Category: Show Biz

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‘Lilo & Stitch” streaming on Disney+

Summertime is over for this year. For many, the temps were uncomfortably high and stormy waters created havoc in parts of the U.S., even taking lives.

For movie buffs, notably in Hawaii, the box office champ was  “Lilo & Stitch,” a charming Disney live-action film shot here and reintroduced the world to the concept of ‘ohana.

And beginning today (Sept. 3), “Lilo & Stitch” starts streaming on

“Lilo & Stitch,” the summer’s hottest film,, now is streaming on Disney+.

Disney+, if you have signed on to this service. It surely will attract the stay-at-homers who bypass the theater experience to  discover belated joy via home viewing. Whether weather made an impact, keeping movie fans away from the cinema, is anyone’s guess.

But it’s time to reflect on this year’s summer films.

At last count,  “Lilo & Stitch,” grossed more than $3.53 billion world-wide,  short of the anticipated $4 billion mark, according to Comscore.

Surely, this was a rather lukewarm summer at the box office, compared to earlier seasons like 2023’s “Barbenheimer” match, when “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” dominated the grosses. “Lilo & Stitch” was a curiosity, but fans rallied … making it No. 1 in overall summertime grosses.

Here is a list of the top 10 summer movies in 2025, by domestic box office tallies: 

1—“Lilo & Stitch,” $423,318,538

2—“Superman,” $351,748,613

3—”Jurassic World: Rebirth,” $338,265, 613

4—“The Fantastic Four: First Step,” $265,826,18

5—“How to Train Your Dragon,” $262,774,245

6—“Mission: Impossible –The Final Reckoning,” $197,413,515

7—“Thunderbolts,” $190,274,328

8—“F1: The Movie,” $188,071,545

9—”Final Destinations: Bloodlines,” $138,130,814

10—“Weapons,” $134,602,687

Interestingly, the tale of a little Hawaiian girl, Lilo (played by Maia Kealoha) who befriends Experiment 626, aka Stitch (voiced by Chris Sanders) has warmed the hearts of viewers. The two have an unexpected relationship with highs and lows, laughter and heartache, and the journey provides shared mutual joy.

Christopher Bright

The film was directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, from a screenplay written by local boy Christopher Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes.

Lilo and Stitch beat Superman, Tom Cruise, a flying dragon and seawater dinosaurs to steal the summer flick competition.

You can also watch the original animated feature, on the Disney channel,  and lest you forget, a live-action sequel is anticipated to be in the movie theaters in two years…

‘Hamilton’ retains No. 1 spot

As summer season ends, and vacationers exit Broadway, “Hamilton” remains atop the weekly gross list, for the week ending Aug. 31.

The Top 10:

1—“Hamilton,” $2.264 million

2—“Wicked,” $2.005 million

3—“The Lion King,” $1.875 million

4—“Mamma Mia,” $1.787 million

5—“Maybe Happy Ending,” $1.567 million

6—“Death Becomes Here,” $1.373 million

7—“MJ the Musical,” $1.333 million

8—“Oh, Mary!,” $1.234 million

9—“Just in Time,” $1,277 million

10—“The Outsiders,” “$1.198 million

FYI, the complete list of Broadway grosses, provided by the Broadway Guild, was not available at the time this column was filed…

And that’s Show Biz…

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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.

Shari Lynn Acebedo

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…

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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.”

Frank DeLima

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,,,

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‘MAYBE’S’ CRISS LEAVING, RETURNING

Darren Criss, the  first Asian American to win a Tony Award for a Leading Actor in a Musical for “Maybe Happy Ending,” will take a leave of absence from the musical after Aug. 31, but will resume his role in the fall.

It was previously announced that Andrew Barth Feldman would replace Criss,  who became the first Asian American axctor to win the Tony. Criss is part Filipino and has Honolulu ties. Feldman is white – cause of the concern from some critics sinnce there’s a scarcity of Asian roles for actors.

Darren Criss

But because Criss also is a co-producer of the Korean musical, it was simple to resolve the controversy, by proclaiming his nine-weak leave will be temporary, and that he will return to the show on Nov. 5.

The Broadway cast features Helen J Shen and Criss starring as, respectively, Claire and Oliver, South Korea-based Helperbots deemed obsolete. The pair form an unlikely bond, setting off a surprising and romantic adventure,  earning its Best Musical laurels earlier this year.

Several Hawaii actors remember that Criss attended a local school, and thus qualifies as an island-winner of two Tonys this year, one for his acting, and the other for his producing…

‘Hamilton’ reclaims No. 1 spot on weekly grosses

“Hamilton,” celebrating its 10th anniversary, surged back to No. 1, earning $2.197 million.

Which means “Wicked,” which has regularly ruled the charts, dipped to No. 2.

“The Lion King,” a dependable player week after week, found itself in the No 3 slot.

And “Gypsy,” in its closing week, logged its best numbers, claiming the No. 4 position, its best week of a challenging season.

The Top 10:

1—”Hamilton,” $2.197 million

2—”Wicked,” $2.018 million

3—”The Lion King,” $1.948 million

4—”Gypsy,” $1.607 million

5—”Mamma Mia!,” $1.606 million

6—”Maybe Happy Ending,” $1.373 million

7—”Just In Time,” $1.293 million

8—”Aladdin,”  $1.273 million

9—”Death Becomes Her,” $1.238 million

10—”MJ the Musical,” $1.228 million

The complete list, courtesy the Broadway League:

And that’s Show Biz…

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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…