Arts | Entertainment | Crafts | Life
Except for a couple of last-minute additions to my mailing list, most of the 2026 Valentine’s pins are en route to recepiens.
In fact, more than 75 per cent already have received their pins by now.
Monday’s deliveries should reach others.
The motifs widely feature hearts, the essence of Valentine’s, and red and pink dominate the palette.
These are among the designs this season,
Bruno Mars, perhaps the most revered native son icon on the planet now, will go global with his mammoth tour beginning April 10 at the Allegient Stadium in Las Vegas. Tickets went on sale Jan. 14 at GoTickets.com but are also available at other ticketing agencies.
The tour supports Mars’ new “The Romantic” album, due to be released by Atlantic on Feb. 27. The first single, “I Just Might,” dropped a few days ago, and already is charted as a bona fide hit.
For Hawaii fans, catching Mars means fetching tickets for one of his playdates, which run from spring to fall, elsewhere. FYI, several cities already have added new playdates because of brisk, healthy sales.
Some data worth sharing:
* The Romantic Tour broke records for the largest single-day ticket sales in Live Nation history throughout North America, Europe and the UK.
* Ticketmaster logged 2.1 million tickets in a single sales day.
* Mars’ first-ever stadium sked now spans more than 70 shows, a decade after his record-breaking 24K Magic World Tour nearly a decade ago.
In plain talk, Mars is a hottie, with shows scheduled between June 2026 and July 2027. But obviously, Mars can’t concertize in the Islands since the Aloha Stadium is closed for renovations, and there’s no viable venue unless you consider outside-of-the-box locations like Diamond Head Crater, Kualoa Ranch, or the plains at Schofield Barracks, which would mean impossible challenges like a lack of infrastructure or parking or security measures. But wouldn’t this make for an indisputably spectacular TV special after the fact? Just daydreaming.
His tours will be on hiatus during the holiday season, since he has a Christmas-New Year’s residency to fill at Dolby Live at Park MGM, Las Vegas.
“The Romantic” is the Hawaii-born superstar’s fourth album and the first in nearly a decade.
Mars is a familiar figure in Billboard Charts and the Grammy Awards since he became a household name. His trademark retro-inspired rhythm ‘n’ blues sound, elevated with a pop punch thanks to the versatility of his group, the Hooligans, includes the likes of “Just the Way You Are,” “Uptown Funk, “When I Was Your Man,” “Locked Out of Heaven,” “24K Magic,” “Treasure,” and “Marry You.” He just might slip in “I Just Might,” natch.
In the 2018 Grammy Awards, Mars won 16 trophies, in a major sweep of seven awards, and additional wins with Silk Sonic, and his 2024 collaboration with Lady Gaga on “Die With a Smile,” was reflective of his versatility and fluidity in partnering with landmark peers. In the 2026 Grammy Awards on Feb. 1, he is nominated for for his collaboration with Rosé on the song “APT.,” for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. And betcha he wins big time, too,..
And that’s Show Biz…
Entertainer Robert Cazimero has revealed his initial 2026 monthly show dates at Chef Chai, where his Hawaiian music with hula is accompanied by a gourmet meal..
The schedule for the first six months:
Dinner service begins at 5 p.m. and Cazimero gets behind his grand piano for performances beginning at 6:30 p.m. His shows feature two long-time hula dancers, Sky Perkins Gora and Keola “Bully” Makaiau.
The gigs used to be called Full Moon Concerts, a theme no longer applicable since the shows are scheduled with flexibility, determined by Cazimero’s other commitments rather than the lunar calendar. Thus the days of the week varies, and he has slated two programs in March.
Cazimero is working with Pomaikai Shishido, who has taken over the kitchen and day-to-day operations since veteran Chef Chai Chaowasaree departed to Thailand last year.
Reservations: (808) 585-0011 or Open Table.
Musical notes elsewhere:
Premium seating is $75, loge and bar seating is $55.
