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Bruno Mars talks to ‘60 Minutes’ about childhood in Hawaii

Jason Genegabus
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COURTESY CBS

Bruno Mars, right, with CBS reporter Lara Logan at Paradise Park in Manoa Valley. The “24K Magic” singer lived in an abandoned building on park grounds with his father in the late 1990s.

Most Honolulu residents don’t think of Manoa Valley when it comes to the issue of homelessness. In the late 1990s, however, a teenage Bruno Mars called a rundown building at Paradise Park home.

Mars, who just released a new single, “24K Magic,” and announced plans for another world tour in 2017, talked about his childhood on Oahu in an interview set for broadcast Nov. 20 during “60 Minutes.”

Born Peter Hernandez, the 31-year-old was well-known locally as “Little Elvis” when he was young, having performed with his family in Waikiki before his parents’ divorce left Mars living out of the back of a limousine and on random Honolulu rooftops with his father before they discovered the Manoa hideout.

“The bed would be right there in the middle,” Mars told “60 Minutes” reporter Lara Logan during a segment filmed on location in Manoa. “We had each other and it never felt like it was the end of the world.”

Mars also said the experience helped instill a sense of determination to succeed in Hollywood as a recording artist.

“Maybe that’s why I have this mentality,” he said. “I know I’m going to figure … it out, just give me some time.”

“60 Minutes” airs at 6 p.m. Sundays in Hawaii on KGMB.

The Grammy Award-winning recording artist has already shared “24K Magic,” his upcoming album’s title track, as well as a follow-up single, “Versace on the Floor,” with fans. The complete “24K Magic” experience will be available for purchase on Nov. 18.

Mars’ 24K Magic World Tour 2017 will kick off March 28, 2017 in Belgium and will continue through Europe until June, when he’ll break for a month before resuming performances July 15 in Las Vegas. The tour will continue through the beginning of November, when Mars will wrap things up with four dates in Los Angeles.

At this point, no Hawaii concerts have been announced in conjunction with the new album.

9 responses to “Bruno Mars talks to ‘60 Minutes’ about childhood in Hawaii”

  1. allie says:

    So glad he made it. I hope he will help the homeless now.

    Love Lara logan..Intelligent, beautiful and fair.

  2. lokela says:

    Our own rags to riches story. Hope he is giving back some.

  3. awahana says:

    Stay strong and sober.

  4. Death_By_Snu_Snu says:

    Jerk didn’t even put Hawaii on his tour dates. Nice…

  5. residenttaxpayer says:

    I remember when he was charged with felony drug possession and was looking at some heavy time….lucky for him he got a plea deal and avoided prison time……

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