Another tradition bites the dust? “A Cazimero Christmas,” the holiday production celebrating the festivities and joys of the yuletide, won’t be staged at the Hawaii Theatre in December. The reason: Roland Cazimero is still recovering from health problems, so brother Robert Cazimero has shelved the seasonal endeavor.
But Willie K and Amy Hanaiali‘i Gilliom, former partners in song, will unite for a Christmas show Dec. 18-20, to inherit the holiday slot at the Hawaii. This looms as a magical package, with his “O Holy Night” prevailing.
“Robert Cazimero and Friends,” sharing mele and hula in a halau of a show, will take the stage March 12 and 13. There just won’t be a Christmas tree. …
The Hawaii Theatre will host local acts over the next few months. That Hawaiian brigade, Rough Riders, comprising Henry Kapono, John Cruz and Brother Noland, will saddle up in song Oct. 23, followed in the fall by “Makana and Friends,” Nov. 14.
And fresh for 2016, Kuana Torres Kahele will share a gamut of his expanding artistry (perhaps with a clip from Pixar’s “Lava,” the animated short that features his voice?) on Jan. 20. …
UKULELE TALK: Yasushi Misawa, new consul general of Japan, visited Roy Sakuma’s Kaimuki ukulele studio recently, with a keen desire to soak in Hawaiian culture and especially the uke.
It all started when Yasushi-san had dinner with Gov. David Ige and expressed his desire to strum. So Roy-san was summoned to teach the consul general a few simple songs along with singing and strumming techniques. “I showed him how to play the melody (picking), and I must say he picked up things very quickly and he was mesmerized by the beautiful sound from the ukulele. I really enjoyed my time with (him),” said Sakuma.
The novice student “hopes, when he gets better, to purchase a koa ukulele made in Hawaii,” said Sakuma. There’s talk, too, that Sakuma might bring ukes to the consul general’s offices so staffers can play ukulele together. Music is a universal language, so isn’t it grand that the uke could be a centerpiece for cultural harmony? …
TRADE WINDS: A show biz name from the past — dancer Simeon Den — returns home for “Eh, Where You Went Go?” at 5 p.m. Aug. 23 at the Doris Duke Theatre of the Honolulu Museum of Art. The local lingo is deliberate; Den will recall growing up in Kalihi in the 1950s and ’60s, with serious and comedic readings, plus live performances of music and dance featuring violinist Fumiko Wellington and dancer Summer. Wonder if he’ll chat about his real name, Dingo Secretario, and his long association with the “The King and I.” The performance culminates a three-day Zen brush-painting workshop co-taught by Andy Kay. Admission is $15, $12 for museum members. …
LONG LIVE THE KING: Leo Days, the 34-year-old Elvis Presley tribute artist in the midst of a Waikiki engagement, will likely spend Sunday watching an old movie or two featuring the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
“It’s not really a ritual, but on his birthday or the anniversary of his death, I watch as many of his old films as possible,” Days said. “I watch his movies all the time, but I when I recognize one of his special days, I often have a cheeseburger and banana sandwich (in his memory), too. It’s really good — if you don’t have too much.”
Sunday happens to be the 38th anniversary of Presley’s death on Aug. 16, 1977. Were he still alive, The King would be 80.
Sundays are Days’ night off from his “Burn’N Love” spectacle at the Magic of Polynesia Showroom of the Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber Resort so he’ll have a little more spare time to indulge in his passion for Presley on the anniversary of his passing.
Days, who was born at Tripler Army Medical Center on Oct. 30, 1980 (his Marine Corps dad was stationed at the Kaneohe base), started noticing Elvis when he was toddler.
“I watched Elvis’ ‘Aloha From Hawaii’ TV special and thought it was the coolest thing I’d ever seen,” he recalled. “My dad was a big fan, too, so I was listening to Elvis’ music all the time.”
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.
