Music Archives - wayneharada.com

August 27, 2025August 27, 2025

LET’S HEAR IT FOR ‘SUNSET JAZZ’ GALS

“Let’s Hear It for the Girls,” featuring a bevy of female singers, is the theme of this year’s “Sunset Jazz,” slated on Sept. 14 at the Great Lawn of La Pietra, Hawaii School of Girls.

The stellar line up will feature Shari Lynn, event founder who is returning to the lineup of performers; the talent includes Ginai, Jeanette Trevias and Friends featuring Riya Davis, Sandy Tsukiyama and Arara de Vento, and Mary Gutzi.

The prospects for a formidable evening, laced with a delectable menu of music, is guaranteed considering the mixed menu of jazz, favorites from the Great American Songbook, dance-friendly salsa, soulful and romantic ballads, and a cluster of Broadway melodies.

Doors open at 5 p.m. and music starts at 5:30 p.m., continuing well after the sun goes down.

Basic admission is $85 a person and includes a glass of wine and a dessert sampler. Food will be available for sale, but attendees may bring their picnic baskets and drinks.

Alternate options included table sponsorships and rolling admission tickets.

Details are available from Director of Enrollment Alaina Cunningham (808) 922-2744, ext. 106, or at admissions@lapietra.edu …

End of summer season causes drop in grosses

As schools reopened, signaling the end of the summer season, Broadway shows took a dip in the weekly gross meter. All the biggies took a glide, but at the of the week, “Hamilton” managed to move to No. 1 for the first time in weeks, one of only two shows in the coveted $2 million club. The other was “Wicked” at No. 2.

The Top 10:

1—”Hamilton,” $2.106 million,

2—”Wicked,” “$2.007 million,

3—”The Lion King,” $1.820 million,

4—”Mamma Mia!,” $1.785 million,

5—”Maybe Happy Ending,” $1.436 million,

6—”Death Becomes Her,” $1.331 million,

7—”Just in Time,” $1.276 million,

8—”MJ, the Musical,” $1.239 million,

9—”Oh, Mary!,” $1.174 million,

10—“Aladdin,” $1.160 million

The complete list of grosses, courtesy the Broadway League:

And that’s Show Biz…

August 26, 2025August 26, 2025

DELIMA TACKLES VEGAS TREASURES

Like the dice in the Las Vegas casinos, comedian Frank DeLima is on a roll.

The island comic has relocated to a senior residence in Vegas, but that hasn’t stopped him from creating his popular musical parodies. His first from the gambling capitol was the recap of the tsunami alert, which caused intense traffic jams in the islands, which DeLima brilliantly summarized in “Gridlock” to the tune of “Under the Boardwalk.”

His second, out this week, is “Las Vegas Is the Place to Be,” in which he analyzes some elements of life in the Ninth Island with his keen humorous style. The melody is a long-forgotten gem, the theme to the TV show “Green Acres,” which starred Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor (yeah, long time ago, and possibly forgotten). His intent is to pick out some pleasures of LV.

Like: “No can get hungry, cuz get three Zippys.”

Or: lots of opportunities to win moolah, thanks to “jackpots Megabucks, Power Ball numbers.”

He’s not alone, he sings, because LV boasts 50,000 folks from Hawaii Nei.

The advice, however, is to hydrate—“drink plenty water.” With a daily check, 12 times a day, to avoid chapped lips.

Bruddah DeLima doesn’t admit, however, even while singing to his chosen melody, “Green Acres,” that ovah deya, get plenty sandy acres. No mo’ green acres.

To hear “Las Vegas Is the Place to Be,” visit my Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/wayne.harada.5 since this column format doesn’t allow video clips…

And that’s Show Biz,,,

August 17, 2025August 17, 2025

KEVIN RECORDS 1ST YULE SINGLE

Singer Kevin I. has recorded his first-ever Christmas tune, “Christmas in Our Hearts.” It will be available for purchase and enjoyment in November. So yuletiders – patience is the buzz word now.

Kevin was in town last week, to complete the vocal works on the tune, at David Kauahikaua’s home studio in Kailua.

“It was so great to see and catch up with David,” said Kevin, about the savvy engineer who is notable as the magician behind a cluster of island singers over the decades.

**Kevin I., recording his Christmas single at David Kauahikaua’s home studio.**

It was Kevin’s first time working with Kauahikaua, but as he said, “I’ve always respected and admired his work especially with Loyal Garner. We reminisced about Loyal and shared some mutual memories. As you know she had a big influence on me.”

Kauahikaua has been the marvelous and notable force behind Frank DeLima’s parodies over the past decades. As a member of Na Kolohe, Kauahikaua was DeLima’s keyboarder (Bobby Nishida was the guitarist) who toiled on the comedian’s parodies, like the recent “Gridlock” tune.

Kevin, of course, is the balladeer from the 1980s. He shelved his music career and opted to take on — successfully — a career in the business community. So he has been like a dormant volcano, idle and quiet over 30+ years.

But his vintage music, mostly available on vinyl in his prime as an island singer, has become a global sensation, triggering his return to the studios with a few new tunes aimed at younger fans tuning in to his romantic ballads. These fans fueled the popularity of his songs on the Spotify charts.

He retired from his fulltime business career and clearly, there were enough sparks to revisit his stint in music.

So stay tuned; I’ve heard the new tracks that will comprise his five-song EP release, dubbed “My Continuum.” which will be available in October.

**Cover of Kevin Il’s forthcoming EP release.**

He hopes the fresh ballads will make him radio-active again, not just in Hawaii, but with his international followers on social media.

