In the year’s last column, we annually bestow the “Waynie” awards to entertainers who earned significant acclaim in their craft.
The 2018 awardees were easy to pick and Hawaii’s troupers fared well, not just locally, but nationally and internationally. And the hurrahs were bountiful over multiple genres: live concert, Broadway musicals and film.
So, drumroll, please:
>> Concert king: Bruno Mars wound up his two-year “24K Magic” tour with an unparalleled three-gig Aloha Stadium sellout in November. He came, he sang, he conquered; 30,000 gathered each night to worship the homegrown superstar. In the end, the tour grossed $370 million. He still has a pair of New Year’s Eve shows in Las Vegas. …
>> Movie marvel: OK, the numbers are still swelling, but surely, Jason Momoa’s “Aquaman” will become his signature flick, in the season’s splashiest behemoth. The grosses will peak to close the year, and the impact will continue in 2019. It’s an outrageous but entertaining outing, about a reluctant underwater king who prefers to be an average Joe. Yes, a sequel is in order, so expect more, more Momoa. …
>> Earning his Broadway “shot:” Local boy Joseph Morales continues to generate waves of fans and raves from critics, touring all year in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hot ticket, “Hamilton.” It would be prudent for a future engagement, if it lands on the Blaisdell Concert Hall stage, to have him as our star. Can’t be till 2020-21, after the facility is renovated, but we’ll do our best to get the buzz going. …
OTHER WAYNIE WINNERS
>> Shari Lynn is a master of the Great American Songbook, a full-time teacher at La Pietra – Hawaii School for Girls and the prevailing jazz songstress with a deep commitment to preserve and perpetuate the golden oldies of Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin. She frequents Medici’s and Blue Note Hawaii, but anticipate her theatrical “Mining for Cole” gig (showcasing Porter’s chestnuts) at TAG (The Actors’ Group) in June.
>> Robert Cazimero is a treasure and a pleasure to watch; his infrequent keyboard serenades are an art form of his making, and this year, he resuscitated the Lei Day pageantry in May at Bishop Museum. Alas, he’s bypassing Honolulu for May Day in 2019, but plans to serenade on Maui and the Big Island.
>> Carole Kai, the champion of charitable deeds and good fun, is worthy of the sweet charity award, for her perennial community efforts (think the annual Great Aloha Run and earlier, the Carole Kai Bed Races). Her good work helps a lot of folks in need. …
>> Ben and Maila (last names, Vegas and Gibson) are a good reason to spend a Christmas-season Sunday with, as their fans know. Their annual shindig at Ala Moana Hotel Dec. 16 assembled Streetlight Cadence, Raiatea Helm, Josh Tatofi and Hookena. Ben and Maila have chemistry and charisma, but after five consecutive Christmases, it’s time to tap a savvy producer who’d mandate a crisp script, heighten pacing, skim off irrelevant patter and focus on flow. …
>> Jake Shimabukuro’s Dec. 20-22 gig at Blue Note certified his status as the ukulele king. Normally utilizing his Kamaka tenor instrument, he did a bit with a smaller training-level uke (“makes me look bigger”) and made it into an astonishing concert vehicle. You go, bro!
>> With Augie T alleging he’s retiring from stand-up next year, it’s up to the likes of Andy Bumatai and Frank De Lima to carry on the laugh tradition. Bumatai’s YouTube shticks are nothing short of sensational and his 65th birthday gig Dec. 23 at Blue Note (also commemorating his 40th anniversary in show biz) was a retrospective of his stints at Territorial Tavern, Kojak’s, The Noodle Shop, the Ocean Showroom and the Monarch Room; De Lima’s radar always locates a trendy/notable topic of interest, which he converts into one of his famous song parodies. Good stuff. …
And that’s “Show Biz.”
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com.
