Ready for Lei Day with Robert Cazimero and his guest artists at 7 p.m. May 1 at the Bishop Museum Great Lawn?
Details are out for a scaled-down celebration, with doors opening at 4:30 p.m. for music by Ei Nei and Kapena.
Cazimero will headline two 45-minute sets; Louis “Moon” Kauakahi, Horace Dudoit and Keao Costa will comprise his musicians. Other troupers: Kawika Trask Trio, Keauhou, Jerry Santos and Marlene Sai. Of course, kumu hula Cazimero will showcase his singing-dancing gents from Halau Na Kamalei O Likolehua, plus these halau and kumu: Pua Ali‘i ‘Ilima, Victoria Holt Takamine; Halau Mohala ‘Ilima, Mapuana de Silva; Halau Hula Ka No‘eau, Michael Pili Pang; and Halau O Ke ‘A‘ali‘i, Manu Boyd.
The revival in Honolulu of May Day pageantry — Robert and his bro Roland annually staged the celebration at the Waikiki Shell, remember? — is being produced by Paulele Alcon and his Hawaii’s Finest clothing brand. Vendors will sell food and beverages; you can’t bring your own.
There are three categories for tickets: lawn, $25 presale general admission, $35 at the door; reserved section, $35 presale, $45 at the door; VIP premium reserved section, $75 presale, $100 at the door, includes access to a discounted bar and light pupu. Seating is first-come, first-served, even for reserved tickets in corralled sections. Free for keiki under 4.
Other considerations: wristbands required for bar service; backpacks, large bags not allowed; tents with tables, chairs available for kupuna; valet parking, $12 on museum grounds via Bernice Street; $6 self-parking at nearby Kapalama Elementary School.
“It’s a different concept, one the promoter has used in the past with mostly reggae, Jawaiian-type artists,” said Cazimero’s niece and personal assistant Sky Yim, director of Wahea Foundation, dedicated to preserving and perpetuating Hawaiian culture, with a focus on male hula.
Tickets are available at the HI Finest shop on Makaloa Street near Keeaumoku, the University of Hawaii Campus Center, Local Motion outlets, the Bishop Museum box office, and seetickets.us.
And remember the mantra: Make a lei, wear a lei, give a lei. …
TWO TOGETHER
‘Twas bound to be a heavenly match when Loretta Ables Sayre invited Cazimero to join her at Blue Note Hawaii to celebrate their birthdays April 1. The result: a meeting of two stellar artists from different galaxies of the performing universe — she, rooted in jazz but with a Broadway pedigree; he, a Hawaiian icon who can simply do anything.
Such was the bond: He jazzercized “Tea for Two,” she went local-Hawaiian with “Nanakuli.”
She was true to her jazz past, but pliable, converting “Secret Love” to a cha-cha charmer; he opted to get behind the piano to play and sing “Beyond the Reef,” his true comfort zone. But it was fun watching them both stretch and sync to satisfy fans. …
DIS ‘N’ DATA
Hawaii superstar Bruno Mars will return to Las Vegas for shows July 25-27 at the Park Theater at the Monte Carlo resort, but expect soaring prices. While seats, which went on sale Wednesday, are officially priced from $92 to $505, online resales were listed at $322 to $4,150 (or higher) for a pair of tickets — costlier than “Hamilton” and worrisome to his local fan base who can’t afford these prices. …
Hawaii’s Jack Johnson and Incubus will headline the inaugural Sea.Hear.Now Festival of music, surf culture and arts Sept. 29-30 at Ashbury Park and Bradley Park, N.J. Social Distortion, Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, Brandi Carlile, Milky Chance, Blondie and Kaleo are among other acts, to be joined by a roster of surf names who will take to the water at the beachfront venue.
For info: seahearnowfestival.com. …
And that’s “Show Biz.” …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com.
