Category: Show Biz

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KALAPANA REDUX, AND DOWNSIZED

You might call it “Kalapana 50 Hana Hou.” 

The spirit of the recent mammoth celebration of Kalapana’s 50th anniversary at the Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell will be downsized considerably when fans and musicians alike reminisce about the milestone Oct. 4 event.

Gaylord Holomalia, a participant of the biggie outdoor event and a Kalapana bandsman in recent times, said the Blue Note endeavor — at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 17 and 18 at Blue Note Hawaii — is principally for those who missed the 50th anniversary show. Or perhaps it could be that some diehard followers might choose to continue to re-live the memory in the smaller Blue Note nightclub space at the Outrigger Waikiki resort.

Kenji Sano

Participating musicians include Kenji Sano, on bass and vocals; Todd Yukumoto on sax, flute and vocals; Alden Levi on guitar and vocals; Blayne Asing, on electric guitar and vocals; Garin Poliahu, on drums; Jorden Kealoha-Yamanaka, on vocals; and Ben Taaca, on guitar and vocals.

Tickets: (808) 777-4890…

Plan ahead for Christmas shows

There’s not a whole lot of holiday shows on the radar this year. At least, not yet.

Robert Cazimero

So if you’re planning ahead to attend a particular show, better make reservations.

For instance, Robert Cazimero’s annual Christmas songfest at Chef Chai’s is nearly sold out, if not already filled. The gig is at 5:30 p.m. (for dinner) and a 6:30 p.m. performance, on Dec. 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20.

The big one – with premium ticketing prices — should be Kalani Pe‘a’s gathering at 7 p.m. Dec. 20 at the Hawaii Theatre.

Blue Note Hawaii has booked a string of shows with island talent, though some acts may do holiday fare mixed with their own repertoire. Among the bookings:

  • “Merry Christmas to You,” led by Henry Kapono, at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 11.
  • “AJ Raphael & Alyssa’s ‘Our Little Christmas Tour,” at 6:30 and 9 p.m.Dec. 4.
  • Jake Shimabukuro, at 6 p.m. and 8:30 pm. Dec. 16, 17, and 18, and Dec. 19 at 6:30 and 9 p.m.
  • Kimie Miner, at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Dec. 20.
  • “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” with the Mike Lewis Band, at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Dec. 24 and 25.

Oh, Mary

Mary Gutzi enacts Emily Dickinson in a Readers Theatre Production of “The Belle of Amherst,” at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3, 4 and 5 at The Actors’ Group’s Brad Powell Theatre at The Shops at Dole Cannery in Iwilei.

Vanita Rae Smith will direct the play based on a book by William Luce, a literary classic. “Amherst” is based on the life of poet Emily Dickison, circa 1830 to 1886, in her home at Amherst, Massachusetts, locale of the 1976 play.

Mary Gutzi

The story embraces Dickinson’s recollections and encounters with significant folks in her life, including family, close friends, and acquaintances, and balances her isolation  and seclusion with the rare joy she enjoyed with her friends..

It’s not Gutzi’s first time at TAG, but Readers Theatre regulars should check her out. Tickets ( $20) are available at (808) 722-6941… Further, she’ll join Shari Lynn in a one-nighter with two shows at TAG on Dec. 13…

And that’s Show Biz…

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FULL STORY ON FACIAL RECOGNITION

OK, this will be – hopefully – the final continuation of a story on the half-face-only depiction of singer Kevin I.’s face on his new EP recording.

The image is on his new EP, “My Continuum,” now in release with five tracks demonstrating the power of romance in Kevin’s voice, now as well as then. You might recall, this release arrived some 40 years after Kevin shelved his musical career and current notion to jumpstart this journey of recovery.

Lance Jyo

Lance Jyo, Kevin’s Hawaii-based producer and composer (and new friend), says unceremoniously that the idea was his to go with the half-face cover art. “Let’s just show half of your face,” the boss told the vocalist.

“It wasn’t about hiding. It was symbolic,” said Jyo, a reflection of Kevin’s journey. “Half represents the part of him the world remembers, and the other half – unseen – represent the years of growth, reflection, and rediscovery that brought him back.”

Kevin’s half-face

Kevin felt and understood the situation and Jyo explained the overview thusly: “The other half of Kevin’s face isn’t missing because of acne – it’s missing because it tells a story. A story of  a man who found his way back to the music he loves, and who now shares the journey  — one song, and one half-face, at a time.”

