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‘TUTU’ TUNE: AN HOMAGE TO KUPUNA

Veteran island entertainers Gail Mack and Brickwood Galuteria have collaborated on a melodic and charming mele entitled “My Tūtū and Me,” which is an homage to the bond between kūpuna and their moʻopuna.

Kūpuna, Hawaiian for grandparents, often are domestic first-responders, caring for their moʻopuna, Hawaiian for grandchildren. In many homes and lives, there’s customarily a warm bond between grandpa and/or grandma and the grandkids, so this song magnifies the magical relationship between elders and keiki.

Galuteria (pictured left) currently  a trustee with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, composed “My Tūtū and Me,” which he produced with Kūpuna Power. Galuteria has been a long-time radio and television personality, a musician, a songwriter, and a former state senator.

“My Tūtū and Me,” featuring the voice of Mack (pictured right) was inspired by the Partners in Development Foundation’s “Tūtū and Me” traveling school. Mack is widely known as a member of George Street, and is annually heard on radio performing her yuletide hit, “

“Christmas Once More in Hawaii.”

“Grandparents offer their grandchildren love, acceptance, patience, stability, wisdom, fun, and support, which positively affects a child’s well-being,” said Galuteria. “This song is dedicated to grandparents and grandchildren throughout Hawaii and beyond.”

The special relationship between grandparents and grandchildren “is like a beautiful friendship that defies age and generations,” said Galuteria.

Mack added, “It’s such a nice message and for  a good cause.”  

“The sacred connection between kūpuna and moʻopuna is a gift that brings so much joy and insight to both young and old, creating heartfelt memories that last a lifetime,” said Shawn Kanaʻiaupuni, who is president and CEO of Partners in Development Foundation.
Clearly, the new song likely will connect and reverberate  with preschoolers impacted by the ongoing work of the foundation.

Sheet music of “Tūtū and Me” song and lyrics.

The Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool serves Native Hawaiian families with keiki ages from birth to age 5 in underserved communities on the five major islands of Hawaii. The program strives to meet a family’s educational and emotional needs so keiki will enter school ready to learn and succeed.

“It’s such a nice message and for a good cause,” said Mack of the music and the mission of the foundation.

It’s also the perfect song for Grandparents Day, which is Sept. 8 this year.

Mack, who has been performing at Mango Street Grill in Wahiawa with Gordon Kim, reports that after 43 years together, Kim has retired from live performances. “He’s had problems with arthritis in his fingers for a while and feels he can’t play his guitar up to the standards he would like.”

Kim bowed out in December but plans to continue writing music. “Very sad for me,” said Mack…

And that’s Show Biz…

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HEALTH NOTES: POST-SURGERY GAINS

Today marks a health milestone for me. On Jan. 5, I was hospitalized to have my gall bladder removed, because It was a problematic organ that earlier sent me to the Queen’s Medical Center for two weeks last August.

So: I’m on the road to recovery, but not without challenges. In August, I left the hospital with a walker, a device that has given me support in walking. Post-surgery after the bladder removal, I still rely on the walker to navigate treks to the doctor, the post office, Longs, and a few nighttime plays.

But I’ve been very fortunate the past few weeks.

I signed up for interim physical therapy to strengthen my legs. Learned some worthy exercises that are doable at home.

I’ve not experienced what my from friends who had their gall bladders removed warned me about: the runs and/or constipation.

I’ve lost weight during hospitalization, to 186 lbs; weighed myself this morning, and I was 179. At my heaviest, I was 225.

My diet was rigid, initially — beef and/or chicken broth with soda crackers for a few days after surgery. I’ve been slowly adjusting and graduating to real food in the past month:

— Breakfast now includes oatmeal, toast, frozen waffles, croissants, naan bread, with margarine, jelly, jams or syrups.

— Lunch includes canned veggie or chicken soups, turkey or tuna sandwiches, and sushi. Occasionally, saimin.

— Dinner includes rice, chazuke, grilled salmon, pasta, salads, corn, beets, udon, and cheated once with tempura.

— Dessert includes Jell-O, pineapple slices, mandarin oranges, and – a recent treat – Haulolo (a combo of haupia with kulolo).

–Snacks include apple sauce (included seasoned versions with other fruit), bananas, apples, oranges, pears, wheat thins.

I still can’t have beef, milk products like ice cream, yogurt, fried foods like fried chicken, processed food like hot dogs and Vienna sausages, fatty food like bacon and Spam. And bakery desserts.

Yes, I miss Zippy’s fried chicken, and apple fritters, and Spam musubi,

Perhaps someday, but not yet. Have an appointment with my primary physician this week, and with my surgeon in two weeks, so I have lots to discuss.

To those who sent wellness thoughts and prayers my way, mahalo plenty.

So the journey continues. Sharing my experience to perhaps help others in the same boat. Recovery is a day-by-day process, so thanks for making my days worth living for.

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HULA SHOW: HISTORY REPEATING

Something old is new again.

Several generations ago, the Kodak Hula Show was a must-see, must-do freebie attraction for tourists at the amphitheater adjoining the Waikiki Shell. The sponsor for 65 years  (from 1937 to 2002) was Kodak, the film- and camera-making company, which logically presented a mid-day hula attraction for visitors to catch a “Kodak” moment.

