for on stage is entertainer and lei-maker extraordinare Kuana Torres Kahele, who grows flowers in his yard and creates the most exquisite lei imaginable. He’ll be in the cast, so zoom in on his superative leis.

Doors open at 5 p.m. for dinner and beverage service. VIP guests will be privy to premier seating and a Hawaiian meal curated by the Highway Inn restaurant, with service terminating at 7 p.m., when the show begins. VIPs will get a drink ticket, assigned to their table number, with a Hawaiian Air lei greeting upon arrival. Other amenities will be provided by participating sponsors. Hawaiian Host, Hawaiian pie Company, and NOHO Home.

Another image of Halau Na Kamalei O Lililehua, at Merrie Monarch.

Supplementary food vendors will provide additional cravings and drinks; outside food and beverages are not allowed, so leave your ice chests and munchies at home.

Led by Cazimero, the concert also features  Keauhou, 19-time-Na Hoku Hanohano Award winners, and Cazimero’s Halau Na Kamalei O Lililehua, his dancing and singing corps of male hula dancers, which copped laurels at last week’s Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, including Kane Overall Winner, Kane Kahiko Winner and Kane  ‘Auana Winner.

Keauhou’s Zach Lum is hosting the event, and will be joined by fellow group members Nick Lum (Zach’s brother) and Jonah Solatorio.

Kuana Torres Kahele, lei-maker extraordinaire.

Other participants include Kaipo Hale, the aforementioned Kuana Torres Kahele, Keola Maka’iau, Gunnie Hanzawa, the Ladies of the Royal Dance Company and co-hosts Billy V (TV host)  and Debbie Nakanelua-Richards (director of community and cultural relations at title sponsors Hawaiian Airlines).

Expect a few surprises, too.

The Hawaiian Airlines May Day concert will be broadcast live on mele.com and KFVE. Those attending the show – and others unable to be at the live performance — may watch the telecast afterwards via abroadcast-on-demand on mele.com

Tickets: visit mele.com …

———————————————–

Kalani Pea’s May Day will be belated

Kalani Pe’a

Kalani Pe‘a, three-time Grammy Award winner, will stage his May Day concert belatedly, at 6 p.m. Saturday (May 3) at the Hawaii Theatre. Doors open at 5 p.m.

Guest artists include Sean Na‘auao, Sonny Ching, Lopaka Igarta-De Vera. Ka‘ilihiwa Vaughn-Darval, Kau‘I Kamana‘o, Kunewa Mook, Shelsea Lilia Ai, Carolee Nishi, Krystal Yamamura,  Antonio “Akoni”  Robles and five hula halau. Mele Apana will host.

Tickets $57.50 to $162.50, at www.hawaiitheatre.com 

And that’s Show Biz…

Posted on

DELIMA HAS REMEDY FOR VOG DELIMMA

Leave it to comedian Frank DeLima, to put a spin on the ongoing vog – volcanic fog, for those new to the pain it causes.

DeLima, who relocated to Las Vegas in January, citing retirement from the Honolulu comedy scene, has created the perfect lament to vog. He borrows John Paul Young’s sweet ballad, “Love Is in the Air,” and hits the right nerves, lyrically and vocally, in his parody of the gray skies loaded with volcanic fog from the ongoing Kilauea eruption.

Released today, “Vog” is the perfect tonic for those with teary eyes, sniffling noses and understandable discomfort for the common discomfort when Madame Pele is spewing smoke from the lava oozing on the Big Island. Kona wind is how the vog reaches Honolulu.

Looking and sounding good, DeLima is at his best with this one.

He writes and sings:

“Everywhere you turn around

“Vog stay in da air

“”Makes you squint makes you frown

“Stay outside running around is foolish

“Stay inside windows and doors shut is wise

“No mattah you gotta believe it

“Wen volcanoes erupt it’s da prize.”

Mixing just enough pidgin and expressing  local-style grief, he offers reaction and effects of the vog.

“Make dull, the moon and sun.”

“The sky is grey, not blue.”

“Turn da sinus all brown.”

Enough pilikia, might as stay home and turn on the AC, if you have, yeah?

