Arts | Entertainment | Crafts | Life
The assortment of Halloween pins — of ghouls, goblins, jack o’ lanterns and witches — has been distributed over the past month, so if you’ve got ’em, wear ’em for your trick-or-treating outings or at your Halloween parties this Friday.
Happy Halloween!
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, 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 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…
If you’re specifically drooling for roast pork, char siu, and other Hong Kong entrée classics, Kevin’s Kitchen is the new place to go.
On a recent Sunday at high noon, the place was jammed and crammed and busy as heck. With no reservations, we (my wife Vi and our grandnephew John), opted to do takeout.
The noisy and casual crowd filled the Makiki restaurant, with folks in beach shorts looking like they might head to the beach after lunch; one table was dressier (women with jade bracelets and necklaces), perhaps eating out after Sunday church services.
For me, this was a genuine alternative to Chinatown, ZIP code 96817. Kevin’s is the solution and destination if you’re ono for roast pork, char siu, roast duck and chicken, chow fun, and other stables of Hong Kong/Chinatown fare. The restaurant’s non-descript entry, in ZIP code 96814, is a stone’s throw opposite the main entryway of Times Super Market
So, there’s no longer the need to venture to Maunakea Street and the markets in the environs of Hotel and Beretania Streets. No need to scope for street parking to feed the meters, seek parking in the municipal lots, or deal with the few charge-card boxes stationed within the Chinatown zone.
Best of all, there’s plenty of the coveted roast pork and char siu, hanging on hooks along with roast duck and chicken, in the glass-sectional like a Chinatown vendor. I would prefer the roast park chopped in larger pieces, but Kevin’s needs to work on a crispier pork skin and perhaps larger chunks of the pork that would elevate the pork to a two-pound serving, instead of a pound. But attention must be to beef up the pork with a crispier skin first.
Kevin’s is open from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., serving full lunches and dinners till 8:30 p.m., and the buzz is that the restaurant is eager to launch an earlier Chinese breakfast, too.
At lunchtime, you can order a mixed plate take-out with two or three items, or order a pound of roast park, char siu, and an order of beef broccoli. A week after our first visit, John called in a take-out order of roast pork, roast duck and chow fun, and picked up the goodies at 4 p.m. Flexible and casual, though it might take 30 minutes to drive off with the order.
The restaurant boasts a glassed-in sector where the customary roast pork, char siu, and roast duck and chicken await to be plucked and packed for take-out orders. This elevates Kevin’s a lot, with the luxury of ordering extras to go.
This is not a dim sum haven, so you need to go elsewhere if that’s your option.
This is a tale of two Kevins, playing outside the mainstay Chinatown ZIP code of 96817. Two Kevins can be confusing and waitstaff can’t even shout “Mr. Lee” or “Mr. Li,” to add to the confusion.
Kevin Li, is the owner. His friend, Kevin Lee, is his partner, formerly a chef at Harbor Village at the Koko Marian Center in Hawaii Kai. Ping Li, Kevin’s father, is roast maste
The restaurant is located at 1296 S. Beretania, ZIP code 96814, opposite the front doors of the Times Super Market, which anchors this small mall. You’ll smell it before you see it, because of the lilting aroma of chow fun, roast duck, and char siu in the air.
Word of mouth has been positive about Kevin’s, and they do the customary fare of Chinese cuisine, with soups, seafood, fowl, pork and beef. The upgrades include sizzling platters of seafood, hot pots with pork, beef, seafood and lamb, vegetarian options, and party favorites like Peking duck and Dungeness crab. The Pecking duck is listed, in Kevin’s take-out menu, as $63.90 for a whole duck and $39.95 for half a duck; no listing of the bao that commonly accompanies the duck.
When the joint is jumping, it’s a tad chaotic. On the busy Sunday, there were isolated seats at tables of four or 10, and waitresses directed the seat-seekers to the available chairs. You probably need yelling skills to order in this environment.
Consequently, this not the climate for business meetings or office gatherings, because you pretty much have to shout above the din to be heard.
Information: (808) 888-3680…
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?.
“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 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…
The arrival this week of “My Continuum,” a five-tune EP chockful of romantic ballads, reintroduces veteran singer Kevin I. to the world (and maybe Hawaii, too).
It probably should have been released to coincide with Valentine’s, because it’s the traditional season for love songs. Feb. 14, after all, is when the world focuses on romance, and surely, Kevin’s new CD, will lure his international audience. FYI, Feb. 14 happens to be Kevin’s birthday.
The availability prior to Halloween means listening treats, not tricks.
And with Christmas in December approaching, it’s not a bad idea to get the EP charted for holiday gift-buying.
Hmmm, so “My Continuum” should be a collection for all seasons, all-year round.
Let me tell you the whys:
Kevin had been one of Honolulu’s favored balladeers during the ‘70s through ‘90s; he sang solo, in hotel club shows, as well as with a dance group as a featured singer. His recordings were heard on local radio, too.
Then he abandoned his entertainment career for the next forty years, becoming an esteemed pioneer of executive and business travel, as a speaker and an author of business travel, marketing and events.
As fate would have it, Kevin retired from his biz endeavors and focused on sharing his vintage tunes with followers across the globe – the Spotify crowd – triggering a second career minus the live concerts but a new EP laden with what his global fans favored: love tunes.
Under guidance from new mentor-producer Lance Jyo, Kevin clearly curated a roster of new material: two that he co-wrote with Jyo, and three others that Jyo co-authored. All songs should attract his legion of fans, and I confess, if these tunes were on a roulette spin, all will would have winning appeal.
I adore ballads, so “The Love You Give (To Me)” reflects the kind of powerful gift for a crooner – deliberate, enduring, satisfying delivery, plus soothing lyrics. The song is constructed with cadence and care, perfect for Kevin’s style.
“Shine” features multi-tracking of voices, sounding like a chorus without overdoing it. However, the 5:08 length – long, by radio standards – might limit air time.
“My Forever Love” – also with the spirit of commitment — is yet another resourceful introduction to those who’ve yet to know Kevin’s engaging style. Could become the biggie of the bunch.
“Can’t Get Back the Time” lyrically explores the value off embracing time in life, since it is elusive and disappears, with gentle piano accompaniment.
“The Last Goodbye” is a sweet departure ballad, exploring another element of romance.
Finally, for all the years I’ve known Kevin and reviewed him in concerts and on LPs and CDs, he’s never sounded this contagious perfection and glowing with amour and assurance. “The Continuum” could jumpstart an appearance on one stage or two, notably in foreign markets waiting to discover Kevin I. in the flesh. P.S: He’d welcome earning more Polaris bookings for his United treks around the world.
Think about it…
And that’s Show Biz…
Also visit: http:kevin-i.com