Remember, back then, when everyone eager to shoot photos needed a camera, plus film, making Kodak a logical player in this endeavor. When Kodak shut down, so did the hula show.

But nowadays, few tote a camera when taking pictures; an iPhone has become the camera of choice. And a new edition of the milestone hula show is expected to attract a new generation of fans, beginning Feb. 15, at the same amphitheater of the renamed Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell, staged by the non-profit Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement., in partnership with the City and County of Honolulu.

Hooray, history is repeating itself, and for the better. The show will be staged from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays, with veteran announcer Kimo Kahoano as host. He was the emcee of the original show in its later years.

Producers are CNHA and Roy Tokujo of Hawai‘i Entertainment Productions; Kipe Ebana will co-direct with Nā Kumu Hula  and Merrie Monarch winners Tracie and Keawe Lopes.

The show will embrace traditional and new mele that honor Waikīkī, featuring hula dancers from six award-winning hālau from across the state. And the historic cut-out letters will be returning, too, an update of the photo-moments of yesteryear.

Surely, there will be some fresh faces and newbies amid the cast. Perhaps a couple of recognizable tutu and kupuna types would embellish the roster and find appeal for the visitors. One name that ought to be considered, who brings a lot of personality, vocal dynamics and even humor to the plate, is Karen Keawehawai‘i. Just an opinion, from this corner. …

A touch of Hawaiiana at the Grammys

Island performers Kawika Kahiapo and Bobby Moderow are participating in a Grammys weekend showcase that began yesterday (Feb. 1) and continues today (Feb. 2) and tomorrow (Feb. 3) at Duke’s restaurants in  Southern California.

Kawika Kahiapo and Bobby Moderow

The events are a benefit for the Grammy Museum and TS Restaurants’ Legacy of Aloha. TS Restaurants operates Duke’s in Waikiki and the participating L.A. sites.

Yesterday’s event was at Duke’s Malibu, where Kainani Kahaunaele was guest performer.

Today’s show, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Duke’s Huntington Beach, and tomorrow’s, from 4 to 6 p.m., will be at Duke’s La Jolla.

Entrepreneur Alan Yamamoto organized the gigs…

‘Hamilton’ regains No. 1 slot

“Hamiton,”Lin-Manuel Miranda’s mega-hit, has bounced back to reclaim the No. 1 slot of Broadway grosses. It was a pioneering production that reigned as the enduring and first $1 million dollar attraction, and for a spell, was also a regular $2 million dollar blockbuster.

The Top 10:

1 –”Hamilton,” $1,725 million

2 –“The Lion King,” $1,1701 million

3—“Wicked,” $,163 million

4—”Merrily We Roll Along,” $1,598 million

5—”MJ The Musical,” $1,349 million

6—“Gutenberg! The Musical!,” $1,462 million

 7—“Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” $1,120 million

8—“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” $1,145 million

 9— “Aladdin,” $1,120 million

10—”& Juliet,” $1,058 million

The complete list of grosses, courtesy the Broadway Guild:

And that’s Show Biz…

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HAUPIA + KULOLO = HAULOLO PUDDING

If you like haupia and kulolo, two popular Hawaiian desserts, you should enjoy the hybrid product called Haulolo, produced by a Kailua company and sold locally in select stores. I have some reservations, however.

The “hau” refers to haupia, the pudding-like white treat made from coconut milk. The “lolo” refers to kulolo, the healthy and tasty purple-ish dessert made from taro.

I found and bought the Haulolo at Foodland Farms. Times Supermarkets should have it, too, and perhaps a few 7-Elevens. You’ll find it where poi, the Hawaiian staple, is sold in a refrigerated  (not freezer) shelf.  At Foodland, seek Haulolo next to the poke counter.

So, how’s the taste? Sweet and  delightful. But you’ll find more haupia than kulolo, and the kulolo sticks to the bottom of the plastic bento-type tray, and there’s perhaps a quarter inch of the purple treat, beneath about an inch of haupia. When you cut the product, you can’t get the kulolo to stay  ‘neath the  haupia, so I spooned the kulolo and placed it atop the white haupia. In the accompanying photo, you’ll see traces of kulolo on top of the haupia — not pretty, but it (sorta) works.

 It’s a bit messy to serve, but it’s ono –  too bad the kulolo can’t be firmer to serve as a crust…like a graham cracker bottom of a chocolate pudding pie. Perhaps the better notion would be to purchase haupia and kulollo separately, in portions to your liking.

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SHARI LYNN: ACTING SKILLS, STORYTELLING THRILLS

Vocalist Shari Lynn, whose artistry embraces a wide spectrum of musical styles, shared a mixed bag of gems last night (Jan. 27) at the Paradise Lounge of the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Backed by keyboarder Jim Howard, Shari embraced pop hits (The Beatles’ “In My Life” and Mary Hopkins’ “Those Were the Days”), bluesy ballads (Robert Flack’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”), a parody (Steven Sondheim’s “The Boy From,” with Hispanic hilarity) infusing her acting skills and storytelling thrill in the process.

 Natch, there were selections from the Great American Songbook and Broadway ditties. Alas, this was her closing night, as the Hilton is terminating its jazz-flavored format  in favor of relaunching Hawaiian music in the venue. An ending means a new beginning; Shari anticipates returning March 2 to Medici’s at Manoa Marketplace, with Howard and bassist John Kolivas.  Wherever she goes, her flock follow.