Make a lei, wear a lei, give a lei!
That’s the May Day mantra, established some time ago by The Brothers Cazimero, when they made lei, donned lei, and shared lei to celebrate Lei Day.
Robert Uluwehionāpuaikawēkiuokalani Cazimero, the surviving brother, has been carrying on the tradition, and he’s assembling his usual roster of singers and hula dancers, to stage the Hawaiian Airlines May Day Concert, at 7 p.m. tomorrow (May 1) at the Great Lawn at Bishop Museum.
Show-goers will reflect a garden of blooms, wearing lei they’ve sewn, , they’ve purchased, or braided if it’s faux lei (hey, some are gorgeous!) The dude to look for on stage is entertainer and lei-maker extraordinare Kuana Torres Kahele, who grows flowers in his yard and creates the most exquisite lei imaginable. He’ll be in the cast, so zoom in on his superative leis.
Doors open at 5 p.m. for dinner and beverage service. VIP guests will be privy to premier seating and a Hawaiian meal curated by the Highway Inn restaurant, with service terminating at 7 p.m., when the show begins. VIPs will get a drink ticket, assigned to their table number, with a Hawaiian Air lei greeting upon arrival. Other amenities will be provided by participating sponsors. Hawaiian Host, Hawaiian pie Company, and NOHO Home.
Supplementary food vendors will provide additional cravings and drinks; outside food and beverages are not allowed, so leave your ice chests and munchies at home.
Led by Cazimero, the concert also features Keauhou, 19-time-Na Hoku Hanohano Award winners, and Cazimero’s Halau Na Kamalei O Lililehua, his dancing and singing corps of male hula dancers, which copped laurels at last week’s Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, including Kane Overall Winner, Kane Kahiko Winner and Kane ‘Auana Winner.
Keauhou’s Zach Lum is hosting the event, and will be joined by fellow group members Nick Lum (Zach’s brother) and Jonah Solatorio.
Other participants include Kaipo Hale, the aforementioned Kuana Torres Kahele, Keola Maka’iau, Gunnie Hanzawa, the Ladies of the Royal Dance Company and co-hosts Billy V (TV host) and Debbie Nakanelua-Richards (director of community and cultural relations at title sponsors Hawaiian Airlines).
Expect a few surprises, too.
The Hawaiian Airlines May Day concert will be broadcast live on mele.com and KFVE. Those attending the show – and others unable to be at the live performance — may watch the telecast afterwards via abroadcast-on-demand on mele.com
Tickets: visit mele.com …
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Kalani Pea’s May Day will be belated
Kalani Pe‘a, three-time Grammy Award winner, will stage his May Day concert belatedly, at 6 p.m. Saturday (May 3) at the Hawaii Theatre. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Guest artists include Sean Na‘auao, Sonny Ching, Lopaka Igarta-De Vera. Ka‘ilihiwa Vaughn-Darval, Kau‘I Kamana‘o, Kunewa Mook, Shelsea Lilia Ai, Carolee Nishi, Krystal Yamamura, Antonio “Akoni” Robles and five hula halau. Mele Apana will host.
Tickets $57.50 to $162.50, at www.hawaiitheatre.com
And that’s Show Biz…