Seems like the wearing of face masks in Hawaii is a no-brainer – science shows it shields you from catching the virus, or spreading it if you’re infected.
Masking/vaxxing: Still an issue?
Sadly, amid rising COVID-19 stats, this mask thing continues to be an issue to discuss. Seems the delta variant – more devastating, if you catch it — is a major player in the new, mounting wave of COVID deaths.
A local expert predicts that the pandemic will around for two more years. Will the unvaccinated souls be around then? Remember, there’s a segment of folks who say that the right to say no to the shot is a matter of choice; that it shouldn’t be a mandate to wear it under specific circumstance
Getting vaccinated hasn’t yet reached the state’s goal of 70 per cent (stalled at 60+ per cent) and continues to be a challenge.
So is vaxxing still an issue? Will we ever see the light at the end of the tunnel?
Yes, there’s still resistance, in pockets of the community, where some won’t roll up sleeves to get the free shots for a variety of dubious reasons. Religious beliefs. Personal rights. Nixing the vaxx that Democrats are pushing, even though the GOP got the ball rolling an administration ago.
Among the naysayers, it’s their freedom to be mask-free or unvaxxed.
That’s one of the reasons why Frank DeLima has once more been tapped to non-vaxxers to get that shot.
Further: the lieutenant governor has been contemplating a possible lockdown again – remember those horrid times – as hospitals are running out of patient beds, covid numbers surging.
The bottom line: About 95 per cent of recent COVID deaths are folks who weren’t vaxxed. Consequently, does this make any sense to pass on the shot?
Get one, if you haven’t; it’s protection for you, your family, and others.
Keali‘i Reichel will bring his legendary award-winning mele and hula to Blue Note Hawaii in a six-show, four-night engagement at Blue Note Hawaii at the Outrigger Waikiki resort in November.
Reichel is a prolific and inspirational kumu hula, who also is a dancer, director, choreographer, singer and recording artist known for his exquisite storytelling music and his vast knowledge of Hawaiiana. His newest wrinkle is a link to the ‘aina and Halau Ke‘alaokamaile and Friends.
Performances will be at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Nov. 18 and 20 and 8 p.m. Nov. 19 and 21, and will include both traditional and contemporary mele and hula featuring Halau Ke‘alaokamaile and Friends.
The event will benefit the Maui-based hula halau, whose mission is to perpetuate the Hawaiian tradition, culture and heritage through its arts, beliefs, dance, language, and agriculture. The contention is that there is a strong connection to the ‘aina, an essential link to the hula tradition.
Keali’ i Reichel will give six shows over four nights at Blue Note Hawaii.
To that end, Halau Ke‘alaokamaile and Hokunui Farms LLC are establishing the Halau Ke‘alaokamaile Resource Center, the first halau facility permitted to operate on agricultural land on Maui.
Under the tutelage of kumu Reichel, the halau already conducts five hula classes each week and anticipates expanding the riches of cultural programming including music and language instruction.
Halau Ke’alaokamaile will provide hula when Reichel revisits Blue Note.
Further, three grants have been awarded to Halau Ke‘alaokamaile to implement agroforestry programs as they relate to Hawaiian culture and hula:
A two-year Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) grant of $250,000 to plant and maintain a six-acre native habitat which restores the endemic forest, enhances the watershed, perpetuates cultural practices and creates a template for sustainable agroforestry.
A three-year USDA Beginner Farmers and Ranchers grant of $750,000 to enhance the success of Native Hawaiian agroforesters by increasing economic opportunity, food security and the cultural connection to the forest through traditional Hawaiian protocols.
A three-year Administration for Native Americans grant of $850,000 to perpetuate Native Hawaiian cultural practices through native plants.
The enterprising partnership between cultural and historical practitioners with agencies providing funds to enable fulfill the vision of saving tradition with contemporary vision, appears to be a model for the future. …
Presale ticket sales begin today (Aug. 18), with general public reservations beginning Friday (Aug. 20). But it won’t be cheap; premium seats are $125, loge and bar seats are $85. Use pre-sale code PUNAHELE for ticket access. Details at www.bluenotehawaii.com
Ballet Hawaii moving the barre
Ballet Hawaii, which has been temporarily ensconced at the Hawaii Suites at Blaisdell Center, is relocating its offices and studio to Dole Cannery in Iwilei. It will be located at second floor facilities above the Regal movie theaters, at the mauka end of the film screens.
The move will still be temporary, as a search continues for more permanent quarters, but the relocation – no date has been announced – will be kind of a homecoming for the ballet pupils and teachers in a new partnership with Castle & Cooke. Several decades ago, however, Ballet Hawaii conducted dance classes in quarters in the old cannery facilities in Iwilei.
Since the pandemic lockdown of 2020, much has happened to Streetlight Cadence. The music foursome whose artistry has Hawaiian roots will be back onstage this week for a gig at Blue Note Hawaii (6:30 and 9 p.m. Saturday Aug. 21).
For starters: After a six-year residency in Los Angeles, they’ve split – that is to say, two of the guys (Jesse Shiroma, accordionist, and Brian Webb, cellist) now live in Honolulu, while the other two (Ben Chai, guitarist and drummer, in Houston, and Jonathon Franklin, violinist, in Los Angeles) now are mainlanders.
Left to right: Brian Webb, Jesse Shiroma, Jonathon Franklin, Ben Chai.
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“COVID-19 changed everything,” said Franklin. “For the first time in our history, we didn’t have any gigs. Our tours were cancelled, our income was gone, and we decided to spend our time closer to our families. We’re at a point in our career that the tours – when they happen again –fly us all in from all over the country. This tour back to Oahu is hopefully the restart of all that we have been missing.”
