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The musical duo Hapa is in yet another evolutionary phase of change. Founding member Barry Flan a gan has a new musical sidekick, Ron Kua la’au, whose 30-year friendship with Flan a gan led to the updated musical partnership. Kua la’au replaces Nathan Aweau, who followed original member Keli’i Kane alii.
Hapa, formed on Maui in 1983, will be the first island act playing itself when the duo makes an appearance in the April 11 "Hawaii Five-0." In the scene, Cha Thompson introduces Hapa — as Hapa — in a show-closing beachside moment filmed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village’s Tropics Bar & Grill; Flan a gan and Kua la’au perform Flan a gan’s "Olinda Road" instrumental composition.
The tune touched a nerve with actor Daniel Dae Kim (Chin Ho Kelly). He talked story with Hapa and revealed the song "will always represent Hawaii to me, since I listened to NPR every morning after moving to Hawaii." Since 1994, "Olinda Road" has been the network’s local affiliate’s morning news theme song.
"It’s pretty historic, since the show (the original, withJack Lord) really made me want to live in Hawaii when I was a kid," said Flan a gan of this TV credit. He is originally from New Jersey.
It’s Thompson’s first time on the reboot, though she completed numerous episodes on the original. "I changed my short script to make the introduction in Hawaiian instead of English," said the show-biz vet, a co-founder of Tihati Productions, who was welcomed between takes by Alex O’Loughlin (Steve McGarrett) and Kim. …
SEENS ‘N’ HEARDS: Bruno Mars’ flashback style — the fedora, the suspenders, the harmonica, the trim silhouette with black-and-white Oxfords — makes quite an impression in the April GQ magazine. The Hawaii-born, Grammy-winning hit-maker ("Just the Way You Are," "Grenade") models fedoras and other hats. And, if you missed it, check out "Mars Attacks!" in last month’s New Yorker; a revealing profile accompanies a full-page photo that says Mars "evokes the sixties pop star Jackie Wilson." And remember, Mars guest-sings on Fox’s "American Idol" before the season finale. …
In Matt Damon’s current thriller, "The Adjustment Bureau," local dude Anthony Rui vi var plays McCrad.
Rui vi var earlier was on NBC’s "Third Watch"; his parents are Tony and Karen Rui vi var. …
WRITE ON: Island resident Paul The roux, an acclaimed travel writer, has a perceptive and poignant Newsweek magazine piece on the impact of the Japanese quake, tsunami and nuclear crisis. Normally a nation of order, precision and unrelenting pride, Japan rejected global help after the 1995 earthquake in Kobe. Japan has never been pitied by the world — until now, writes Theroux. …
When the Honolulu Theatre for Youth world-premieres its eco-friendly "Where Do Things Go?" play Friday at Tenney Theatre, environmentalist-singer Jack Johnson and his family, along with other think-green VIPs, will be in attendance. H. Bart McGeehon’s set is made from 100 percent recycled materials from previous HTY shows from last season, with costumer Sandra Payne making the theater’s Season of Science T-shirts (designed by Crazy Shirts) into five unique wearables evoking the style of the cast. …
And that’s "Show Biz." …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist; reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com; read his Show and Tell Hawaii blog at www.staradvertiser.com.