Half-truths can add up to a logical conclusion…

Shorts of sorts

Glenn Medeiros will be at a book-signing event at 2 p.m.  today (Oct. 25) at Barnes & Noble to celebrate the release of his autobiography, “From One Stage to Another.” Dr.  Medeiros, of course, is the president Saint Louis School who was a teen idol balladeer with a national hit song, “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You” back in the day…

Ho‘okena is in talks to do a Christmas concert on Dec. 13 on Kauai, and leader Horace Dudoit is working on a confirmation. “But I’ll be busy almost every weekend in December,  touring with four-time Grammy winner Kalani Pe‘a,” he said. The Pe‘a gigs will visit Portland and Seattle, in the Pacific Northwest, and at Kahilu Theatre on the Big  and Hawaii Theatre in Honolulu…

And that’s Show Biz…

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ALAN WONG’S TAKING HOKU’S SITE

Alan Wong, one of the 10 pioneering founders of the Hawaiian Regional Cuisine movement, will be the new occupant of the current space of Hoku’s at the Kahala Resort, beginning  in early 2026.

Hoku’s fine-dining format will shut down by year’s end, with Wong securing the space and ending his inactivity since the closure of both his signature Alan Wong’s in a second-floor space on King Street in McCully, and the companion Pineapple Room at Macy’s at Ala Moana Center, where  Liliha Bakery now is thriving.

Alan Wong will return to the dining scene in 2026, at Hoku’s site.

Wong, winner of the prestigious James Beard Award, has been a key player in supporting the Hawaiian Regional Cuisine, a chef’s club of sorts, from the time of his original island restaurant, the Canoe House at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows in 1989.

The HRC gang included other restaurateurs including Roy Yamaguchi, Sam Choy, Philippe Padovani, Roger Dikon, Gary Strehl, Amy Ferguson Ota, Jean-Marie Josselin, George Mavrothalassitis, and Beverly Gannon. Two others who shared the goals of the movement included Mark Ellman and Peter Merriman.

Hawaii Regional Cuisine is a contemporary style of cooking tapping traditional Hawaiian ingredients with diverse flavors from Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Filipino, and American food traditions. Fusion specials mandate produces like taro, and slow-cooked meats, rooted in the island history.

Wong closed his restaurant during the pandemic five years ago, and his return to the cooking front will also attract members from a pool of notables, including, Mark Shishido (who has been Hoku’s beverage director), who will become general manager of the new Alan Wong’s. Shishido previously was with the Pineapple Room.

 The Wong team will include Joe Almoguero as executive chef; the restaurant also is seeking a chef de cuisine, a sous chef, and a pastry chef.

Old favorites are expected to be on the menu, too. And surely, an extra attraction for diners should include Barack and Michelle Obama, who were never shy about listing Alan Wong’s as their favorite restaurant…

‘HAMILTON’ DIPS, BUT STILL IN $3 MILLION CLUB

“Hamilton” still has the Midas touch, the lone member of the $3 million club ln Broadway. It’s dropped a skosh ; it logged $4 million earlier.

The Top 10:

1—”Hamilton,” $3.764 million

2—”Wicked,” $2.266 million

3—”The Lion King,” $2.048 million

4—”Waiting For Godot,” $1.833 million

5—”ART,” $1.787 million

6—”Mamma Mia!,” $1.645 million

 7—”Death Becomes Her,” $1.429 million

8—”Just in Time,” $1.364 million

9—”MJ the Musical,” $1.349 million

10—”Oh, Mary!,” $1.280 million

The complete list of grosses, courtesy the Broadway League:

And that’s Show Biz…

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KEVIN’S OTHER HALF-FACE ON HOLD

This is pure Facebook fare, triggered by Kevin I.’s new EP, “My Continuum,” released last week.

A FaceFollower had a legit query: “How come Kevin shows only half his face on his album cover? Does he have acne?”

Well, I went to the source, and asked Kevin – with a straight face, natch –“Do you have acne?”

The response: “Admittedly, I did have bad acne as a teenager and young man, but decades of meticulous skin care regimens, great dermatologists spending lots of ‘kala’ have improved my skin over the years. And more recently, Korean skincare products have helped, too.”

So why show only half your face now?.

Kevin I.’s half-face depicted on his new EP. Below, his smling full-face.

“The other side (not seen on the EP cover) has a half-smile, too. But is there really the other half?” he said.

The current half-face matter was for art’s sake – a popular European motif.

“Let’s just say we were going for the modern-day male version of the Mona Lisa smile: half smile, half face,” said Kevin, adding: “Joerg Alfter, the graphic designer for the EP, is from Germany, and he’s got that modern, clean, simple design that Europeans are so good at. We wanted a cover that is simple, classy, stylish and different enough to generate conversation and get attention, so from that perspective, it worked.”

Of course, it’s all inventive PR. A gimmick. You asked, he answered.

So, I had another question for Kevin: Are you saving the  other half of your face, which could be shown on the left side for a “Continuum” sequel?

His valid response: “No, but that is a great idea if there’s ever a follow-up recording. We’ll use the other half of the face and call it, what else, ‘My Continuum Part 2.’  What a great idea. I love it.”

‘Twas a good thing  Kevin was showing half of his face, not the back of his head. Then again, he could still launch another series of EPs: Back Again, Back Up, or Head’s Up.

