Peter Hernandez, father of Bruno Mars, has been here on a quiet respite, itching to do some kind of undisclosed isle project. Daughters Jaime, Tahiti, Presley and Tiara Hernandez — who earlier worked as The Lylas — have returned home, too.
“I never know where Bruno is, unless I check his itinerary,” said Hernandez in a phone chat. The singer’s yearlong “24K Magic K Tour,” which started March 28 in Antwerp, Belgium, won’t conclude till March 29 in Perth, Australia. There will be periodic U.S. pauses and a stand at the Monte Carlo in Las Vegas, Bruno’s domestic base. But a Hawaii gig is not yet on the agenda. …
Also in town: Bert Sagum, co-founder of the Society of Seven, and his family. Sagum and Tony Ruivivar (and the Las Vegas-based act) were considered but not enlisted for the Outrigger Hotel’s 50th anniversary to-do last week.
A shame, because the SOS was a pillar of the Main Showroom, which now is Blue Note Hawaii. …
And tonight’s “First Annual Jimmy Borges Jazz Festival,” from 6:30 p.m. at the Blue Note, should sell out. This very special show, co-produced by widow Vicki Borges and Cha Thompson, features Shari Lynn, Loretta Ables Sayre, Willie K and Kip Wilborn, and coincides with the Borges table medallion that will formally be installed as a salute to the jazz giant, certifying his legacy.
Proceeds will benefit the vocal music scholarship bearing Borges’ name at the University of Hawaii. …
‘FIVE-OH-OH’
CBS and “Hawaii Five-0” missed a golden opportunity, in the wake of the recent departure of Daniel Dae Kim (Chin Ho Kelly) and Grace Park (Kono Kalakaua) amid allusions to racial discrimination and inequitable pay.
Replacements hired to join the force — Ian Anthony Dale, Meaghan Rath and Beulah Koale bring diversity — but the mantra from the get-go in 2010 should have been “hire local”- Asians and Polynesian actors who are our friends and neighbors.
And forget pay parity: Alex O’Loughlin (Steve McGarrett) and Scott Caan (Danny “Danno” Williams) head the pecking order, period.
Read my full take on this subject, which generated conversation aplenty when posted on staradvertiser.com and Facebook July 19, at 808ne.ws/2vKP4vo.
TRADE WINDS
Hawaii’s Jacob Batalon, co-starring in “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” is filming MGM’s Y.A. romantic comedy, “Every Day,” in Toronto. The pic co-stars Angourie Rice, Maria Bello, Debby Ryan, Justice Smith and Lucas Jade Zumann. …
Jason Momoa, who’ll star in a future stand-alone “Aquaman” film from Marvel, made a big splash at Comic-Con in San Diego when the studio’s “Justice League,” out Nov. 17, was previewed. Momoa’s Aquaman will debut in “League.” Two other franchise newbies, Ezra Miller as The Flash and Ray Fisher as Cyborg, join him in “Aquaman,” which arrives Dec. 21, 2018. …
Leon and Malia, veteran island entertainers who boost Hawaiian music for keiki, just did a “Three Days of Aloha” tour in Vancouver, offering Ke Kukui Foundation interactive workshops for youngsters in the Pacific Northwest. Ray and Ho‘o Brown also shared songs, dances and haka of Hawaii, Tahiti and Aotearoa. …
DATES TO CIRCLE
>> Medici’s newbies: Jack Cione, via his BoJac Productions partnership with Bo Irvine, is producing two newcomers to the Medici’s roster: Randy Smith, rendering his catalog of Frank Sinatra tunes, on Aug. 10, and Joy Abbott, in a menu of Broadway and jazz classics, on Aug. 31. Tickets: medicisatmanoa.tix.com. …
>> Cherries jubilee: Abbott, Smith and Irvine will join “Cabaret VI,” an expansion of Cione’s “Follies” revue (themed “Life Is a Bowl of Cherries” at the Arcadia), at 7 p.m. Saturday at Kaimuki High School Theatre. It’s a Hawaii Ballroom Dance Association fundraiser. Tickets: 753-8673. …
And that’s “Show Biz.” …
Wayne Harada is a veteran Honolulu entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or email wayneharada@gmail.com.
