‘TWAS A few days before Christmas
And all through the hale;
Santa was brimming
With hoomalimali.
His gift-shopping was pau
A little earlier this year;
So natch, he was brimming
With holiday cheer.
A title for Jason Momoa,
Like, “King of the Sea”
For his “Aquaman” splash …
This season’s “must-see.”
A one-of-a-kind 24K Magic lei
For irrepressible Bruno Mars;
With a wish for a hana hou return
For more songs and hurrahs.
For Bette Midler, a songfest
With divine music, by golly,
To continue her triumphs
Following Broadway’s “Hello, Dolly.”
For Hawaii’s Joseph Morales
A hearty standing ovation,
For steering “Hamilton” on tour
With such patriotic devotion.
For actor Jason Tam,
A homecoming stage role here;
For Loretta Ables Sayre?
A Broadway return would be dear.
For Willy Falk, due home
For a Blue Note show;
A future musical? An opera?
He’d make the stage glow.
For Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson,
That “Kamehameha” flick;
For Taimane Gardner,
An unbreakable uke pick.
A no-sacking season
For Mariota, our Marcus;
And a Super Bowl slot
For the Titans, without ruckus.
For QB Tua Tagovailoa
The Crimson Tide hero;
Another Heisman bid next year
Without injuries zero.
For Robert Cazimero,
Thick strands of pikake;
And another Lei Day concert
Would make everyone lucky.
For Shari Lynn, a golden mic
To showcase her artistry;
She’s all about material
So add a song registry.
For Willie K, battling cancer,
A clean bill of health;
And strength plus more gigs
For med bills (need wealth).
For Jack and Cha Thompson
A 2019 celebratory cheer;
Tihati Productions logs 50 years
Of shows abroad and right here.
For beloved Andy Bumatai,
Finally, that Medicare card;
Plus a lifetime award
For being the fave comedic bard.
For wacky Frank De Lima,
New muumuu, wigs, too;
For more TheCab TV spots,
With, ya’know, 422-2222.
For Karen Keawehawaii
A couple of Blue Note slots;
To share her vocals and comedics
No more ifs, ands or buts.
For Jerry Santos, Jay Larrin
Drop a brand-new CD;
Or better yet, a filmed concert,
Preserved on DVD.
For Jake Shimabukuro,
More family time here;
For Jordan Segundo, au revoir,
And a Sacramento cheer.
For Roy Sakuma,
The ukulele teacher:
More speaking engagements
(He’s become a life-story preacher).
For Streetlight Cadence
The nimble, irresistible four,
A national TV appearance
To help open fame’s door.
For chef Alan Takasaki,
Perhaps a new kau kau place;
Le Bistro closed this year
A tough option to replace.
For chef Roy Yamaguchi
Another 30 years of fine dining;
His culinary skills keep growing
And you don’t hear his fans whining.
A surgery-free year,
For enduring Joy Abbott;
This true bionic woman
Had been hopping like a rabbit.
More senatorial clout
For Mazie Hirono;
New musical gems
For Henry Kapono.
To Keali‘i Reichel on Maui,
A shout-out, loud and clear:
A Honolulu concert
Is long overdue, you hear?!
For Kuana Torres Kahele,
A future Grammy bid;
For Augie T, a question:
You putting on the retirement lid?
For author Fran Kakugawa,
A book-a-year deal;
For Michael W. Perry,
Hearty early-morn zeal.
For singer-composer Audy Kimura,
Hy’s longtime trouper;
A whirlwind vacation
Would be super-duper.
For savvy Jack Johnson,
In a league of his own:
An environmental hurrah!
He’s truly homegrown.
Hey, why not gather Melveen, Raiatea, Marlene and Amy; Add Hookena, Ben & Maila,
Makaha Sons. Hall of Fame-y?
For Jack Cione, travel,
To New York and the South Seas;
He adores Broadway shows
And the tropical breeze.
For sidelined Kit Samson,
More mobility, less pain;
For everyone on diets
A day with no gain.
To all faithful readers,
One hefty bumbucha “shaka,”
With a ho-ho-ho cheer
And that’s “Show Biz” kalikimaka.
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com.