But Kevin has a thing going with his half-face element, so he might embrace a title like, “About Face.”

 My suggestion: skip “My Continuum, Part 2,” and display his entire face, then dub the album “Full Frontal.”  Could be a winnah.

Visit www.kevin-i.com …

Shari shares an important note

Shari Lynn

Shari Lynn is not going to appear at Hula’s later this month, as mentioned in an earlier column — and swiftly corrected and removed. Someone sent a poster — looked real— and I’ve seen it on social media, so it’s a horrid joke.

She sent this note, while on a sea cruise, alarmed about this faux show.

“Hi Wayne

“Thank you as always for mentioning the shows I’m doing, you know how much I appreciate it. However, I am not appearing at Hulas!!! I’m wondering where you heard that, certainly not from me! Kindly let folks know that I will not be there, nor was I booked to be there. 

“In fact, we are in the middle of the Caribbean sea on the Norwegian Joy. And will return on the 27th of the month.”

“Love to you and Vi!”…

OK, correction noted. And hereon out, will only rely on Shari for data on her forthcoming performances.

And that’s Show Biz…

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GUTZI AS DICKINSON AT TAG

Mary Gutzi will star as Emily Dickinson in a Readers Theatre Production of “The Belle of Amherst,” at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3, 4 and 5 at The Actors’ Group’s Brad Powell Theatre at The Shops at Dole Cannery in Iwilei.

Veteran Reader Theatre founder Vanita Rae Smith will direct the play based on a book by William Luce, a literary classic. “Amherst” is based on the life of poet Emily Dickison, circa 1830 to 1886, in her home at Amherst, Massachusetts, locale of the 1976 play.

Mary Gutzi

The story that embraces her recollections and encounters with significant folks in her life, including family, close friends, and acquaintances, and balances the poet’s isolation  and seclusion with the rare joy she enjoyed with her friends.

Tickets are $20, available at TAG. For reservations, call (808)722-6941 or visit www.taghawaii.net  or email tagbradpowelltheatre@gmail.com

Gutzi, a sometimes Hawaii resident who’s a Broadway star (“Cats,”  “Sunset Boulevard”)  has starred in productions here and abroad.

Her visibility will grow as she continues to take the TAG stage, like holiday show featuring singer Shari Lynn, “It’s Delightful,” “It’s DeLovely” and “It’s December,” a one-nighter, two-performance special at 4 and 7 p.m. at the Brad Powell Theatre. Tickets are $50, at (808) 722-6941.

Gutzi hopes to do a TAG benefit in the future…

Shari shares an important note

Shari Lynn

And speaking of Shari:  She is not going to appear at Hula’s later this month, as mentioned in an earlier column. Someone sent a poster — looked legit — and I’ve seen it on social media, so it’s quite a horrid joke.

She sent this note, while on a sea cruise, alarmed about this faux show.

“Hi Wayne

“Thank you as always for mentioning the shows I’m doing, you know how much I appreciate it. However, I am not appearing at Hulas!!! I’m wondering where you heard that, certainly not from me! Kindly let folks know that I will not be there, nor was I booked to be there. 

“In fact, we are in the middle of the Caribbean sea on the Norwegian Joy. And will return on the a27th of the month.”

“Love to you and Vi!”…

And sent this joyous see-worthy sea pic with hubby Michael.

So the bogus announcement has been removed…

Around ‘n’ about…

Gail Mack, Lance Luke, Keith Hiraoka and Bobby Nishida will perform  from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 24 at The Edge at 31 N. Pauahi St., in downtown Honolulu.

A $5 cover prevails. For reservations, call (808) 888-3228…

Mack also is assembling Luke and Nishida for a gig featuring guest Tim Hurley of the group Summer, from5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 2 at Mango Street Grill, 130 Mango St., in Wahiawa. For reservations, call Daryl at (808) 627-5451…

‘Hamilton’ grosses a whopping $4 million

Lin-Manuel Miranda

The room where it happened – at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway – has been a grand showcase for “Hamilton,” Lin-Manuel Miranda hit show. It grossed a whopping $4.042 million, for the week ending Oct. 12.

Two other shows, always in the Top 3, upped their grosses, too, last week. “Wicked” and “The Lion King” have jumped back with grosses over $2 million.

The Top 10:

1—’Hamilton,” $4.042 million

2—“Wicked,” $2.542 million

3—“The Lion King,” $2.272 million

4—”Waiting for Godot,” $1.823 million

5—”ART,” $1.764 million

6—”Mamma Mia!,” $1.763 million

7—”Death Becomes Her,” $1.608 million

8—“MJ the Musical,” $1.462 million

9—”Aladdin,” $1.378 million

10—”Just In Time,” $1.361 million

The full list of shows, courtesy the Broadway League:

And that’s Show Biz…