Wayne Harada, Author at wayneharada.com

May 25, 2022May 26, 2022

ACADEMIC CADENCE FOR SHIROMA

Jesse Shiroma, accordionist for Streetlight Cadence, is on leave from the group for academic reasons.

Shiroma is focusing on a master’s degree, so his latest status is that of a student at the University of Hawaii. Which means no more regular SLC gigs for a while.

“I have definitely returned to being a student and my long-term plans are to pursue a music librarianship with a focus on indigenous preservation and advocacy,” Shiroma said in an email. “Ideally, I can find some balance in that and return to a more regular live musical performance schedule as well. A man can dream, ha-ha!”

Shiroma’s absence was clearly, or perhaps dimly, visible in Streetlight Cadence’s recent “A Lightbulb Concerto” posting on YouTube. His colleagues Jonathan Franklin performed on violin, Brian Webb on cello, and Ben Chai on banjo, with friend Clara Stegall guesting on guitar, as mentioned in this column here.

So Shiroma shed light on his latest journey, but admitted that he intends to hang with his buddies when they’re in town. Should be later this year, when Streetlight Cadence performs in the Waikiki Aquarium’s “Ke Kani O Ke Kai Series,” in August.

Surely, Shiroma will bring his newfangled accordion with him, not the classic of yesteryear. …

No doubt, it’s sad

“Mrs. Doubtfire,” the new musical based on the popular film starring Robin Williams, will close on Broadway May 29 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. A bit of Hawaii will also be shuttering.

It was a record-breaker, with hot box office sales, when it premiered at Seattle’s 5^th Avenue Theatre during the 2019 holiday season, prompting a move to Broadway.

The island element is that “Mrs. Doubtfire” was produced by Hawaii’s Kevin McCollum, whose earlier hits on the Great White Way included “Rent,” “Avenue Q” and “Something Rotten.”

Something rotten called COVID happened, impacting the Broadway marketplace, when “Doubtfire” began previews in March 2020, and had to be shut down due to the pandemic, resuming performances in Oct.21, only to be shuttered again in January 2022. The show reopened again on April 14 but will lower its curtains for good on May 29.

McCollum has said in Broadway media, “Even though New York City is getting stronger every day and ticket sales are slowly improving, theater-going tourists and, especially for our show, family audiences have not returned as soon as we anticipated.”

Much like some theatrical films, adult and family audiences have shown some reluctance in returning to the theater, unless it’s a Marvel adventure.

Some good news: “Mrs. Doubtfire” is set to premiere in London this fall, with a national U.S. tour scheduled for 2023. Unless the economic crisis in the U.K. and in the U.S. improves, box office response could become an issue, too. …

Musical notes

Ho‘okena, featuring Horace Dudoit III, Chris Kamaka and Glenn Smith, will showcase its award-winning Hawaiian music, at 6:30 p.m. today (May 25) at the Plumeria Beachhouse at the Kahala Hotel. Seating starts at 5:30 p.m.; reservations may be made via Open Table. …

The Stephen Inglis Project, with guest artist David Gans, will be featured at 7 p.m. Saturday (May 28) at Slack Key Lounge, at Hawaiian Brian’s on Kapiolani Boulevard. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; a $15 cover is in place.

Inglis will share some originals, with his pendulum swinging from Dylan to the Grateful Dead. Gans is expected to showcase his finger-picking style, on ballads, some rock, fueled with improv and surprises. …

And that’s Show Biz. …

May 24, 2022May 25, 2022

WHEN TV KNOWS TO PULL A SHOW

You’ve got to respect and applaud a network procedural to yank an episode because of what’s transpiring in real life.

With the most recent gunman killing innocent school youngsters at a Texas elementary school today, CBS –which was to air a finale of “FBI” tonight (May 24) — has yanked the episode from viewing because it contains an issue of a firearms heist and airing it might be insensitive with the tragedy playing out on live TV news shows as the number of deaths mount, in real time. CBS was right to pull the “FBI” episode.

