HAWAII Five-0" regular Daniel Dae Kim has teamed with Honolulu Theatre for Youth to present and produce the off-Broadway show "Hold These Truths," a story of Japanese internment activist Gordon Hirabayashi, Feb. 21-March 2 at Tenney Theatre. The show is dedicated to the memory of U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye. Lisa Rothe will direct and Joel de la Fuente will star in Jeanne Sakata‘s one-man show as they did in the original Epic Theatre Ensemble New York production in October. "Hold These Truths" is set in Seattle during World War II, where Hirabayashi, a University of Washington student, agonized over government orders to forcibly remove and incarcerate all people of Japanese ancestry on the West Coast. In April, President Barack Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, posthumously to Hirabayashi, who died last year at age 93. For tickets go to www.htyweb.org or call 839-9885.
"I was deeply moved by ‘Hold These Truths’ when I saw it in New York," Kim said. "Having lived in Hawaii for almost nine years now, I recognized how inspiring Gordon Hirabayashi’s story would be to our community. Given the islands’ unique connection to World War II through the 442nd Infantry and 100th Battalion, bringing this production seemed to be a natural fit. It’s a beautifully written, expertly acted and directed piece that ultimately reaffirms what it means to be American. I’m honored to have the opportunity, with HTY, to bring it to Hawaii." It’s unfortunate that "Five-0" actor Scott Caan, unlike Kim who is giving back to Hawaii, instead chose to bad-mouth our aloha state on Chelsea Handler‘s national late-night talk show on E! …
MOVING ON: Two of singer Kristian Lei‘s voice students, Mililani senior Colby Benson, 18, and Punahou freshman, Haley Michelle Kagimoto, 14, who also trains with voice coach Neva Rego, entered the Grammy Foundation and MusiCares Teens! Make Music Contest, and their original song, "Change Who We’ll Become," placed second. The song had to emphasize the dangers and effects of drug and alcohol use. Among their prizes is a Grammy backstage tour today and a chance to meet stars rehearsing for Sunday’s Grammy Awards in L.A. Check out Colby + Haley‘s video at honolulupulse.com. The Grammys will air on KGMB at 7 p.m. … Kristian will release her second CD at a concert March 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Leeward Community College Theatre. Todd Rothbard‘s Blue Waves is the sponsor. For tickets call 979-6557.
Kristian shared the spotlight with Olivia Kwong, who celebrated her "Forever 29" birthday party Saturday with 30 people at Wolfgang’s Steakhouse. Kristian sang "Over the Rainbow," Olivia’s favorite song. Charlie Beeck, owner of Tropical Roofing and Raingutters, threw the party for girlfriend Olivia. Attending were Charlie’s daughters, Kealoha and Lei, and his visiting nephew, Ron French, a former 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper and now a nurse. Others there were retired HPD detective Rick Ornellas, who intro’d Olivia to Charlie, legendary Hawaii Pacific University basketball coach Tony Sellitto, Chart House manager Scott Okamoto, boater Charlie Meyer and Home Quest Realtors co-owner Drea Kia with her visiting mother, recently retired Boston Garden VP Mary Clivio. Diamond broker and goldsmith Paolo Migotti led guests in singing "Happy Birthday" at least three times. Wolfgang’s employees also sang their version of "Happy Birthday" …
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Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.
