THURSDAY-SUNDAY
>> Goodwill Goes Glam celebrates with perspective
Goodwill Goes Glam takes a historical perspective this year, with designer Anne Namba, pictured above, producing the show to mark the 30th anniversary of her boutique and the 60th anniversary of Goodwill Hawaii.
Namba’s work has graced showrooms throughout the world and has been worn by celebrities like Mikhail Baryshnikov and Phylicia Rashad, as well as on the stage in productions for Hawaii Opera Theatre and other local companies. Her work has been carried by major department store chains. For this fundraiser, she has received donations from past clients and matched them with items gleaned from Goodwill’s racks to create a show with the theme “Legacy.”
Today’s gala includes dinner by Chef Lawrence Nakamoto, a graduate of Kapiolani Community College’s culinary arts program, now executive chef at Mariposa at Neiman Marcus Honolulu.
Gala attendees will then have first chance at Goodwill Hawaii’s collection of designer items, including clothes, shows and accessories, as well as vintage housewares and collectibles. The event opens to the general public on Friday, with free admission through Sunday at Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. Last year, Goodwill Goes Glam raised $430,000 for its service programs, which help people in need with job placement and counseling.
GOODWILL GOES GLAM
>> Where: Blaisdell Exhibition Hall
>> When: Gala 6:30-10 p.m. Thursday; public sale 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; and 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Sunday
>> Cost: Gala $25; Friday-Sunday free
>> Info: 792-8556, higoodwill.org/glam
SUNDAY
>> Ukulele Festival celebrates its history with top acts
The humble ukulele gets one of its biggest showcases of the year this Sunday at the 49th annual Ukulele Festival Hawaii, which honors two artists close to organizer Roy Sakuma’s heart: virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro, a former student, and the late James Ingram, the award-winning R&B artist.
Ingram, who died in January after a career that included two Grammy Awards and an Oscar nomination for Best Song, met and befriended Sakuma decades ago and performed frequently at the festival. He composed the festival’s theme song, “Come and Join Us at the Ukulele Festival.” In 2012, his last appearance at the festival, he performed the song with a choir of local kids.
Shimabukuro is today’s best-known ambassador of the instrument, with an international touring career and several acclaimed albums. His most recent CD, 2018’s “The Greatest Day,” peaked at No. 6 on Billboard’s World Music chart, and his take on George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” now has more than 16 million views on YouTube. He continues to push the boundaries of the instrument and has inspired a legion of musicians to take it out for a strum.
One-armed uke virtuoso Nick Acosta takes the stage at noon; Taimane, pictured at left, Kalei Gamiao and the Beatles tribute band Beat-Lele will play starting at 3 p.m.
Shimabukuro takes the stage at 4 p.m. with the Japanese duo fulare_pad.
Visiting artists include the Sunset Strummers Ohana, Aloha Picking Ohana and the Kolohe Hawaiian Ukulele Club from Southern California, Forté and the Pianissimos from Wisconsin, three groups from Japan and two from South Korea.
The event will also feature ukulele giveways, lessons and displays and souvenirs. Free parking is available at Kapiolani Community College, with shuttle service to the festival.
UKULELE FESTIVAL HAWAII 2019
>> Where: Kapiolani Park
>> When: 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday
>> Cost: Free
>> Info: ukulelefestivalhawaii.org
TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY
>> Comedian Marlon Wayans goes off screen to take standup stage
The multitalented comedian Marlon Wayans brings his high-energy standup to Blue Note Hawaii for two nights next week.
The youngest member of the Wayans family entertainment dynasty has been a busy man since his heyday on 1990’s sketch comedy show “In Living Color” while also a co-star on “The Wayans Bros.,” where he portrayed the maniacally immature and narcissistic younger brother to his straight-man older brother, played by real-life older brother Shawn. He’s been a writer and producer on more than a dozen movies and television programs, and has three films currently in postproduction.
“I want to be one of the biggest comedic stars in the world,” Wayans told the Star-Advertiser before a visit last year. “I don’t want to be average. I don’t want to be normal. I’m trying to be as great as I can be in every moment that I can be it.”
So look for an animated, dynamic presence on stage. While many of Wayan’s television and film works have involved humorous takes on family, he takes no prisoners in his standup, which touches on everything from politics to race relations and identity issues. In his comedy special “Woke-ish,” he talked about getting pulled over by police while he was with a white friend, saying he was amazed that his friend “cursed the police so bad, I thought he pulled the cop over!”
Fans might also be interested to see if he drops any hints about a sequel to “White Chicks,” the 2004 hit movie in which he and brother Shawn played police officers posing as white socialites while investigating a crime. There’s been some recent buzz about it.
MARLON WAYANS
>> Where: Blue Note Hawaii
>> When: 6:30 and 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday
>> Cost: $45-$65
>> Info: 777-4890, bluenotehawaii.com
WEDNESDAY
>> Hula’s 45th Anniversary Party
When Hula’s Bar & Lei Stand celebrates its 45th anniversary on Wednesday, Jack Law, founder and owner of the Waikiki landmark will exult in its success, because there was a time when it seemed that Hula’s wouldn’t reach a 30th anniversary, let alone 45.
“It’s mind boggling,” Law said, taking a quick phone call while he dealt with a localized electrical outage on Sunday that left Hula’s temporarily without power.
Law and Eaton “Bob” Magoon opened the original Hula’s Bar & Lei Stand under a big banyan tree on the corner of Kuhio Avenue and Kalaimoku Street in 1974. Hula’s quickly became Honolulu’s most prominent gay bar, providing a welcoming environment for gay men and women, and straight people of both sexes. The club was an early epicenter of the Honolulu’s original disco scene, and the place where celebrities like Dolly Parton, Joan Rivers, Barry Manilow and Elton John were wont to party when in Waikiki.
Hula’s endured an uncertain period after developers announced plans to tear the place down and build something new, and the site was closed in 1998. After months of searching, Hula’s found a new home in November, 1998, on the second floor of the Waikiki Grand Hotel. It’s been there ever since.
“People come in who say they remember the old Hula’s. When I remind them how long we’ve been here, they can’t believe it,” Law said. Magoon died last September, but Law carries on the Hula’s tradition.
Two-time Grammy Award-winner Kalani Pe‘a headlines this year’s celebration; he’s scheduled to kick things off at 6.
“I was very impressed with Pe‘a as a performer,” Law said. He scheduled the anniversary so that Pe‘a could headline. “We’ll (also) be showing our nostalgic Hula’s video that we’ve made over the years. Every year we add another year (of pictures) to it. Forty- five years now.”
HULA’S BAR & LEI STAND’S 45th ANNIVERSARY PARTY
>> Where: 134 Kapahulu Avenue (second floor, Waikiki Grand Hotel)
>> When: 6 p.m. Wednesday
>> Cost: $10-$15
>> Info: 923-0669, hulas.com