Tatofi is known as the “Polynesian Luther Vandross, and his music is a fusion of traditional and contemporary elements. He also advocates the preservation of Hawaii culture and promotes Hawaiian language and tradition and the aloha spirit to a global audience.
Reservations: (808) 777-4890 or www.bluenotehawaii.com
Tickets (all ages) are $102.82.
Doors open at 5 and 8:30 p.m. for meal and beverage service
Reservations: (808) 777-4890 or www.bluenotehawaii.com
‘Wicked’ regains No.1 spot on Broadway
“Wicked” grossed $4.8 million and reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the weekly grosses, topping “Harry Potter and the Curse Child,” which ruled the tallies for two weeks.
It was an uncommon week, since six Broadway shows had a nine-performance week ending Dec. 28, instead of the usual eight weekly shows.
The shows staging the extra performance were “Wicked,” “The Lion King,” “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” “Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” “Alladin,” and “The Great Gatsby.”
When the dust settled and box office takes counted, “Wicked” was the big winner, grossing $4.8 million.
The Top 10:
1—”Wicked,” $4.401 million
2—”The Lion King,” $3.915 million
3—”Hamilton,” $3.768 million
4—”Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” $3,768 million
5—”Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” $3.510. million
6—”Aladdin,” $2.443 million
7—” MJ,” $2.221 million
8—”Mamma Mia!,” $2.072 million
9—”Chess,” $1.863 million
10—“The Great Gatsby,” $1.809 million
The complete ranking, courtesy the Broadway Guild:
And that’s Show Biz…
As I put away the remnants and reminders of crafty things from this Christmas past, I can’t help reminiscing about a bunch of mini holiday creations with a whole bunch of kitty cats, a few dogs, and some random animal critters like little piggies and penguins.
These motley animal figures weren’t Christmas-oriented. No sirree! But I was doing mini craft gifts that required tons of imagination and a slew of Santas, a range of bottle brush Christmas trees in hues ranging from customary green plus red, pink and yellow. Oh, metallic gold trees, too!
Most of the “characters” were mail-ordered via Temu and a few had precise atmospheric traits or were clad in obvious costumes, as bakers, ukulele strummer, librarians, sushi-makers, pianists and even a cat chatting on an iPhone and another at an Apple laptop. Honest!
So sheer imagination and will power were key to creating the vibes of a specific Christmas which became the was the season of funky gifts with an operative word and a theme and sense of whimsy.
I didn’t photograph every one of the scenes but did snap a few, shared here as I say goodbye to Christmas 2025. If you received one, lemme know your reactions.
‘Twas the morning of Christmas
And all through the ‘aina;
Santa’s gifts were delivered
To malihini, kamaaina.
The presents were sought
With the utmost care;
No re-gifting, just the best
Of the yuletide fare.
An idea for Mayor Rick Blangiardi
Involving Gov. Josh Green:
A Swap-Your-Job Day
Might be productive and keen.
For Nicole Scherzinger
A new hit Broadway show;
One for Darren Criss, too,
Tony winners do glow.
The usual Kailua rental?
Or the new Waimanalo lair?
Barack and Michelle
Will select with great care.
An extended Vegas contract
For superstar Bruno Mars;
Plus a Super Bowl return
For the greatest of all stars.
Do you constantly wish that
Bette Midler would perform here?
Not gonna happen since
The Divine one has hometown fear.
A Na Hoku nomination
For singer Kevin I;
And healthy isle snacks
He can buy and try.
For Melveen Leed, a budget
For her from-home show;
To tighten and heighten
And brighten the flow.
A new golden baton
For bandmaster Clarke Bright;
To conduct the Royal Hawaiian Band
And demonstrate his might.
For Karen Keawehawai‘i
Plenty faux flower;
To “plant” in her hair
Like one floral Aloha Tower.
A case of Louis Vitton’s Clicquot
For Robert Cazimero;
Would fuel his club magic,
Make him a jolly good feller.
