Anyone who’s ever attended a Hapa performance knows how much group founder Barry Flanagan treasures the presence and artistry of chanter Charles Ka‘upu, who died July 13.
"This was no ordinary man, even from 100 yards away," says Flanagan, who recalls the 1992 moment he saw and heard Ka‘upu from a distance on Maui. "There was a mountain of a man … chanting at the (old) Old Lahaina Lu‘au in back of the Lahaina Shores Hotel. The hair on the back of my neck stood up."
In 1995 Ka‘upu was integrated into the Hapa landscape, and they logged 700 performances together throughout the years.
Flanagan knew Ka‘upu was no ordinary soul — and one whose chanting should be heard by the world.
So Hapa will honor Ka‘upu’s memory by setting its stage with an empty chair draped with a lei. Hapa’s next play date is July 30 in Tucson, Ariz.; ’tis a fitting tribute and a certain chicken-skin moment. …
Further, Brian Kohne, producer of the home-grown "Get a Job" movie, which features Ka‘upu (who gave an inspirational, divine blessing of the Malama Pono Productions project launch in 2005), will tag on a "Dedicated to the Memory of Charles Ka‘upu" aloha to the film’s closing credits "so that in our own small way, the production will keep alive his memory and honor his deep contribution to our movie." …
WHEE, THE PEOPLE: It’s sort of an Eddie Kamae Week on PBS Hawaii, with Leslie Wilcox’s "Long Story Short" airing at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday featuring Eddie and Myrna Kamae, the prolific moviemaking couple. Then at 8:30 and 11 p.m. Thursday, the Kamaes’ documentary "Those Who Came Before" will show how trust and respect helped Eddie gather privileged information from kupuna in the Hawaiian music camp. …
"I’m alive," Jimmy Borges said in a call from his Kaiser Hospital ICU bed, following a seven-hour surgery to remove a grapefruit-size tumor in his liver. If he has his way, he’d love to be home by now. …
NAME-DROPPING: Bruno Mars’ next single, due Aug. 22, will be "Marry Me." And is a Mars-on-tour documentary in the works? The home-grown superstar’s Hawaii gig earlier this year is in sneak-peek previews on the Web, with intimate backstage and performance shots. Is a full-blown doc due? …
PARTY HEARTY: "Superheroes" is the theme of Manoa Marquee, the Manoa Valley Theatre’s fundraiser from 5 to 9 p.m. Aug. 7 at the Pacific Club, and a costume contest is on tap. Honorees will be Alice and Jerry Tucker, Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Nancie Caraway, and the Law Offices of Cades Schutte, superheroes who support MVT. There’ll be the usual silent-auction treasures plus a live auction of unusual pleasures. For collectors of vintage stuff, rustic superhero placards (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Hornet included) I found on my recent New York trip will also be up for grabs. …
Ever see a buffet line choreographed to serve a house of patrons? At MVT’s "Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding," the meal service tables are whisked down a center aisle, folks are called up by table (wedding style) and Ed Wary’s Auntie Pasto’s fare is served in a matter of minutes. Talk about meals on wheels. …
And that’s "Show Biz." …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist; reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com; read his Show and Tell Hawaii blog at www.staradvertiser.com.