“We made a lot of friends and really had some awesome experiences in L.A.,” said Chai. “But the pandemic gave us some time to think about how we would grow in the future – and geographically, it helps to have multiple home bases when you’re mostly touring.”
We conducted an email interview with Franklin and Chai, and curiously but not surprisingly, the ongoing coronavirus issues have influenced and altered the way the Streetlighters operate and survive, the pair said. On a grand scale, the multi-city residency format is a combination of social distancing and virtual planning, which has some pros and some cons.
Indeed, the cadence has changed for the combo that brought delight and joy to early fans that enjoyed their street harmonies. Hence, the Streetlight Cadence name.
“There’s clearly some advantages and disadvantages to working remotely,” said Franklin. “There’s more planning and organization required, but it has given us a new level of freedom and technical proficiency in production and recording since that is the only way to communicate our new music ideas while we’re apart.”
Said Chai:“We’ve always been pretty good at delegating, and honestly it just makes it so much nicer when we do get to be together in the same room.”
The splintered residency also meant that Streetlight Cadence – and its alt-folk-pop musical strokes – had to modify and enlarge plans with expansive traveling and tours.
“We are aiming bigger than ever,” said Franklin. “Before, we could all drive to 90 per cent of our gigs in L.A. Now every gig needs to justify flying at least half of us across the ocean. Bigger shows, bigger events, bigger tours and tighter schedules are the new way to play. So we’re going big.”
The template to relaunch includes a new booking agent, Ed Keane and Associates, with visions of jumpstarting performances at festivals, performing arts centers and nightclubs when the marketplace welcomes back such activities.
Of course, the plan mandates prioritizing and focusing. “We’re now more focused than ever on creating a solid and spectacular experience for anyone who comes to our shows,” said Chai. “If you buy a ticket to see us, you deserve a great concert. We make the most of our time together, and work during our time apart to ensure the best use of that time.”
Other Streetlight thoughts:
Health concerns govern how they do their gigs.”We are all hyper health-conscious these days,” said Franklin. “Our health and the health of our fans take priority over us performing live; when there’s a chance (to perform with health protocols), we jump at the opportunity.”
Down time activities – “Ben’s learning the banjo,” said Franklin. “Brian is starting a solo project. And I’ve been on an extended surf trip up the West Coast.” Said Chai: “Jesse’s really dived deep into the world of vinyl, and his musical knowledge and depth really just amazes me,”
Family ties – “Ben had his second child during the pandemic,” said Franklin. “We’re incredibly fortunate to have support at home and we’re looking forward to traveling with new members of the band.” Said Chai: “I did have a second child haha! Our families really hold down the fort when we’re on the road – but I can’t wait to have a ‘family bus’ come with us someday!”
Less is more – With roots in busking, here and elsewhere, Streetlight Cadence has reduced but not eliminated street singing. “Street performing is now just something we do for fun to connect with our fans or for our own nostalgia,” said Franklin. “I will say I saw a street performer a few weeks ago, and I was overwhelmed with emotion. I’m gonna guess there are many who miss live music as much as I do.”
Frank DeLima is back in the parody lane, rendering “Poki Poki” (inspired by the Hokey Pokey song of yesteryear) to encourage the unvaccinated to get vaxxed.
Frank DeLima
It’s all quite simple: You put your left arm out, and you can get vaccinated, to help combat growing COVID numbers.
The promotional video is backed by the state Department of Health, who has tapped comedian DeLima in earlier pandemic pitches.
To see the video, go to my Facebook page or visit frankdelima.com
And yep, you may win prizes once you’re vaxxed. So what are ya waiting for?
Note: this is not the usual Show Biz column; this one is a snapshot of a milestone birthday and celebration.—W.H.
You can’t ignore an 80th birthday. Truly.
So instead of a customary to-do with family, and despite the wavering cloud of COVID-19, my wife Vi and I invited two couples — pals Jack and Cha Thompson and Rick Ornellas and Vicki Borges – to mark the milestone new decade of my existence.
Roy’s Hawaii Kai was the destination – our favorite “hometown” fine dining joint, after all – and it was a blast.
It was to be a no-gift occasion with the Haradas footing the bill, but my friends are generous but don’t listen: so they separately presented gift cards ($80 plus a movie gift card, from the Thompsons, and $81 from Rick and Vicki, with the extra $ likely a token for good luck), but don’t chuckle. They know me: Zippy’s also is my neighborhood go-to place for take-out, with the Kahala site for dine-in since the Hawaii Kai restaurant is not yet open to welcome area visitors, apparently because of lease rate issues.
The Chow Hounds, front: Vicki, Rick and Cha; rear, Jack, Vi and Wayne
The gathering of three couples was also significant, marking the formal assembling of the Chow Hounds club, with Vicki and Ricky as newbies. We officially welcomed the new members of this cluster of foodies who enjoy regular outings of great food, wine, and, yes, margaritas.
The Chow Hounds lapel pin
Misoyaki butterfish entree.
I made “Chow Hounds” lapel pins for everyone to wear, to acknowledge that this club will engage in more restaurant visits with a measure of practical frequency. So cheers!
For the record, three of us ordered Roy’s fabled misoyaki butterfish. My fave.
Birthday dessert
To award-winning chef Roy Yamaguchi, arigato for the pupus and dessert, and a hearty hurrah for the traffic of diners, inside the restaurant, in the party room, and in the downstairs bar area, and outside in a rousing, clustery certification that Roy’s is back with a wave of regulars.
Gomen, for occupying Table 1 for three hours; so much fun and fellowship. Be advised: we’ll return for another festive and ono evening…
