Retired sumo champ Konishiki headlines Blue Note Hawaii shows

Konishiki, the retired sumotori from Nanakuli, said his Samoan values helped him squash suicidal thoughts at a low point of his Japan wrestling career in the 1980s.

“My parents raised me right; they taught me how to listen, abide by whatever environment you’re in, and talked to me about respect,” said Konishiki, aka Saleva’a Atisanoe.

“My dad always told me, ‘Remember, when you go Japan, be as Japanese as you can. If you don’t, you don’t last.’ If you abide by the ‘rules,’ you survive. You have an opportunity, you take it, you make it work, you accept what comes with your choice. A guy who fights the system loses; you have to suck it up to win.”

He’s been sucking it up since entering the sumo stables in 1982, and emerged as the first Polynesian sumotori to earn “ozeki” status — the second-highest championship rating — in 1987.

“Sumo is all about respect, a sport that I could relate to because it really was Samoan style, too,” he said. He retired from sumo in 1997.

Konishiki sat down for an interview at a friend’s home earlier this month, chatting about his foundation rooted in his Samoan background, his sumo fame and his mounting entertainment career, which has taken a detour to his home state, where he makes his Blue Note Hawaii debut Wednesday.

Now 54, and tipping the scale at 440 pounds compared with his career-high of 633, Konishiki is ready to harmonize, rap, sing Hawaiian and Japanese melodies, interpret hapa-haole classics and even strum ukulele for his first-ever “public” show. He’ll perform again July 18 at the Blue Note club in Nagoya, Japan.

“Though I’ve given many performances before thousands,” Konishiki said, “I’ve never played for the public. Till now all my shows were for private corporate business groups or on Japan TV.”

His wife, Chie Iijima, will join him, and they’ll sing tunes off their latest collaborative album, “Colors.”

SUPPORT OF FAMILY

Depression and peer pressure contributed to his suicidal thoughts in the ’80s; he was targeted with intense media criticism, hazed by his sumo stable mates, suffered training injuries and faced demotion from his ozeki status.

Faith and his commitment to his heritage made him overcome his duress and get back on track.

“With Samoan upbringing your goal is always to help the family,” said Konishiki. “It’s a Polynesian thing; you support and help feed and provide for your family. For me this was never a struggle; it was a strength of my upbringing, the backbone of my success.”

Dad Lautoa Fuauli Atisanoe and mom Talafa’aiva Atisanoe instilled life lessons during Konishiki’s formative years and also supported his love of music and inherent talent to sing, compose and share his aloha.

He worked hard and long to secure his ranking, but he’s paid a price.

“In sumo you gotta win, physically and mentally,” he said. But it takes a toll on your body.

Early-on weightlifting has caused later-in-life hand cramps, affecting his ability to strum ukulele. He walks with a visible limp because he neglected earlier injuries, and now faces double knee surgeries later this year.

He had gastric bypass surgery several years ago, to lose his sumo-era weight.

“I try not to eat rice, but sushi … I love it,” Konishiki said.

PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

These days, Konishiki’s hair can be any color of the rainbow — yellow, blue, purple — depending on whim. On the day of this interview, it was pink, which he said jokingly “was supposed to be Tequila Sunrise, though it looks more like sunset now.”

Audiences in Japan — youngsters and adults alike — know him as Koni-chan, a nickname derived from his hosting of the Japanese kids’ TV show “Nihongo de Asobo,” where he gives lessons on Japanese language. The show reaches a global audience since it can be seen in foreign markets.

Besides recording a dozen CDs, including the newest, “Colors” (he also designed his wife’s kimono and the colorful suit seen on the CD cover), Koni-chan has been giving motivational speeches and taping commercial endorsements, adding to his fortunes and enabling him to build million-dollar homes in Japan and Nanakuli.

He worked hard and long for his success, so he basks in his rewards. “I came from nothing, but I’ve worked 100 percent to become something,” he said.

And these days, he said, his focus is on happiness.

“I love making people happy,” said Konishiki. “It’s always been my thing. It’s natural for me. That’s why I come (to Hawaii) often, to see my family.

“When people see me, they go crazy. They’re happy, too. And for the Japan people, to finally see me ‘live’ in Nagoya (at the Blue Note) in July — they’ll go crazy, too.”