Tumua Tuinei, former University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors player-turned-comedian, makes his Blue Note Hawaii debut Wednesday. He joins headliner Andy Bumatai’s Comic to Comic series.
Tuinei, 23, says standup is tougher than the gridiron.
“Since I’m an athlete, I like to think of comedy as a sport,” he said in an interview. “Believe it or not, I actually stretch before I get onstage, and jump around a bit. I’m always energetic while performing and I tend to break a sweat. It’s a competition (like football). You want to be the best, you want to make people laugh, and you don’t want to bomb. It’s the same as football. You want to execute your assignment, you want to minimize mistakes, and you don’t want to get beat.”
For the past three years, he’s been performing comedy with Bumatai, Augie T and Paul Ogata. In his junior year at UH, he took a comedy class. And he was hooked.
“At first, I just took the class for the fun and to get an easy A,” he revealed. “As the semester went out, I found out I was really good at it. I also reached out to Augie for some advice, and that’s when he welcomed me to perform at one of his shows. I fell in love with stand-up comedy, and I haven’t stopped since.”
So which is easier, comedy or football?
“They are both challenging ‘sports,’ and I love both of them,” said Tuinei. “To me, comedy is a lot harder than football. You’re alone on a stage in front of people you don’t even know that paid money to see you, and they are expecting you to make them laugh. Don’t get me wrong; football is a very challenging sport, too. But like my dad (Tom Tuinei) always told me growing up: ‘Football can only take you so far, you gotta have a plan.’ I believe this is my ‘plan.’”
He gets the jitters, in a good way. “Comedy definitely makes me more nervous,” he said, adding, “but I love being nervous. Nerves make you alert, keep you focused and humble you down. I tend to be nervous before shows but as soon as I tell that first joke and hear laughter, the nerves begin to go away.”
Offstage, Tuinei considers himself a funny guy. “For the people who know me well, they know that I’m a quiet guy. But once I get comfortable around you, I tend to crack a lot of jokes. My character onstage is just an exaggerated version of myself. There’s no greater feeling than making a bunch of strangers in a room laugh together.”
Tickets: $24-$45, at bluenotehawaii.com, 777-4890. …
The local angle
Though Bruno Mars doesn’t have a new album, he’s up for two Billboard Music Awards May 1, originating from Las Vegas and airing on NBC. The Hawaii native is up for top touring artist, competing with Beyonce and Jay-Z, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift and Justin Timberlake, and also a contender for top R&B tour, alongside Beyonce, Jay-Z and Childish Gambino. …
Kudos to local girl Kaena Kekoa, tapped to portray Jasmine in Disney’s national tour of “Aladdin,” beginning April 25 in Salt Lake City. A whole new world awaits. …
Island rhythms
Kumu hula Patrick Makuakane and his halau, Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu, return to the Hawaii Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday with their new show, “I Mua: Hula in Unusual Places.” The Bay Area contingent is known for its innovative, brisk style. Tickets: $40-$100, 528-0506 or at hawaiitheatre.com. …
Kalani Pe‘a, two-time Grammy winner, headlines a belated Lei Day concert at 7 p.m. May 3 at the Hawaii Theatre. Joining the celebration: Amy Hanaiali‘i, Na Hoa, Mark Yamanaka, Josh Tatofi and Halau Na Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu, led by kumu hula Sonny Ching and Lopaka Igarta-De Vera. Mele Apana and Shannon Scott co-emcee. Tickets: $35-$75, at hawaiitheatre.com or 528-0506. …
And that’s “Show Biz.”
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com.
