Myrna Kamae, widow of the prolific and legendary Hawaiian music singer-composer Eddie Kamae, will oversee a mahalo celebration to close one chapter and launch another to propel and perpetuate the legacy of Eddie and his role in the Sons of Hawaii.
An invitational event will be staged from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 11) at the Waikiki Yacht Club, to mark the progress and importance of documenting Eddie’s music with his Sons of Hawaii, and herald the partnership of the couple’s Hawaiian Legacy Foundation with the University of Hawaii’s West Oahu campus.
There will be food and beverage, plus music by the Sons of Hawaii.
“Our work is already being curated and digitalized at UH West Oahu,” Myrna said in a statement. “Much of it (resources) is now available online at ‘Ulu‘ulu: The Henry Guigni Moving Image Archive,’ and will soon be available at the Campbell Library as well.
“Eddie’s goal was always to ensure that the music lives on, and that our kupuna are honored.”
The Kamaes – Eddie was the principal singer-composer and filmmaker with the Sons of Hawaii, Myrna is a composer in her own right – were inspired to support the wisdom of their elders, following the advice of Eddie’s mentor, Pilahi Paki, who once told him ‘Do it now, for soon there will be no more,” referring to the mission of maintaining cultural identity and integrity,
Between 1988 and 2011, the Kamaes created and produced 10 award-winning documentary films on notable Hawaiian voices, and since Eddie’s death at age 89 on Jan. 7, 2017, the Kamae foundation completed a free online songbook of 34 of Eddie’s favorite melodies.
In the years to come, Myrna and her team anticipate that the Kamae films will be available for free on YouTube, with more highlights already posted on Facebook, Instagram and TikToc. Viewership already has reached four million.
Myrna is hopeful that the Kamae Endowment will continue to grow to ensure support and finances for student internships, scholarships and faculty grants to encourage scholars, musicians and educators will build bridges and embrace the projects…
Busy-ness parody has risks
Comedian Frank DeLima continues to be creative from Las Vegas, his home since his retirement last January. It’s great, but there can be risks.
No, not active in the performance realm, but in doing musical parodies about crisis or funny elements in life in paradise.
His latest, to the tune of “I Feel Pretty” from “West Side Story,” is an homage to the popularity of Michael W. Perry and the Posse of KSSK Radio. Why not? The station is almost always first to air each parody and regularly welcomed its studios or live broadcasts for anything new in DeLima’s comedic life.
The problem with his newest is obvious: DeLima won’t get much airplay or endorsement from any other broadcast media. Thus, it’s the least effective of his efforts.
The premise is busy-ness of one and all from the Perry team, from sidekick Jimmy Da Geek to news anchor Mandy Suganuma to project honcho Sweetie Pacarro.
The lyrics lack LOL humor, too. About Perry, DeLima opines, he’s “such a busy voice, busy brain, busy heart” and everyone is “busier than the busiest bee.” Hmmmm.
Because he’s no longer physically part of the Honolulu/Hawaii community, it’s a stretch to find humor or engage hot buttons here. Clearly, he’s itching to share his laughs and usual lunacy. Sorry, Frank – nice try but you can’t fake it.
“Ya gotta know the territory.” It’s a truism from the stage musical, “The Music Man.”
FYI: the formatting of this column does not allow music videos. For a listen, visit my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/wayne.harada.5 …
Broadway returns to a normal pace
A sense of normalcy has been the tone of the Broadway scene.
“Hamilton” again is the week’s winner, but “Wicked” is steady at Nol. 2, followed by “The Lion King” returning to No. 3.
The Top 10:
1—”Hamilton,” $3.743 million
2—”Wicked,” $2.054 million
3–“The Lion King,” $1.930 million
4—”Waiting for Godot,” $1.865 million
5—”Mamma Mia!,” $1.613 million
6—”ART,” $1.492 million
7—”Just in Time,” $1.338 million
8—”Death Becomes Her,” $1,311 million
9—”MJ the Musical,” $1.254 million
10—”Maybe Happy Ending,” $1.181 million
The complete list, courtesy the Broadway League:
And that’s Show Biz…