Category: Stage

Every year produces a roster of do-gooders — folks who stand high and tall in the entertainment sector.

Every season, we search, discover  and reflect on a multitude of achievers, and we name and assemble them here to review, remember, and reward.

So, in the first Show Biz column of 2026,  we look into the rearview mirror to applaud the achievers of 2025 who comprise The Waynies.

Most are moderate honorees; a few are monumental; some head for the history books for the wrong reasons.  Of course, there are some quirks. All are worthy of recognition. And apologies; there’s no trophy nor celebrity toasting. This is all on the cheap; but trust me, the awards are bestowed with earnest acknowledgement.

So, drum roll, please – meet the 2025 Waynies achievers:

1 – Robert Cazimero, the multi-mover-and-shaker, is in his prime. He’s a singer, a composer, a dancer,  a recording artist, and he’s the stellar kumu hula of Halau Na Kamalei O Lililehua and winner of the 2025 Merrie Monarch Festival. He’s a club singer, regularly behind the keyboards at Chef Chai’s, and he stages community concerts at Leeward Community College Theatre with his halau, and they all assemble to sing and dance in the city’s annual Lei Day Concert at Bishop Museum. And here’s where he excelled; he marked his 50^th anniversary as a kumu and for the past five decades, he’s been paying tribute worshipping his revered kumu hula and mentor, Maiki Aiu Lake, always expressing thanks for her guidance and inspiration. 

Well, we anoint Cazimero for his hula contributions,  and – whether he knows or accepts it – he has become the inspirational Auntie Maiki of his generation. So here’s a genuine salute to Uncle Robert, the leading kumu of his generation who bears the torch now and has embraced and is perpetuating hula just like his kumu did

back in the dayl

2—Henry Kapono, onetime a member of the duo, Cecilio and Kapono, has surged to new levels.  Kapono has developed into an iconic,  major pop music entity, with a foundation bearing his name. He mentors budding musicians, stages a myriad of shows, many out of town, still is an active recording artist, and he presents concerts at several venues, including Blue Note Hawaii and the Manoa Valley Theatre. His latest show space is Kapono’s at The Lounge at the Hawaii Kai Shopping Center, which formally opened last night (New Year’s Eve) in the waterfront occupied by a prime recording studio and earlier the location of Dolly Parton’s restaurant.

3—“Auana,” the Cirque du Soleil spectacle ensconced at the Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel in the heart of Hawaii’s visitor mecca, has ventured in its second season. The show opened in December 2024, features Hawaii artisans who sing and dance, and has been applauded for its iconic costumes with eye-filling and glorious theatrics.. The multi-media visionary attraction boasts traditional circus acts, too, but the Hawaiian storytelling – the show is staged with narration in the Hawaiian language – is a stand-out. Reservations are being taken at through next December, and who knows, a longer run could earn another extension.

4 — Nicole Scherzinger, formerly of the Pussycat Dolls, earned her first Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical on Broadway. She was sizzling silent film star Norma Desmond, in “Sunset Boulevard,”  earlier earning an Olivier Award, too, on the London stage. She still has family in Hawaii, and she became the first Tony awardee to ask Olomana’s Jerry Santos if she could join him in singing “E Kuu Home O Kahaluu” with him.

5– Darren Criss, who has island roots, also earned his first Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. He played the robot Olivier in “Maybe Happy Ending.”  The win made him the first Asian actor to earn the trophy; he is a mixture of Chinese, Filipino and Spanish on his mother’s side, and English, German, and Irish on his father’s side – a true multi-racial Asian American.

6 – Reanne Acasio, who still has relatives in Hawaii, is the first Filipina to portray all three Schuyler Sisters (Eliza, Angelica and Peggy) in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s mega-hit, “Hamilton.” 

7–Maia Kealoha, who played Lilo Pelekai in Disney’s live-action film, “Lilo & Stitch,”  brought new life to the franchise of the Mouse House. A cutie, she adopted Stitch, the space alien, and their relationship highlights the movie. “Lilo & Stitch” set box office records this past July, amassing $1 billion worldwide,  the first Motion Picture Academy film of the year to do so; by July, the take was  $423 million-plus, and international grosses topped $614 million+.

