Hawaiian music legend Palani Vaughan died of natural causes, according to the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office.
Vaughan, 72, died Dec. 8 from a heart complication called amyloidosis, a condition of abnormal protein buildup that affects the function of organs.
He is best known for his four-album series honoring King David Kalakaua that portrayed Kalakaua’s commitment to perpetuate traditional Hawaiian culture.
In 1978, he won the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards’ Best Traditional Album and Best Produced recording and was honored in 1981 as Male Vocalist of the Year.
In 2006, Vaughan was honored with the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts Lifetime Achievement Award.
Comedian Barr headed to Blue Note Hawaii
Roseanne Barr, the comedian who brought a distinctive working-class sensibility to standup and TV sitcom humor, will take the Blue Note Hawaii stage in April, launching a new comedy series at the club.
Barr was due to perform in November, but she broke her leg days before the show and had to cancel. She will now perform April 8 and 9, with one show each night. Tickets for her November appearances will be honored and additional tickets go on sale at 10:30 a.m. today at bluenotehawaii.com.
Barr established her reputation in standup as a harried housewife and went on to star in the groundbreaking TV show “Roseanne,” which portrayed a working-class Illinois family and aired from 1988 to 1997.
Her appearance launches a new comedy series scheduled for Blue Note Hawaii. “The club has the perfect setup and vibe for comedy,” said club owner Steven Bensusan.
Other comedians coming to the Blue Note are Lebanese comedian Nemr Nassar on April 26, TV sitcom star Steve Byrne on July 12, Egyptian-born comic Ahmed Ahmed on July 19, and Las Vegas headliner Rita Rudner on July 29.
HAWAII ISLAND
Police are still seeking leads on unsolved murder from 1997
Hawaii island police are renewing their appeal to the public for information on a 1997 unsolved murder.
The body of Sean Burgado, 27, was discovered on May 21, 1997, at his Malaai Road home in upper Waiakea Uka. An autopsy determined he died from a gunshot wound to his chest. Police said his death was ruled a homicide.
According to the Hawaii Police Department, Burgado failed to show up for work for several days and his employer called an acquaintance to check on him.
Burgado, who worked at a health care facility, was last seen on the night of May 19 when he left the facility at the end of his shift.
Anyone with information on the unsolved murder is asked to call Detective Derek Morimoto at 961-2380 or email derek.morimoto@hawaiicounty.gov, or call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300.