According to a show biz website, TheWrap, the potentially inflammatory episode involves the son of Jeremy Sisto’s character, Jubal Valentine, and his reluctance to share data with ties to a massive gun heist about a fellow classmate involved with firearms. The son is portrayed by Caleb Reese Paul.

No date has yet been announced when the episode might air. The other two “FBI” series: “FBI: Most Wanted” and “FBI: International,” will air as scheduled.

TV dramas infrequently yank shows after real-life tragedy, but also take cues using real life episodes from news headlines to create fictional plots. …

Aloha, Jackie

Karen Keawehawaii and ‘ohana bid a fond aloha to her hubby, John “Jackie” Farias, in services Sunday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. He died last April 25.

In true Hawaiian spirit, there was mele and hula galore, and touching ‘ohana memories shared by daughters Tracie, Staci, Winona and Melody, with mo‘opuna Puna, Haweo and Acacia also taking the mike.

The menu for after-services fellowship “was dictated by Jackie’s favorites,” said Keawehawaii. “Sweet-sour spareribs and laulau.”
The big hit was the take-home mini-carrot cakes, based on Jackie’s Christmastime recipe, with daughter Staci, aka Kalani, spearheading the “Carrot Cake Challenge” by creating 410 take-home “favors,” Kalani is the lone Farias soul who loves to be in the kitchen, and obviously was the one who spearheaded the bake fest, with some kokua from mo‘opuna Pi‘ikea and Ka‘onohi.

“My only involvement was taste-testing,” said Keawehawaii, adding that the services wouldn’t be complete without the carrot cakes. …

Names ‘n’ places

The “Dan Del Negro Trio Plays Swingin’ Jazz, Beautiful Ballads, Hot Latin, and Full-out Funk” is the theme of a jazzfest at 6 p.m. Friday at Medici’s at Manoa Marketplace.

The Del Negro Trio features Del Negro on piano, Dean Taba on bass and Noel Okimoto on drums; it appeared last month to enthusiastic crowds, hence the return visit.

Tickets: $59, includes a supper before the show. Visit:
www.tix.com/ticket-sales/musicatmedicis/5142/event/1269047…

Out Maui way, Eric Gilliom’s one-man show, “White Hawaiian,” is set for a trio of gigs at ProArts Theater in Kihei. The playdates: July 8, 9 and 10, Aug. 12, 13 and 14, and Sept. 16, 17 and 18.

Tickets: (808) 463-6550, www.proartsmaui.com

And that’s Show Biz. …

May 23, 2022May 23, 2022

A TITLE SPONSOR FOR UKE FEST

A few changes are forthcoming, when the 52^nd Annual Ukulele Festival – a summertime attraction and destination for locals and visitors alike – unfolds at 7 p.m. July 17 as a virtual event.

New: a title sponsor, Tony Group Autoplex, will strum in this year, making the event possible. Thus, the annual event will be formally known as the Tony Group Autoplex Annual Ukulele Festival.

Unchanged: Through retired, Roy and Kathy Sakuma, co-founders of the world’s largest and most popular uke activity, are returning to jump-start this year’s attraction with plans to keep alive the spirit of the festival’s success.

The Sakumas earlier retired as co-founders of the ukulele festival, when another couple expressed interest in keeping the fest alive, but clearly, the deal fell through, reasons unexplained.

So Sakuma will be aboard, hosting the event along with Hawaii’s most famous and versatile uke man, Jake Shimabukuro.

What’s also new: a free virtual ukulele workshop on July 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Hawaii time, a week ahead of the virtual festival.

Roy and Kathy Sakuma, back in the uke saddle.

The Sakumas continue their year-round work to train and instruct ukulele students at their Roy Sakuma Ukulele Studios. “That’s what I enjoy most – working with the young kids who want to learn to play the ukulele,” said Roy Sakuma, who, in recent years, returned to host in-person classes himself, becoming part of his studio’s teaching staff. And yes, the kids love him. “It’s so much fun…like the old days,” said Roy.