Will post this column for the Facebook crowd, and yep, he delivers the ditty with perfection. Can’t post video here, so visit https://www.facebook.com/wayne.harada.5

Resourceful radio stations should keep this one, for the current eruption phase, and future ones…

And that’s Show Biz…

Posted on

JAZZ QUARTET TO HONOR GOLSON

The Honolulu Jazz Quartet, led by bassist John Kolivas, will present a free concert at  7 p.m. Sunday (April 27) at the Musicians Assn. of Hawaii at. 949 Kapiolani Blvd.

The event, featuring guest guitarist Robert Shinoda,  will be a tribute to Benny Golson, a jazz tenor saxophonist, composer and arranger, who died at age 95  on Sept. 21 2024 at his home in Manhattan.

Besides Kolivas, current HJQ members are Tim Tsukiyama, saxophones; Dan Del Negro, piano; and Noel Okimoto, drums.

Benny Golson, center, flanked by the Hooolulu Jazz Quartet, back in the day,


Golson is remembered for his contributions to the jazz canon,  including such compositions as “I Remember Clifford,” “Whisper Not,” and “Killer Joe. He also embraced a second career, composing and arranging music for television shows. He also made a cameo appearance in the film, “The Terminal,” that starred Tom Hanks.
Golaon’a ties with the HJQ date back to April, 2009, when he he joined the jazz quarter in a performance at the Doris Duke Theatre at the Honolulu Museum of Art.

The weekend concert will be at the Musician Assn.’s Studio 909.

A BYO beverage and food policy will be in effect.

Parking is free at the Music Assn.’s lot at 949 Kapiolani; entrance is through Waimanu St.

Avoid the ramp up leading to condo parking; if you park there, you will be towed.

Mack’s Mango jam coming up

Gail Mack

Singer-composer Gail Mack, who arranges periodic shows at Mango Street Grill in Wahiawa, has one coming up from 5 to 8 p.m. May 4.

Mack has corralled Lance Luke, Keith Hiraoka and Bobby Nishida for the show. Another gig will be held at the same time on June 8.

Reservations are necessary by calling Daryl at (808) 627-5451,

On the move

Two island news personalities are leaving local stations:

Eddie Dowd of Hawaii News Now (KHON, KGMB) is relocating to Massachusetts. The reason: to be close to his aging parents who are 91 and 75. No word yet if he’ll be doing news reporting on a Massachusetts station.

And Lia Kamana is ending her three-year stint with KITV (ABC here) to join a Fox News affiiliate, KPTV, in Portland, OR…

Bollywood and more

An evening of Indian song and dance will be held at 7 p.m. today (April 26) at the Doris Duke Theatre at the Honolulu Museum of Art.

The cultural event will feature a range of Indian artistry including classical, folk, and Bollywood dance and vocals. The performers are Sai Bhatawadekar and her team, augmented by guest artists from the University of Hawaii.

Spectators can join the performers by singing along, clapping and dancing.

For tickets,  visit https://honolulumuseum.org/events/360//kahani

And that’s Show Biz…

Posted on

‘SUNSET’ CANCELED, BULLHORN FILLS IN

Even with the ol’ adage, “The show must go on,” the show couldn’t continue for Hawaii’s Nicole Scherzinger on Broadway this past Wednesday (April 23) afternoon.

At a matinee performance of her “Sunset Blvd.” hit at the St. James Theatre on Broadway, a technical mishap forced the cancellation of the show.

Nicole Scherzinger sings “With One Look,” relying on a bullhorn.

Frustrating, yes, but inventive Scherzinger – starring as Norma Desmond in “Sunset” – didn’t allow her audience to be totally disappointed. With her co-star, Tom Francis (he plays Joe Gillis in the show), she took to the stage to announce the cancellation, by grabbing a bullhorn from backstage to make lemonade from a lemon of a situation.

With the support of a backstage track, Scherzinger sang “With One Look,” a tune her Desmond character sings, which at least gave disappointed show-goers to have something to talk about after vacating the theater.

Magician Giancarlo Bernini, in the audience, captured the singer with her bullhorn in an Instagram post, and the show continued as usual for the evening performance…

Show breezes

Coming up:

  • Boys II Men, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (April 26), at the Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell. Ticket prices vary, depending on seat location.
  • Jefferson Starship, at 8 p.m. June 7, at the Hawaii Theatre. Tickets: $72 to $262.
  • Lee Ann Rimes, at 6:30 p.m. July 12, at Blaisdell Arena. Ticket prices vary, depending on seat location.

