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Andy Bumatai, Hawaii’s favorite stand-up comedian, turns 65 on Christmas Eve, but will celebrate a day earlier, at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Dec. 23 at Blue Note Hawaii. The shows also marks his 40th anniversary in island show biz.
“I’ve applied for and was approved for Social Security,” he said, officially acknowledging his status as a senior citizen. “The Medicare part is still in flux; it’s an odd sort of process because a lot of it has to do with how long you’re going to live. So I’m letting my wife place that bet, because it won’t affect me. So weird, to have to think like that.”
You’ll recall, Bumatai has been battling throat cancer and, happily, he’s been been beating the odds. It’s been his shtick on stage — serious, but he certainly knows how to get laughs discussing his plight.
“So far, so good,” he said. “The problem is I’m so happy to be alive, it hurt my stand-up because my pain threshold is so high now, nothing bothers me enough to complain about on stage. Kind of like raising teenagers.”
So what’s his birthday wish this year?
“To have the re-do on my ‘Toolin’ Around’ TV show (which starts at 7 p.m. Jan. 1, recurring Tuesdays, on KFVE) be successful and be able to pay my bills,” said Bumatai. “It’s been a struggle to dig out of the ‘being sick’ hole. Like I say in my act, ‘Cancer is an expensive hobby’ … and I thought motorcycles were bad.”
On a broader note, what does he wish for the world?
“I think you have to be what you want to see, so I’m working on looking at people without an on/off switch in my hand,” he said. “As a result, I find myself getting along with people who I could not disagree with more on certain things. So many people are so set in their thinking, they don’t realize lines drawn in the sand, ‘us-against-them’ thinking, or anything that divides people, hurts both sides. I haven’t got this wired, but I’m working on it. I don’t believe I can change the world, but I can change myself.” …
Cathy Tanaka will be Bumatai’s opening act at Blue Note. Tickets: $25-$45, at 777-4890. …
SEGUNDO TO SACRAMENTO
Beginning Jan. 19, Jordan Segundo will be on the air in Sacramento, Calif., taking over as weather anchor on station KOVR and as anchor and reporter on KMAX’s “Good Day Sacramento.” Both are CBS stations.
Segundo was Hawaii’s first “American Idol” finalist, appearing on the Fox singing competition in 2003; he since has filled news and weather roles locally on KHON and KITV. His last day on KITV will be Jan. 6.
In Sacramento, he’ll do the weather from 5 to 7 a.m. weekdays, then join the flagship KMAX wake-up show from 7:30 to 10 a.m.
“Hawaii will always have a special place in my heart; it will always be my home,” said Segundo. “I am excited for this next step in my journey, and I look forward to sharing my Hawaii values and the spirit of aloha with the people of Sacramento and where I may go in my career.” …
MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
Roy Sakuma, the founder of Roy Sakuma Ukulele Studios, the haven for ukulele pupils of all ages, has evolved into a motivational speaker, at first visiting schools on Oahu.
He will fly to Lanai for a session Dec. 20 to chat with residents there.
“A trip to Molokai was awesome,” said Sakuma. “I was struggling with my voice and was concerned if my voice could hold up. My voice got stronger on my second talk (he did four on a recent Monday, for elementary-, middle- and high- schoolers) and continued to get stronger. At the end of each presentation, many students came up to get a hug!”
His sessions cover love, honesty and hope, embracing reflections from his life. In schools, he frequently sings his “I Am What I Am” song that capsulizes his outlook. …
And that’s “Show Biz.”
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com.
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