Comedian’s legacy shown in Reiplinger TV special

By Ben Wood

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Nov 18, 2011

~~<p>WHEN Rap Reiplinger’s body was found in Maunawili in 1984, a victim of substance abuse at only 33, my sadness was mixed with anger. Not only did the great comedian die, but all of the marvelous characters he created and those he would have developed died with him. Producer Phil Arnone gave us another look at Rap’s characters last Sunday on KHNL in “Rap — Hawaii’s Comic Genius.” He was a genius. My favorite Rap routines were “Aunty Marialani’s Cooking Show” and the love ballad he sings to Fate Yanagi. Rap’s childhood, when he performed at home, in school shows or with his Hawaiian musical family, was covered. The success of Booga Booga, the comedy trio of Rap, James Benton and Ed Ka‘ahea, was well handled by surviving member Ed. Rap’s widow, Leesa Clark Stone, was important in the program. A DVD of the show has been released by Jon de Mello’s Mountain Apple Co. KGMB will repeat the program on Thanksgiving at 7 p.m. Don’t miss it …</p>
<p><img align="right" border="0" style="padding-left: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;" alt="" src="http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/20111118_fea_woodmug.jpg" /></p>
~~

WHEN Rap Reiplinger’s body was found in Maunawili in 1984, a victim of substance abuse at only 33, my sadness was mixed with anger. Not only did the great comedian die, but all of the marvelous characters he created and those he would have developed died with him. Producer Phil Arnone gave us another look at Rap’s characters last Sunday on KHNL in “Rap — Hawaii’s Comic Genius.” He was a genius. My favorite Rap routines were “Aunty Marialani’s Cooking Show” and the love ballad he sings to Fate Yanagi. Rap’s childhood, when he performed at home, in school shows or with his Hawaiian musical family, was covered. The success of Booga Booga, the comedy trio of Rap, James Benton and Ed Ka‘ahea, was well handled by surviving member Ed. Rap’s widow, Leesa Clark Stone, was important in the program. A DVD of the show has been released by Jon de Mello’s Mountain Apple Co. KGMB will repeat the program on Thanksgiving at 7 p.m. Don’t miss it …