For Loretta Ables Sayre
A new restaurant-size oven
For her lavish cookie-fests
Which invitees are loving.
For Shari and Mary
Another Delightful TAG show;
A Broadway -Christmas menu
With the yuletide glow.
For Raiatea Helm
Christmas jazz now;
Jawaiian next?
Could be a wow!
For harmonic Na Leo
The three-gal act
New hits, new garb
Will bring chart life back.
For luminary opera star
Baritone Quinn Kelsey?
Old and new operas
And Met billing! What else-y?
A return path home
For star Martin Nievera;
If not now, or soon,
It just might be never.
For the TV-film community?
A flock of series and films.
It’s been frightfully dark
No jobs means the light dims.
A new isle TV script
For Daniel Dae Kim;
He could end the drought
Plus folks just love him.
For Jason Momoa
A new Hollywood flick;
Less history, more Aquaman
With a box office kick.
Plenty Niihau shells
For lei maker Kuana Torres Kahele;
For his pal Kealii Reichel
A stash of chants and new mele.
For Marlene Sai
The First Lady of Song?
A re-born “Waikiki”
Would rule the charts—strong!
For Chef Chai Chaowasaree
Something simple, just prayers;
His hasty exit to Thailand
Has worrisome layers.
For Lee Cataluna
Standing ovations galore;
Her plays are da kine fun
Her fame will soar, soar, soar.
For Amy Hanaiali‘i,
More theatrical creds;
As Pele in “Hi‘iaka”
She wowed ‘em, turned heads.
A fun ‘ukulele duel
With Shimabukuruo and Tolentino;
And a prize of golden strings
Plus a bottle of vino.
For Frank DeLima,
The Las Vegas retiree:
A frequent comic gig
Would be joyful. Whee!
Ho‘okena has welcomed
A new singing star;
Thus dancer Nani Dudoit
Merits a raise, or a new car?
Wonder why Olomana, Makaha Sons
Rarely perform here?
Waikiki’s simply not hiring
Pilikia, time to fear.
For Frances Kakugawa
An author-poet pal:
“Outhouse: 2, 3” sequels
Will surely chime like hell.
For Carole Kai Onouye,
The retired fundraising gal;
She oughtta pen an autobiography
With her star power, it’ll sell.
Dr. Glenn Medeiros
Turned author this year;
He’s a man for all seasons
Merely warrants a cheer!
New and treasured old recipes
For chef Alan Wong;
His presence at the Kahala
Will be expectedly strong.
And arigato to Roy Yamaguchi
Who always has a table;
But if by chance I can’t score one?
Robbyn Shim’s able.
For Sheila Donnely Theroux,
Good health, good cheer;
Her generosity’s unchallenged
So a toast… wine or beer!
A snow storm atop Mauna Kea
Would charm that Larrin dude Jay,
So order a blizzard, Lord,
On this Christmas day.
For Audy Kimura,
Kitty litter, dog food;
He’s the pet world’s best friend
And that’s pretty darn good.
For Kika Matsumoto
A kitty named Grizabella;
And partner with a kitty
Named Most Happy Fella.
And speaking of Kitty,
There’s one named Hello;
‘Tis reserved for Rick Ornellas
And cool like red Jello.
For Jonathan Masaki
Hawaii News Now’s traffic guy;
A huge walk-in closet
For his aloha shirts. Sigh!
And speaking of Guy,
Weather/”Cheap Eats” dude;
Hagi-san provides temperatures
But no “Cheap” costs. Rude?
Kudos to Greg Zane,
Actor-choreographer-director;
His MVT and DHT creds
Make him a true arts connector.
For ”Idol” Iam Tongi
A Grammy would be cool;
But Kalani Pe‘a’s absence
Would have to be the rule.
And finally, gratitude,
For you Mr. and Ms.
May your holiday be joyous…
And that’s Christmas Show Biz…