Robert Cazimero’s “A Ko‘olau Au,” his two-show spectacle Sunday (March 22) at Paliku Theatre at the Windward Community College, was a luminous, ambitious endeavor saluting the Ko‘olaus and the Windward side.
On a rainy, wet day, this was a sunny diversion, jam-packed with Hawaiian artistry and mele.
Cazimero, kumu hula of hālau Nā Kamalei O Lililehua, assembled his dancing and singing gents performing hula kahiko and ‘auana. The afternoon resembled his pair of shows last October at the Leeward Community College Theatre, when Cazimero performed a matinee and evening concerts in a fund-raiser that celebrated the hula hālau’s victory in last year’s Merrie Monarch Festival.
Because I didn’t request a playlist of performance numbers at Paliku, this reflection won’t provide specific titles of oli or mele in the impressive and innovative program with a cache of superb guest artists.
The m.o. (modus operandi) seemed to be, if kumu asks, you come without hesitation. How else could he assemble such first-class guests with repertoire to share?
Then again, Cazimero’s degree of excellence is well known and his peers share that kind of allure, so they participate as honorable guests. Take the four guest kumu hula: Vicky Holt Takamine of Hālau Pua Ali‘i (aka Pa‘i Foundation), Mapuna di Silva of Hālau Mohala ‘Ilima, Kuana Torres Kahele of Hālau Māluakiʻiwailehua (and allied with four other groups), and Michael Lanakila Casupang of Mid Pacific Institute’s student hālau Pupukahi I Ke Alo Na Pua.
Casupang’s MPI dancers are unique, comprised of students in grades 9 through 12, and rendering a stunning style, combining kahiko with modern style often with balletic moves.
The show’s most popular guest had to be Jerry Santos of Olomana, performing with his usual ally, Kamuela Kimokeo. And the most popular tune clearly had to be Santos’s “E Kuu Home O Kahalu‘u,” with its taunting, prolong slack key guitar intro. The twosome also shared another Olomana classic, “E Kuu Sweet Lei Po‘ina Ole” with finesse. Note to Uncle Jerry, who’s been donning a papale in shows: Better to take off, bro, ‘cuz cannot see your face ‘neath the shadow.
As a hana hou or sorts, veteran hula soloist Kanoe Kaumeheiwa Miller – who performed in Cazimero’s October Leeward shows – returned for a quick dance. And this factoid will follow her through life: she is the only wahine who is officially one of the “boys” of Nā Kamalei, because of a long-time friendship with kumu. Besides, she’s great – she used to be the solo hula artist at the Halekulani Hotel, after all.
And the Royal Hawaiian Dancers, hula soloists back in the day when the Brothers Cazimero made appearances at the hotel, so they’re part of the Cazimero history, and Sky Perkins Gora still hulas regularly with RC at his Chef Chai’s performances. And if you’re a Chai’s patron, you’d recognize Keola “Bully” Makaiau, too, in all the ensemble numbers. And if you’ve noticed, a few new, young lads are in the Nā Kamalei line-up and the elder dancer participation are fewer and fewer in these rigorous outings.
Nā Kamalei troupers continue to impress, with stunning group hula, and always clad in terrific costumes, from aloha shirts to malos. For a kahiko dance, the gents had unique all-black shirts and pants, with black (or very dark brown) kukui nut lei. And some of the guys also performed on ipu, which they mastered while studying hula. Kudos for the fashion show, gents.
The house band was Bob’s Boys, hand-picked musician allies of Cazimero, featuring his Kamehameha Schools best-buddy, Kaipo Hale, plus Richard and Keola. Sorry guys, I still don’t know your last names. But all provide solid support and it’s likely you’re gonna be Cazimero’s regular band.
The Wāhea Foundation sponsored these shows, as they did for the Leeward outings…
And that’s Show Biz…