Prince Hanalei, a popular though notorious figure in Hawaii’s gay nightlife scene from the 1960s to the ’80s, will be part of the remounting of “Waikiki Kopy Katz,” a tribute show opening at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Treetops Restaurant in Manoa Valley.
Jack Cione, who brought Hanalei from The Glades on Hotel Street to the Forbidden City in Kakaako and later to Le Boom Boom Club in Waikiki, will introduce him to a new generation of clubbers. Hanalei was best known for an exotic dance that featured flaming tassels, headstands on a chair and outrageous headpieces and costumes.
“Kopy Katz,” which was a sell-out for military audiences in a limited run earlier this year at the Hale Koa Hotel, was conceived and directed by Cione. The update will feature dancer Derek Daniels as Hanalei, in costumed glory but minus the flaming tassels and headstand due to fire regulations.
“I created a special act for Prince Hanalei, where he walked on fire and set his tassels on fire,” said Cione. The signature moves were borrowed from Miss Wiggles decades ago in a burlesque show at Forbidden City.
Hanalei was a major draw at Le Boom Boom Club, which Cione acquired for five years for his “Follies Polynesia” revue in the former Duke Kahanamoku’s at the International Market Place..
“Kopy Katz” also will welcome newcomer Johnny Kai as Don Ho, joining Cathy Foy as Hilo Hattie, Charles Degala as Alfred Apaka, Marshal Kaneko as Martin Denny and Randy Smith as Frank Sinatra (an incidental visitor). Bo Irvine hosts.
“Kopy Katz” will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, with dinner service from 5 to 7 p.m., in Treetops’ Manoa Showroom. The meal-show package is $48.50, show-only is $30. Reservations: 988-6838. …
HAWAIIAN TIME: Prolific singer-musician Kuana Torres Kahele, who’s also a notable lei-maker, will perform his entire “Music for the Hawaiian Islands” songs in a pair of back-to-back fundraising concerts for Hawaii Public Radio on Aug. 7 at Paliku Theatre at Windward Community College.
The shows are at 2 p.m. (music for Hawaii island and Niihau) and 6 p.m. (music for Maui and Kauai). Hawaiian kaukau prepared by Highway Inn will be served between shows; pre-orders for the Hawaiian plate should be made online along with ticket purchases, at hawaiipublicradio.org/events. …
RANDOM NOTES: Dorothy Williams, a 90-year-old from Hilo, was part of the “America’s Got Talent” audition highlights show recently. She performed a slo-mo strip act and said she’s always wanted to be a star, but never has been one, so host Nick Cannon dashed out of the wings to hit the button to unleash that flaky golden confetti. Dorothy managed to flash a shaka sign as she left the stage. …
CLUBLICITY: At 14, Aidan James, the ukulele strummer solidly rooted in rock, made history recently as the youngest musician to grace the Blue Note Hawaii stage at the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel. Less nervous and a bit more conversational in his stage presence, James shared a collection of original tunes, demonstrating promise as a composer. However, his lyrics were garbled in delivery (a ballad was a rare exception) and the endless parade of guest singers-strummers made the evening play out like an open-call audition. James’ 90 minutes lacked focus and substance — and perhaps a little story-sharing would enhance his performance. …
SIGHT ’EMS: It was a great June for star-gazers. Beyonce and Jay Z still are getting coverage of their Kauai R&R, with Queen Bey in a striking floral bathing suit in US Weekly. The mag also displayed the well-toned Michael B. Jordan (“Creed”) after paddle-boarding on Maui, and a smiling America Ferrera (“Ugly Betty”) surfing at an unnamed beach. …
Two stars of the Hawaii-filmed “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates” comedy said they had a blast shooting here. “We were in Hawaii with our best friends and would just hike around the island of Oahu,” said Zac Efron in People. “It was a workation.” Aubrey Plaza said of Efron: “Zac took us on crazy adventures, like jumping into waterfalls and just getting weird in the jungle.”…
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 staradvertiser.com.
