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Rearview Mirror: Comedians cultivated pride in speaking pidgin

COURTESY KENT BOWMAN
                                Above, one of the first local comedy albums was Kent Bowman’s “Pidgin English Children’s Stories” in 1961.
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COURTESY KENT BOWMAN

Above, one of the first local comedy albums was Kent Bowman’s “Pidgin English Children’s Stories” in 1961.

COURTESY DOUGLAS SIMONSON
                                Above, Douglas Simonson’s “Pidgin to Da Max” comic-­style book sold an astounding 25,000 copies in its first month in 1981.
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COURTESY DOUGLAS SIMONSON

Above, Douglas Simonson’s “Pidgin to Da Max” comic-­style book sold an astounding 25,000 copies in its first month in 1981.

STAR-ADVERTISER ARCHIVE
                                James Grant Benton, left, Ed Ka‘ahea and Rap Reiplinger formed Booga Booga in 1975. Their recordings were played often on radio stations, which standardized many pidgin expressions.
3/3
Swipe or click to see more

STAR-ADVERTISER ARCHIVE

James Grant Benton, left, Ed Ka‘ahea and Rap Reiplinger formed Booga Booga in 1975. Their recordings were played often on radio stations, which standardized many pidgin expressions.

COURTESY KENT BOWMAN
                                Above, one of the first local comedy albums was Kent Bowman’s “Pidgin English Children’s Stories” in 1961.
COURTESY DOUGLAS SIMONSON
                                Above, Douglas Simonson’s “Pidgin to Da Max” comic-­style book sold an astounding 25,000 copies in its first month in 1981.
STAR-ADVERTISER ARCHIVE
                                James Grant Benton, left, Ed Ka‘ahea and Rap Reiplinger formed Booga Booga in 1975. Their recordings were played often on radio stations, which standardized many pidgin expressions.