8 –Lilo’s much quoted quote, which originated in the original cartoon feature, says it all: “Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind.” That said, it’s a no-brainer to applaud the sweet script and playout of the family theme. The core creative team for “L&S” included Christopher Kekaniokalani Bright, who scripted the film with Mike Van Waes. Locals are well aware of the Bright ‘ohana here – Chris is the grandson of the fabled drama director and teacher, Ronald E. Bright; his father is Clarke Bright, bandmaster of the Royal Hawaiian Band; and his mother is Lynell Bright, the director of the Ka

mehameha Schools Children’s Chorus which is heard in the “L&S” soundtrack again, performing “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride.”

9 – Kevin I., who was an active entertainer four decades ago, abandoned a career in music and to carve his mark as a pioneer of executive and business travel  as a speaker and author. But he made an unlikely comeback of sorts last fall, with a new five-song EP called “My Continuum,” as well as a holiday single, “Christmas in Our Hearts.” A fancier of romantic ballads, he was welcomed by a global audience and the Spotify crowd, which adored his new tunes as well as his catalogue of treasured oldies. “The Love You Give (To Me”) typifies his craft, soothing lyrics, romantic landscape –a powerful gift suiting his  crooner style. The comeback had a peculiar but effective EP cover, depicting only half his face. Vive la difference!

10 – The Kilohana Hula, which opened Feb. 15,  2024 as a freebie for Waikiki visitors,  closed last March 31 at the Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell Amphitheater at Kapiolani Park. It had great expectations – the premise was to showcase hula and mele, evocative of the grand Kodak Hula Show that it emulated, but without an admission fee nor a title sponsor, it’s tough to make ends meet.  So the erosion set in, with a minimalist ensemble relocated at Kuhio Beach Hula Mound for smaller shows. Presenters envisioned a night-time paid-admission show on the park grounds to support the free show, but you can’t stage a commercial entity on public parks.

11 –The fabled Paradise Cove, a bona fide luau experience for visitors, was to finally shut down last night (Dec. 31). Its 47-year run means the end of Hawaiian and Polynesian entertainment and experiences, include Samoan and Tahitian rhythms, audience participation fun, and beautiful views of Hawaii’s sunsets. It’s a bit of yesterday and memories for the ever-evolving Ko Olina landscape. But more than 170 employees will be jobless. The James Campbell Company, the landowner, has plans to update and renovate the area in a $135 million complex to be called The Cove. The expected opening date is two years away.

12 —Ruthie Ann Miles, Tony-winning Broadway star (Lady Thiang, “The King and I”) from Hawaii,  was guest soloist in the Tabernacle Choir’s Christmas concert, which aired on PBS last month. It was one of the holiday’s most inspirational gifts. Miles personalized her fondness of secular and yuletide selections, since her mom was a church organist when she was growing up, and these treks developed the singer-actress’s fondness in show biz. See, mom knows best.

13–Frank DeLima, the veteran stand-up comedian, retired from the Hawaii performance limelight, and now is a resident of Las Vegas. Since relocating to the Ninth Island, he continues to create timely musical parodies whenever he has an idea and a whim, and also relaunched a part-time role in joining other singers in infrequent shows. The reality: if you remain active, your brain doesn’t get idle, and it’s a win-win, for DeLima and his fans. There are Zippy’s restaurants to suit his tummy, and ex-pats galore to catch his appearances.

14— Chai Chaowasaree, former proprietor of Chef Chai, quietly and mysteriously left for Thailand, to be close to his mother. His absence from his Kapiolani Boulevard kitchen was noticeable for month. He feared immigration clampdown and abrupt ICE raids, so he made the decision to bid aloha to his home and livelihood here. Possibilities of his return are slim,  but for now, he’s made the right move.

15—Brother Noland, the prolific and powerhouse singer-composer, made his first  major public appearances in March, reviving his classic hits and introducing new tunes and a large band of 10. He made a few Neighbor Island gigs, too, but the homecoming has been somewhat muted since.

