As his slate of Christmas season concerts nears in December, entertainer Robert Cazimero is thankful and hopeful that his shows at Chef Chai will proceed without incident.
He’s spoken with Pomaikai Shishido, new owner of the restaurant – Chef Chai – and is thankful that his dinner show performances Dec. 16 through 20 are on solid ground. A capacity crowd has reserved tables and there could be space, pending cancellations.
Cazimero also is hopeful that his performances will continue through 2026. “We had some talks with him (Shishido) about future dates next year,” he said.
Cazimero did just one show, earlier this week, since chef Chai Chaowasaree exited the restaurant to return to Thailand to be at the side of his fragile mother, 95, who was injured in a fall.
His fate – and the entertainment issue — had not been mentioned in earlier media reports about Chef Chai’s ownership status; the restaurant had been issued a “red” placard by the Hawaii Department of Health and was forced to close but an updated inspection resulted in a “green” placard to reopen and proceed with updated valid permits.
It’s still an open question, whether Chaowasaree wants to return to Hawaii some day if possible, with due diligence; he could have the opportunity to possibly return in the future with proper immigration validation.
Cazimero had a brief phone chat with Chaowasaree from Thailand, and the chef said “it’s not easy,” about his current status.
Cazimero’s informal shows – he plays on a grand piano, a gift from Chaowasaee years ago – had been earlier called Full Moon Concerts, with the playdates on or near full moon dates on the lunar calendar, but eventually the dates became fluid, depending on his availability and travel agenda, and some months he stages more than one concert. Like the December playdates.
In a bizarre atmosphere in Waikiki, where resort hotels have shuttered nearly all showrooms and essentially have minimized the hiring of notable entertainers like the old days, an entertainer like Cazimero has to think outside the box, and set anchor where there’s opportunity. Chaowasaree hired Cazimero to perform at Chai’s Island Bistro at Aloha Tower Marketplace, when he featured entertainment beside his popular cuisine. Before Chef Chai opened on Kapiolani Boulevard, Chaowasaree gifted Cazimero with a grand piano where it is housed in a corner of the restaurant. The theory was that Cazimero – who became a solo act, after his brother Roland died – would always have a home (and piano) where he could strut his stuff.
Other options could materialize for Cazimero; his former employer, Kelvin Ro (formerly of Kahala Moon, where Cazimero serenaded, and now proprietor of Diamond Head Market and Grill) recently hired a new partner, Jason Peel, to create menu specials and develop a new weekend option, a brunch show on Saturdays and Sundays from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.
The deal is so new, there’s no ink on a contract yet, but guess who they’re gunning for, to provide the brunch music. Shhhh. It’s still a secret…
Odom’s return to ‘Hamilton’ fuels grosses
“Hamilton” continues to sit atop the weekly Broadway grosses, with $3.8 million earned for the week ending Nov. 16. The performance is fueled by Leslie Odom Jr.’s limited 12-week return to the cast in his Tony-winning Aaron Burr role.
“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” zoomed to No. 2, toppling “Wicked” to No. 3:
The Top 10:
1 – “Hamilton,” $3.852 million
2 –- “Harry Potter and the Cursed- Child,” $2.594 million
3 –- “Wicked,” $2.389 million
4 –- “Chess,” $1.779 million
5 — “The Lion King,” $1.760 million
6 –- “Mamma Mia!,” $1.582 million
7 –- “Waiting for Godot,” $1.539 million
8 –- “ART,” $1.535 million
9 — “Just in Time,” $1.426 million
10 –- “Death Becomes Her,” $1.286 million
The complete list for the week, courtesy the Broadway League:
And that’s Show Biz…