It’s been a while since I’ve dined at Panya, at Ward Village, so when my pal Kevin Iwamoto was visiting – and our Soldier Boy nephew, John Rhoades, was on vacation from Army duties at Fort Liberty, N.C. – Vi and I ventured to Panya for lunch.
Vi opted for the lup cheong friend rice, John chose the oyako donburi, and Kevin and I chopsticked our way through the Shanghai-style udon, upon my suggestion.
For dessert, Kevin had the bread pudding; I chose the crème brulee.
We all loved our choices; Kevin even returned the next evening to have the fried rice. Too much of a good thing? Not really.
Can’t go wrong with the Asian dishes, but if you’re the burger-with-fries type, that’s on the menu, too.
Panya’s menu is ‘wonderfull and dependable.!
Vi, Kevin, me and John, at Panya; below, Kevin and me.
Three months after I was hospitalized in Queen’s — admitted Aug. 10, released Aug. 19 — I celebrated my belated birthday (’twas on Aug. 13, while I was in treatment for health issues) last night at Roy’s Restaurant in Hawaii Kai.
The birthday dude, left, with Vi, John, Jack and Cha, at Roy’s.
Our Soldier Boy nephew John Rhoades is visiting from his Army chores at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, so timing was perfect and he joined Vi and me and our longtime pals, Jack and Cha Thompson, for a festive dinner with Roy’s providing sushi and braised ribs pupu, and each of us selected our own entrees.
The Roy’s outing was the first “fine dining” endeavor, as I continue my recovery process. and it was joyous treat.
Two of Hawaii’s finest entertainers bring their special Christmas repertoire to Chef Chai’s in December.
Robert Cazimero’s (pictured below) Full Moon concert, usually a one-nighter, will be staged for five evenings, from Dec. 13 to 17, and yes, he’ll mix Hawaiian and holiday tunes from his keyboard to suit the yuletide spirit. Dinner at 5:30 p.m., show at 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $99, including dinner. Reservations at https://chefchai.com/monthly-full-moon-concert/
Amy Hanaiali‘i (pictured below) also will stage a Christmas show Dec. 20 and 21 — not certain the logistics of her event, since there’s no formal stage at Chai’s. But she’s bringing along bottles of her signature Hanaiali‘i wine. Tickets: $195, including dinner. Dinner at 5:30 p.m., show at 6:30 p.m. Reservations: https://chefchai.com/chai-reservations/
Meanwhile, at the Hawaii Theatre…
The Hawaii Theatre has assembled several shows of interest over the next few weeks. A select list:
The Platters’ “Very Merry Christmas Show” plays a tad early, at 7 p.m. Nov. 25 at the Hawaii. Tickets: $65 to $85, at www.hawaiitheatre.com
Comedian Margaret Cho’s (pictured left) got a date at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Hawaii. Tickets: $74 to to $94, at www.hawaiitheatre.com
The Makaha Sons unveil their Christmas show at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Hawaii. Guest stars include John Cruz and Melveen Leed. Tickets: $40 to $75, at www.hawaiitheatre.com
Na Leo Pilimehana joins the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra in “Hapa Harmony,” offering a yuletide agenda at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2. Tickets: $27 to $99, at www.hawaiitheatre.com
Kalani Pe‘a will be in a Hawaiian Christmas mood, at 7 p.m. Dec. 23 at the Hawaii. Tickets: $45 to $100, at www.hawaiitheatre.com
The Clairvoyants’ Holiday Special takes the spotlight at 8 p.m. Dec. 30 at the Hawaii. Tickets: $55 to $75, at www.hawaiitheatre.com …
Why Audy missed the Lifetime Achievement event
Audy Kimura (pictured right), a previous Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner was a no-show at the recent Na Hoku Lifetime Achievement at the Royal Hawaiian’s Monarch because he had a previous engagement out of town.
As he said in an email, “I’ve been in LA for a little work and a reunion of people who worked at the legendary Ocean Way recording studio before it closes. It’s where Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, and countless others recorded. I recorded my last two albums there and was mentored by the owner since 1977. One of the most iconic studios in the world.”
He provided an acceptance speech because he couldn’t change his travel dates due to the imminent closure of the recording studio. …
Broadway grosses, week ending Nov. 5
There has been for $2 million club winner among the Broadway shows in production, thus “The Lion King” – which has been a $2 million winner – remains the king of the jungle.’
The Top 10:
1—“The Lion King,” $1,983 million.
2 – “Wicked,” $1,834 million.
3 – “Merrily We Roll Along,” $1,811 million.
4—“Hamilton,” $1.768 million.
5 – “MJ the Musical,” $1,539 million.
6 – “Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” $1,459 million.
7 – “Moulin Rouge the Musical,” $1,230 million.
8 – “Aladdin,: $1,212 million.
9 – “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” $1,190 million.
10 – “Back to the Future the Musical,”$1,063 million.
Here’s one to add to your upcoming holiday agenda:
Keali’i Reichel (pictured below), one of Hawaii’s foremost singers and kumu hula, will return to Waikiki for fall performances at Blue Note Waikiki at the Outrigger Waikiki resort.