And that’s Show Biz…

Posted on

‘TINA:’  VIM, VIGOR—WITH A PUNCH

Jayna Elise is Tina in “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” now at Blaisdell Concert Hall.

“Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” is a powerful eruption of explosive, energetic and expressive songs and dances, probing the ascent and survival of the queen of rock amid a climate of sex abuse and domestic violence.

In the title role, Jayna Elise is luminous and fiery and delivers most of the tunes in the score.( Meagan Dawson plays Tina in some performances).

The show opened last night (April 22) at Blaisdell Concert Hall and continues its  short week’s run through Sunday (April 27).

Act I is a painful history of how Tina – formally named Anna-Mae Bullock — became infatuated with music and stardom, despite a relationship with a dominating and abusive beau/husband, Ike Turner (Sterling Baker McClary), who is perfectly unlikeable.  He smacks her repeatedly and it is painful to endure.

Act II is  where Tina validates her reign and delivers simply the best of her ditties – with the splendid support of the Ikettes (Mya Bryant, Daniya Jazel, Morgan Lewis and Aiyana  Smash, back-uppers who possess pizzazz. ).

Jayna Elise as Tina: Luminous and fiery…and delivers a punch!

Elise/Tina received the loudest support (applause, cheers, hoots) in the moment that she stopped being Ike’s punching bag, and delivered a pivotal return punch (yeah, right where it hurts the most!) in an unexpected response to halt being a victim.

“Tina” has everything you’d expect:

  •  A parade of juke box hits (“What’s Love Got to Do With It,”  “Private Dancer,” “River Deep, Mountain High,” “We Don’t Need Another Hero,””(Simply) The Best”).
  •  Shimmering gowns, some fringed.
  • That one costumed piece that became a Tina trademark: a blue jean jacket worn with a dress.
  • Infectious and demanding choreography (by Anthony Van Laast).
  • An array of background projections and scenic (by Jeff Sugg).

Because of the adult themes, the show is not suitable for young children; perhaps age 15-16 and up could attend.  Further, the dialogue contains some swear words, and the N word is uttered several times.

While the score should rightfully relate to Ike and Tina, the usage is occasionally awkward. So, the overview is like a patchwork blanket with random pieces that suit the eye or color motif.

The 10-member orchestra often is too loud, drowning stage vocals; a bit of toning down might be in order, even though this is a rock/pop act performance. Or the alternative might be considered: those with soft voices might amp up a skosh.

Elise has quickly picked up the local spirit, shouting “Aloha, Hawaii” at the final curtain, before launching a couple of hana hou selections; no, she’s not yet acclimated to the island shout-out for an encore. Surely, she’ll know the terminology and turf by the end of the run.

————————–

“Tina: the Tina Turner Musical”

What: A musical biography of the queen of rock, with book by Katori Hall, with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prince, with music by various composers

Where: Blaisdell Concert Hall

When: 7:30 p.m. April 23 and 24, 8 p.m. April 25, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. April 26; and 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. April 27

Tickets: Varies, depending on date and seat locations; visit www.Broadway inHawaii.com

Running time: 2 hours 45 minutes.

———————————–

Three Broadway shows in $3 million club

And then there were three: “Wicked,” in the No. 2 slot on this week’s roster of Broadway grosses, outpaced  “Othello,” which slid to No.3. George Clooney’s “Good Night, and Good Luck” remained No.1.

It was the first time ever that three productions surpassed  $3 million in the weekly recaps.

The Top 10:

1—”Good Night, And Good Luck,” $3.882 million

2—” Wicked,” $3.333 million

3—”Othello,” $3.123 million

4—”The Lion King,” $2.940 million

5—”Glengarry Glen Ross,” $2.362 million

6— “Hamilton,” $2.164 million

7—” Aladdin,” $2.027 million

8—”MJ the Musical,” $1.719 million

9—” Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” $1.612 million

10—”The Outsiders,” $1.454 million

The full list, courtesy  the Broadway League:

And that’s Show Biz…