Category: Updates

Robert Cazimero delivered the first half of “My Hawaiian Souvenirs,” his 50-years-strong memory of hula and mele, last night (Oct. 11) at the Leeward Community College Theatre.

Laden with beaucoup recollections of his life as a student in hula, then a kumu hula, and finally an award-winning leader and mentor of hula of Halau Na Kamalei O Lililelehua,  the evening was not long enough to share his abundant artistry of hula. So, a second installment will be staged at 2 p.m. today (Oct. 12), with the troupes again assembling at Leeward, continuing with a focus and emphasis hula kahiko.

In typical Cazimero fashion, part one – rendered in four quarters of style-sharing –was  visually minimalist, with only one visible prop element: an oversized hanging of windows which he symbolically “opened” to acknowledge the myriad of melodies and dances in his treasure chest of souvenirs.

Of course, a journey like this embodied tales and tunes of family in Kohala, embracing the remember-when theme with landmark songs including “Maika‘i Ka Makani O Kohala,” “Alohe E Kohala,” “Nani ‘A‘ala Wale, and “Ho ‘oi Hou Kanani Ia Mahikona.”  A particularly engaging tune was the non-Hawaiian “Only You,” with tapped personal remarks and admiration of his mama and papa.

Naturally, the gents of Na Kamalei – superb dancers and vocalists, some young, others elders  – provided the fabric and finesse in the reflections. Kumu Caz affectionally calls ‘em “Bob’s Boys,” and their syncopation and harmonics elevated appeal to such numbers as “Henehene Kou Aka,” “Nani Waimea,” “Pu‘u wa‘awa‘a”  and “Huapala Maka Onaona.”

After intermission, the second act began with an in-front-the-curtain chant featuring kumu hula Hinaleimoana Wong Kalu and a vigorous halau chant, a prelude to an expansive series of Na Kamalei “moments” with historic halau melodies attached to new hula classes (“Kalakaua He Inoa”). A stroll down memory lane —  oli  with the pahu  (drums) rendered by Carl Veto Baker and Manu Boyd – also dusted off titles like “Kaulilua,” “Mai Ta Pouli” and “Halau Hanalei.”

The comebackers, a handful of dancers who returned from the past, included Gunnie on “Ke Pi‘ina” and Babooze on “Pohuehue,”  which raised the nostalgia level quite a bit.

Every Na Kamalei event showcases stylish hula garb; in this outing, the primary gear included modern orange/red aloha shirt. The traditional ti leaf skirts were eye-filling as they swished and swayed during the hula, especially the ones with layers of dark green ti.

Hefty ti-leaf skirts highlight one kahiko number.

And on a  hula kahiko number, with a few dancers, one outfit  featured a sexy modern costume with see-through fabric. Indeed, there’s always been a yesterday, a today, and a tomorrow in a Na Kamalei show. Let’s see what today’s will offer.

And that’s Show Biz…

If you have had to replace a problematic and fading refrigerator in your kitchen, you must know that this is one of life’s most challenging inconveniences. Timing matters.

We did. With good timing.

Our trusty Kenmore conked out last Friday, with the freezer losing its chill. Two days later, the refrigerator also was silently on its last leg.

So, we had to quickly secure a replacement. But not before getting our largest cooler chest out, and  buying bags of ice, to protect and chill the salvageable items in both the freezer and the refrigerator. For backup, we also purchased a new Igloo chest from Costco.

We learned these tricks early on; you need backup when the icemaker stops making ice and then takes a chilly final breath to halt the freezer. The ice cream and frozen saimin had to be scrapped, but frozen salmon was among the items saved.

But what a task it is to find a fridge you like; ours was a 33-inch-wide model, and many are 36-inches. The height was not an issue – we had a few inches to spare at the top of the old model.

Anyway, Vi and I went to Iwilei to seek out  the obvious possibilities at both Home Depot and Lowe’s.

The initial visit was at Home Depot. We found the exact Whirlpool we wanted, a two-door floor model, which had the innards that were familiar to us: icemaker on the left, generous plastic shelves on the refrigerator side. Thinking we’d buy this appliance, we didn’t anticipate the hurdle: when the salesperson checked the inventory in store’s warehouse, there was, indeed, the model we sought. The catch: we’d have to wait till the end of October for delivery. He double-checked, and said the fridge would not be available till  December. Not good. Very bad, actually.

Then we tried Lowe’s, and the problem was similar. If they had it, the delivery date is the problem. When the fridge is on the fritz, you need to get a new one delivered in a day or two or three.

The sales guy at Home Depot told us to snap a photo of the Whirlpool item we were looking for, and inquire at Pacific Appliance, a new dealer in town, on King Street opposite Washington Middle School. On Sunday, we visited this store – which sells not just fridges but stoves and other kitchen appliances.

The saleslady saw the fridge photo and checked her inventory, and yippee, she had one in stock in their Waipahu warehouse. Because Pacific Appliance was a newbie in Honolulu and not part of a big-box chain store like Home Depot and Lowe’s, its price was a couple of hundred dollars more than the one being held hostage in a similar Waipahu warehouse. Delivery could be done in three days (this morning today, Wednesday), an agreeable timetable.

We should have tried Costco in Hawaii Kai, but we’re thrilled to do business with a fresh resource in Hawaii, whose delivery schedule is possibly the best in town.

In retrospect, timing was part of the solution. We had  called our warranty resource to arrange a Mr. Fixit to check out the dying appliance, and the visit (which we canceled) was to have been today (Wednesday), too. But realistically, it was time to get acquainted with a new fridge; we hope Whirly will have a smooth, long life of good service. So welcome, welcome, dear Whirly; hope you’re happy in your new home.

I’m sipping ice water as I write this piece; the ice is from the bags of ice Vi has been purchasing since Saturday. A small ice cooler, suitable for a picnic for two, was under our sink for ages, so I’ve been filling it with remnant ice and it’s been my ice water source all day. Whirly should be in full work mode overnight.