Reichel’s mele, enhanced with hula by his dancing entourage, provide a spectrum of tuneful melodies, many with Hawaiian roots, some with contemporary seasoning. He is best known for his first hit tune, “Kawaipunahele,” but his compositions and recordings over the decades have become part of the soundtrack of island life.
Reichel will star in a five-show, four-night gig, as follows:
Nov. 16, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 17, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 18, 6:30 and 9 p.m.
Nov. 19, 6:30 p.m
Doors open at 5 p.m. all nights and 8:30 p.m. for Saturday’s second show..
Tickets: $125 for premium seating, $85 for loge seating and the bar zone; available at www.bluenotehawaii.com or (808) 777-4890.
Others heading for the Blue Note
Holiday season attractions on the Blue Note calendar include:
Anuhea headlines a Thanksgiving two-nighter, at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Nov. 24 and 25. Tickets: $45 and $35.-
Frank DeLima stages a holiday brunch show at 1 p.m. Dec. 3 Tickets: $45 and $35.
Don McLean serves his “Amerian Pie” at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 2 and 3. Tickets: $125 and $65.
Henry Kapono & Friends’ holiday show, themed “Merry Christmas to You,” unwraps at 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Dec. 5. Tickets: $45 and $35.
Wayne Newton (pictured right) makes his Blue Note debut with a four-night schedule, at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Dec. 7 through 10. Tickets: $125 and $85.
Kimie Miner & Friends take the stage at 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Dec. 15 and 16. Tickets: $45 and $35.
“Ho‘okena for the Holidays” is the group’s yuletide show, at 4 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17. Tickets: $45 and $35.
Raiatea Helm has a one-nighter at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 18.Tickets: $45 and $35.
Paula Fuga will presents her “Home for the Holidays” pre-Christmas star at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Dec. 22 and 23. Tickets: $45 and $35. …
Streetlight Cadence, the alt-rock band Hawaii adores, is brighter than ever with unparalleled artistic fervor. The expanded group of 10 — assembled in what was described as a reunion gig — returned to Blue Note Hawaii Friday night (Nov. 3) delivering an astounding one-nighter, attracting a nearly full house which saw a stunning performance that ran for 2 hours and 10 minutes and even included a couple of hana hou treats. Whew!
Streetlight has been known for its busking on the sidewalks and its “Will Work for Food” motto to gain free meals and perhaps a couch for a night’s sleep.
Jonathan Franklin, on violin, and Jesse Shiroma, on accordion.
Well, the group – currently a small trio – is led by Jonathan Franklin whose calls to former mates to reunite succeeded. Franklin developed a production worthy of showrooms not sidewalks.
Ten take-aways from the one-nighter:
1 — Franklin is an indefatigable emcee. He is a genial host and a wonderful storyteller, and he plays an electric violin, often shelving the bow and plucking and strumming his instrument like an ukulele. How cool is that?
2 – The assembled instruments included the violin, along with two cellos, an accordion, two guitars, a bass, a drum, a banjo and a piano. Impressive!
3 – Two women – Clara Stegall on guitar and vocals and Maia Wolfe on cello – bring a rich warmth to the show. Hooray!
Usually a trio now, Streelight Cadence had 10 musicians for its first reunion show at Blue Note Hawaii. Pictured from left, Mariconda, Wolfe, Shiroma, Webb, Franklin, Stegall, Chai, Arashiro and Umamoto.
4 – The gents are all over the place: The players include Jesse Shiroma on accordion, Ben Chai on banjo, Brian Webb on cello, Chaz Umamoto on bass, Matt Mariconda on piano, and Evan Arashiro on drums. They jump, twirl, leap, demonstrating energy and mobility, and on one tune, two dudes – think they were Chai and Umamoto – were lying, back-to-back on the stage floor, and singing. Jiminy Cricket!
5 –Every tune delivered was an original, mostly composed by Franklin (with Stegall serving up one of her songs). There are no “covers” on the Streetlight jukebox!
6—However, a few songs are somewhat structurally repetitive, beginning with calm, and building up to a furious storm…but there’s no lack of communication and interplay when the troupers jam and get the juice flowing, with constant interplay, like partnering in cadence.
7—It’s not easy to categorize the Streetlighters’ music. Yes, primarily, alt-rockers, but flavored with a savory mix of folk, country, hard rock, and in one tune, rap. The mood is like a jam, a hootenanny, a contagious crossover of many genres of music.
8— Franklin opened up a window to his soul and heart; clearly, he’s had issues, which are resolved in a song, notably about his longtime conflict with a sister in Japan, reflected in an honest, revealing, and soulful apologetic letter of sorts, on “Learn to Love.” Sounded like a diary admission of making up to heal wounds.
9—The audience was a peculiar but homogenous mix of young, old, mostly locals; they are not always fully familiar to the Streetlight repertoire (me included) but they’re loyal and addictive to the party on stage, perhaps attracted to the personalities, happily clapping along and offering an impromptu standing ovation at the end, and yes, howling “hana hou,” not fully satisfied with the earlier non-stop 2-hour-plus music fest. Geez!
10– With this kind of performance – pure, revealing, engaging – Blue Note ought to book the band again, which means Franklin will have to start convincing the ex-members to come back to Hawaii for a second annual reunion. Hana hou!