“We wholeheartedly would like to thank all of the ‘ukulele manufacturers, performers, entertainers, international groups, students, sponsors, volunteers, and the entire community of residents and visitors who came out to Kapi‘olani Park year after year to support the festival,” the Sakumas said in a joint statement.

“The ukulele, so small and seemingly ordinary, touches lives in extraordinary ways, and we will continue to spread the joy of the ukulele,” said Kathy.

Shimabukuro, who earned his chops as an early learner, now serves on the board of directors of the Ukulele Festival Hawaii. “It is because of Roy and Kathy’s work that the ‘ukulele is embraced and enjoyed worldwide today with other ukulele festivals throughout the world, and I salute them for their efforts,” said Shimabukuro. …

A Lightbulb Concerto

Streetlight Cadence, the acoustic group from Hawaii, have a reputation of thinking and playing outside the box, which make ‘em truly refreshing.

Ensconced in a room at Sunset Beach in Pupukea recently, the band had a couple of hours to kill following a concert, so they decided to create something special, and impromptu, and recorded a beaut and posted it online.

Streetlight Cadence, with lone “ghost” light, in impromptu video filming at Pupukea.

If the footage — promptly dubbed “A Lightbulb Concerto” –seems unusually dark, clearly it’s intentional: a simple “ghost light,” that single-bulb lamp traditionally left on overnight, a common practice on a Broadway stage, provided the illumination, as Jonathan Franklin performed on violin, Brian Webb on cello, and Ben Chai on banjo, with friend Clara Stegall guesting on guitar . No word on the whereabouts of Jesse Shiroma, the group’s accordionist, but maybe he was the cameraman? Looks and sounds like a winnah! …

Friday filler

So who and what will replace Jay Hernandez and the “Magnum P.I.” crew on Friday nights this fall, on CBS? Taking over the slot: Max Thieriot, from “SWAT Team,” heading up an inmates-and-firefighter drama, “Fire Country,” tucked in between “SWAT Team” and “Blue Bloods.” ….

And that’s Show Biz. …

May 22, 2022May 22, 2022

REMEMBER YOUR COMMUNITY MOVIE THEATER?

Just asking…

Remember stand-alone movie theaters?

Before the arrival of mega-plex movie theaters, there used to be your community go-to-place for film-watching. One screen only.

And it worked: screens in Kaimuki, Liliha, Kapahulu, Kailua, Kewalo, Kuhio (in Waikiki), Waikiki, Palama, Aala, etc. Titles rotated – though the Kuhio and Waikiki were deemed first-run spaces, becoming road show sites with extended showings of hit titles.

Other theaters had names like Royal, King, Queen, Princess, Liberty, Cinerama, Roosevelt, Golden Wall instead of place-oriented names.

Multi-plexes – sites with anywhere from six to 10 screens – are the norm now, offering choices of films and even luxe seats. And higher prices, for everything, from admission to snack bar items.

May 21, 2022May 21, 2022

THEM BONES, THEM AKU BONES…

In days long gone, did your family enjoy fried aku bones (the bones of the aku, with some flesh still on), to have an oh-so-ono dinner or lunch?

For an earlier generation, fried aku bones was — and still is a– delicacy. That’s if you can find ‘em.

When salted and peppered with or without a dash of chili flakes, and fried in your cast iron skillet, aku bones are a treat. Broke da mouth ono! Add shoyu, and it’s perfection; Finger -licking good, with apologies to Colonel Sanders.

It was such a treat to have these cast-away bones for a meal. Markets, particularly with a local butcher, used to sell ‘em alongside the fresh aku. It even used to be considered a throw-away thing, but many hungry souls adored this treat, and if you were lucky enough to find these bones to buy, you were lucky, lucky, lucky.

If your family has fishermen who catch aku, you know there’s a treasure amid the catch.

It’s probably a thing of the past, but just wondering: do you know any market that still sells ‘em?

And when was the last time you ate aku bones?