16——“The SpongeBob Musical” was a delight at Diamond Head Theatre last July –a turning point for DHT. Chad Navarra was a perfect SpongeBob, animated like a wind-up toy, and the DHT techie crew turned a corner and finally resolved earlier set production ills, making this perhaps the best-ever, cohesive DHT enterprise.

17—  The Christmas-New Year’s holiday season traditionally was prime time for America’s beloved First Couple to spent R&R time, on vacash in Honolulu, enjoying the clime and the restaurants and the shave ice, and, well, even the Kailua rental home. No word this season – last year, too? – of sightings of The Obamas in our midst, signaling the end of a tradition.

18— Jacquelyn Holland-Wright  made quite an impression as Mama Rose in the I’m A Bright Kid Foundation’s August musical, “Gypsy.,” at Paliku Theatre.  Her rendering of the powerful signature song, “Rose’s Turn,” still resonates.

19—With the termination and drought of filming here of movies and TV series, it’s a comforting thing to see Amy Hill, a show biz veteran, in her catalogue of hits: “Lilo & Stitch,”  “Magnum P.I.,”  “Doogie Kamealoha,” and “Ballard” (starring Hawaii’s Maggie Q). She also attends film festivities here, and she pops up in occasional commercials –an actor with visibility and high recognition factor.

20— It’s been announced that Hawaii Studio Group is developing a major film studio complex, comprising 34 acres adjoining the University of Hawaii’s West Oahu campus in Kapolei.  Facilities will include soundstages, production offices and a town center with shops and dining and possibly lodging – sounds like a Little Hollywood, in the tropics – to support the studio population and provide job opportunities for locals. Phase 1 won’t be open until the spring of 2028; hopefully, film and TV options will come here to tape and film. Perhaps by then, Jason Momoa or Dwayne Johnson — and why not Steven Spielberg, too,? — will have shows ready for “Action!”

21—The termination of Consolidated Theatre’s loyalty program, which now is history, offered valuable and periodic free stuff (popcorn, soda, a combo snack trio). The new one – free or monthly $20 fee – is in newbie mode now, and is no longer attractive. You decide if you’ll pay to get a payoff of sorts later.

22– “Side by Side by Sondheim,” a hit last July at the Manoa Valley Theatre, boasted a keg of tunes familiar and perhaps some not so well known, composed by the prolific Stephen Sondheim. The blissful songs were delivered by what emphatically was the Ensemble of the Year, a superb cast of six – three ladies (Kim Anderson, Jasmine Haley Anderson and Lisa Konove)  and three gentlemen (John D’Aversa, Andrew Simmons and David Weaver) — who delivered each melody with sheer joy and skill, sashaying from solos to duets to quartets, sharing parodies, romantic tunes, hilarious and dramatic numbers. All directed and choreographed by James Wright,  and the indefatigable  orchestra of one, pianist Miki Yamamoto.

23—TAG’s (The Actors Group) union of singers Shari Lynn and Mary Gutzi in a blend of Christmas and Broadway music, should become an annual gift to the community. The intimate venue, the Brad Powell Theatre, is perfect to unwrap this kind of intimate theatrics and/or cabaret show (minus the booze). Gotta have Jim Howard on keyboards, too. And where else in the world would the theater namesake, Brad Powell in the flesh, arrive and kibitz with attendees every night.

24—Greg Zane, who has been an active director and choreographer at Diamond Head Theatre, turned to acting and a pivotal role as Bernadette, a trans singer, in Manoa Valley Theatre’s “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” in November and December. He was dolled up with makeup, wigs and stage gowns, and would win accolades and trophies if island theater awards still existed. It’s not that common for local theater folks – especially directors and choreographers – to crisscross competitive stages,  so Zane, who  also resides in New York and is still remembered for playing Paul San Marco in “A Chorus Line,” should be commended for being a stage connector.

25 – Manoa Valley Theatre’s inventive reconfiguration of its limited-space theater seating for “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,” was commendable. Being flexible meant that seating was expanded to 282, from 150 to. More spectators, more profits.

And that’s Show Biz..