But “My Continuum” is not a comeback entity; it’s more like a continuation of Kevin I.’s ]musical journey,

Restaurants are becoming familiar with him, too, since he’s been back and forth for numeral times for meet-and-eat sessions.

“Food was a big part of the adventure—I made sure to get my misoyaki butterfish fix at multiple spots,” said Kevin.

He made multiple treks to Kailua for reunion sessions, including a gathering with his fellow University of Hawaii TIM Alumni Assn. board members including Clyde Min and his wife Hilda. They dined at Faria, a Portuguese eatery.

He met friends and family members for breakfast at Tanaka Saimin, the Iwilei eatery, where he tried the Japanese breakfast, once suggested by Ledward Kaapana.

He also shared a meal with Mimi Sugane, his singing partner when they performed at La Mancha, and they had a phone chat with their group leader, Ron Miyashiro, who no longer is able of meal outings.

The parade of longtime pals included Sandy Tsukiyama, Rachel Gonzales, and his producer-singer-composer Lance Jyo and his wife. Jyo is supervising Kevin’s forthcoming releases, including the new yuletide tune.

I also met Kevin at Zippy’s Kahala, and he has frequented Zippy’s too, along with restaurants like Mililani Korean BBQ, Yagura the Japanese restaurant in Liliha, Koa Pancake House in Kaimuki, Mr. Ojisan Neo in McCully, and Liliha Bakery at Ala Moana Center.

“Of course, no trip is complete without malasadas from Leonard’s,” he said…

And that’s Show Biz…

August 12, 2025August 12, 2025

BELATED ‘GRIDLOCK’ FROM DELIMA

So Frank DeLima is now ensconced in a Las Vegas senior facility.

But being away and afar doesn’t mean that comedian is idle and silent.

He just shared his latest parody, “Gridlock,” about the jammed highways and byways during the tsunami alert in Hawaii.

He heard about the gridlock on our roads. He smartly sorted out the possible melodies and selected The Drifters’ “Under the Boardwalk” to shape his parody with the recurring lyric, “Stuck in the gridlock.”

And proceeded to describe the situation, where roadways became a parking stall, like all the way to Kahala Mall. And working in the human humor element, “I have to go the bathroom…”

OK, he was a few weeks tardy in delivering the tune. Never mind; it’s still a comedic flashback to the few hours of agony while Hawaii waited for the waves that never came.

And happily, DeLima’s video savior is David Kauahikaua, former Na Kolohe backup musician. “ I record (his video) on my phone and email to him. He does the magic.”

To view the video, go to my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/wayne.harada.5

So how is DeLima faring, as a Las Vegan? Some notes::.

He’s doing well. “Since I been here, I have been trying to fix my body; six different doctors are working to make me better; I go on the average once a week to doctor appointments; ”
His regimen is working. “I am walking 40 minutes a day, up and down the long hallways of this senior housing; there’s climate control. Perfect all year round.; I got a shot in my lower back and it worked. Now I get up in the morning and no sore. Yeh!!!!!”
He’s open to part-time work. “Now that I’m living in Vegas, I can perform for class reunions; anyone interested should email me (frankdelima@hotmail.com) and I can take it from there.” He’s contemplating possible banquet shows bookings for islanders at the California Hotel Ohana Room…
And that’s Show Biz…

June 22, 2025June 22, 2025

POSSIBLE 10-YEAR RUN FOR ‘CIRQUE’

I revisited “‘Auana,” the Cirque du Soleil spectacle, the other night at the Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber resort.

The show, launched last December, has just passed its six-month residency, with its stunning 80-minute spectacle in the heart of the Waikiki mainstream. I said in a December review that Cirque is the future of Waikiki attractions. Highly visible, a non-stop showcase of faith in Hawaiiana, loaded with artistry and creativity. And huge.

Business has been brisk, with two performances at 5:30 and 8 p.m., Wednesdays through Sundays.

The good news: “‘Auana” — Hawaiian for wandering, drifting thoughts – has an agreement with the Outrigger for a run of 10 years, a keen investment by the hotel with the team from Montreal, Canada, known for its prolific planting of performance companies in a wide range of destinations over the decades.

Honolulu is the creator’s newest production, with pure Hawaii story lines, with narrations and songs and dancers, delivered in native Hawaiian language. Though the title of the show might suggest wandering, it’s quite certain “‘Auana” will stay put here. It is the essence of the ‘olele spirit (language, speech, texture) of original island songs and dances. And the Hawaii influences flow beautiful in the lively choreography embellished by the eye-filling island costumes

Cirque’s next launch will be Germanic, in Berlin, in November 2025.

Instead of another review of the Waikiki show, let me share highlights via a recapitulation of images of the major segments that have resonated with an audience comprised largely of spectators who don’t speak or understand Hawaiian. Not to fret …this is a wholly visual endeavor, and a satisfying cultural entity. Let us count the ways.

1 – A journey via canoe sets the story in motion…

2—A surfer dude defies gravity and “surfs” on cylinders…

3 – A segment on the naupaka flower depicts the bloom’s unique idiosyncrasy: only half-a-flower emerges from the buds.

4—Let’s call this the balloon boy, whose feat is a wonderment.

5—If there’s an acrobat, and an oversized cocktail glass filled with water, she’ll share her balletic poses.

6—A salute to “Hawaii Five-O” features a tourist ork (from the audience), for comic relief. More fun than gents learning to hula.

7—The Hawaiian sand painter creates images with, yes, sand and hand…shared on the show’s huge screen…

8—And voila, her art sashays into a mystifying, colorful rainbow…backed by a sweet vocal by a gent of “Over the Rainbow,” delivered in – what else? – Hawaiian.