Hawaii’s supreme ukulele virtuoso, Jake Shimabukuro, is home for the holidays, splitting time between family and work. He headlines at the Blue Note Hawaii at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
“Christmas is so much fun, watching the children,” he told me, triggering his own small-kid-time recollections of Christmas Eve.
“My favorite memory? I wanted to stay up as late as I could, sleeping in the living room where the stockings were on the wall. I would fall asleep, of course, but when I got up, the stockings were filled. There was magic; I always thought he snuck in through a little slit in the screen door, putting his fingers through to unlock the door.”
Jake and his physician wife, Kelly Yamamoto, have other holiday traditions.
“We get a tree and the kids decorate and we help. For the first time this year, we put our oldest (Chase, 5) in charge. He has to watch the water level for the tree, so he uses a flashlight and puts in water. Chase is into Ghostbusters, so he wanted a Ghostbusters Proton pack (to shoot the goo) for Christmas.”
Younger son Cole, 2, has not yet asked for a specific gift.
Shimabukuro’s mom and grandmother will trek to Las Vegas, “but we’re not going up with them. We’ll have Dutch baby pancakes with family on my dad’s side Christmas morning. My in-laws are coming in from the Big Island. And my brother (Bruce) and I will get together with cousins.”
Shimabukuro adores the Blue Note. “They have a really great sound system. It’s very intimate; you feel close to the audience,” he said. “And being in Hawaii gives me a lot of collaborations with my favorite local musicians, Noel Okimoto (drums), Dean Taba (bass) and Meena Cho, visiting from Chicago (cello). …
ALL IS BRIGHT
Ben Vegas and Maila Gibson’s holiday show, held Dec. 10 at the Ala Moana Hotel, emphasized all the elements of Christmas: merry music, friendship and the joyful spirit of ohana.
Vegas and Gibson, who are married but not to each other, were the perfect host couple, sharing personal stories, favorite melodies and earnest idle patter. Bright holiday tunes dotted their list, but a medley of commercials they’ve written and sung (Longs, Mauna Loa macadamia nuts, Pizza Hut, Genki Sushi) was informative. And a medley of disco/funk faves for their encore was a crowd pleaser.
Along the way, Little Albert Maligmat, Josh Tatofi, Melveen Leed, Henry Kapono, Kanoe Gibson and Ho‘okena took turns on stage. Highlights: Leed’s fusion of “O Holy Night” with “The Lord’s Prayer,” Kapono’s “Merry Christmas to You” and Ho‘okena’s (with Gibson) “The Prayer.” …
O HOLY NIGHT
Willie K’s sorta-Christmas performance Dec. 11 at Blue Note Hawaii was a mixture of old-fashioned Hawaiiana in the style inspired by his dad, Manu Kaha‘iali‘i, a rush of ballistic blues and traditional Christmas plus yule with an edge.
The holidays put Willie in a reflective mood, evident in his rendering of “Ahulili,” a song with Maui ties, delivered like his dad’s version. “Silver Bells” had the wattage of a rocker (think Bruce Springsteen), but his trademark “O Holy Night” was solemn, and a hana hou “Hallelujah” was stirring, evoking a standing ovation. …
JUST ANNOUNCED
More holiday cheer, at HASR Bistro, 31 N. Pauahi St.; reservations honoluluboxoffice.com:
>> “Home for the Holidays Pau Hana Party,” 6 p.m. Thursday, with Streetlight Cadence. Tickets: $50 (includes heavy pupu).
>> Jay Larrin Christmas luncheon show, noon Friday. Tickets: $55 (includes buffet lunch).
>> Christmas celebration with Micah Ganiron, 6 p.m. Friday. Tickets: $45 (includes heavy pupu).
>> Christmas Eve brunch with Ben and Maila, 10 a.m. Dec. 24. Tickets: $90 (includes brunch). …
And at Ward Village Courtyard, it’s Kona Nui Nights, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, with Kupaoa and Mark Yamanaka.
Free, but register at wardvillage.com/events.
And that’s “Show Biz.” …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com.
