Thunderstorm Artis to share faith on ‘American Idol’ Easter show
Sunday happens to be Easter Sunday, and the theme is “Songs of Faith.” Hawaii born-and-raised Thunderstorm Artis, who now lives in Nashville, has a personal favorite ready. Read more
John Berger
John Berger’s affiliation with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and its predecessor, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, began in 1988. Berger has reviewed local recordings of all types since 1988. He was the paper’s designated theater reviewer from 1991 to 2012 and continues to review major theatrical productions as well as writing about books, concerts, movies and big events in local entertainment. His weekly column, “On the Scene With,” in the Sunday Honolulu Star-Advertiser, profiles interesting people from all parts of society.
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Berger is the editor of the second edition of Hawaiian Music and Musicians, the definitive one-volume 1000-page encyclopedia on Hawaiian music and musicians published by Mutual Publishing in 2012. He is also a Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning liner notes writer.
Berger’s career as an entertainment journalist began in 1972 when he became a full-time contributor to Sunbums, Hawaii’s ‘70s era equivalent to Rolling Stone. An invitation from Kamasami Kong in 1977 to become part of Kong’s radio show was the start of an 18-year career in local radio that included eight years as a member of Michael Qseng’s Morning Maddness Crew on KQMQ. He has also appeared as an entertainment news reporter on local television stations co-promoting the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Latest Stories by John Berger
Thunderstorm Artis performs soulful rendition of ‘Is This Love’
“Idol” filmed on Oahu in February, but it is the audience voting on Monday that will determine if Artis is one of the survivors when the field is cut from 24 to 20 on Sunday. Read more
Local ‘American Idol’ singer aims to connect with fans as voting opens
Hawaii will get its first chance Monday to show aloha for Oahu native Thunderstorm Artis as “American Idol” welcomes viewers to vote for their favorite performers. Read more
Hoku Award finalists are announced
Four-time Grammy Award winner Kalani Pe‘a is among the front-runners as the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts announces the finalists for the 2025 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. Read more
Thunderstorm Artis, Drew Ryn soar with duet on ‘American Idol’
Artis, who was born and raised in Hawaii, was partnered with Nashville-resident singer/songwriter Drew Ryn for a beautifully sung revival of “The Night We Met.” Read more
2 ‘American Idol’ judges give standing ovation to Thunderstorm Artis
Dressed in black, except for white shoes. and playing his black hollow-body acoustic guitar with the white lightning-bolt guitar strap, Artis delivered a personalized, smooth and soulful treatment of John Lennon’s posthumous hit, “Imagine.” Read more
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Joe Mundo, Waikiki headliner who co-founded the Aliis, dies at 83
Joe Mundo, founding member of the Aliis, the group that was one of Waikiki’s showroom headliners from 1964 through the early 1980s, died Tuesday at his home in Auburn, Wash. He was 83. Read more
Bill advances to support film, TV productions
‘My Last Dying Breath’ a winner for Thunderstorm Artis on ‘Idol’
The performance earned Artis a unanimous standing ovation from the judges. Read more
Hawaii represented again on ‘American Idol’ by Thunderstorm Artis
That final audition for “American Idol,” the one that determines which hopefuls will actually compete on the ABC television show, doesn’t provide second chances. Read more
Lawrence K.W. Tseu went from shoe shining to international philanthropist
During his almost 50 years of practice, Tseu sometimes accepted payment in goods and services rather than cash. As soon as his finances permitted, he began giving back financially to the community as well. Read more
Young at Heart: Acting gigs keep mind, body nimble for Dann Seki
Seki is most visible at the moment as the star of “Shikata Ga Nai,” a contemporary island drama released by the Hawaii-based Yellow Brick Studio film and video production company. Read more
Five years after entertainment venues closed in Hawaii, audiences are returning
Five years after COVID-19 forced the statewide shutdown of public entertainment, it’s mostly curtains on the big blackout. Read more
Issha Rose Mata crowned Miss Hawaii USA 2025
The 29-year-old digital marketing specialist was also one of two recipients of the Congeniality Award: Mata shared the honor with Miss Orchid Isle USA Emma Fincher. Read more
‘Rent’ opens new era at Kennedy Theatre
A new era in Hawaii theater begins Fridaywhen the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s production of “Rent” opens on the mainstage at Kennedy Theatre. Read more
Arts supporter Sarah Marks Richards led $32MHawaii Theatre restoration efforts
Sarah Marks Richards, a “powerhouse” in the Hawaii arts community who helped raise $32 million to restore the historic Hawaii Theatre to become a major performing arts center in downtown Honolulu, died Jan. 26 at Kahala Nui. Read more
Prolific artist Satoru Abe helped build Hawaii’s art community
Satoru Abe, widely recognized as one of the most significant Hawaii-born artists, died Feb. 5 in Honolulu. He was 98. Read more
Former Advertiser, PBN publisher dies at 83
Career newspaper man Larry Fuller — remembered in Hawaii for his years at the helm of The Honolulu Advertiser, the Hawaii Newspaper Agency and Pacific Business News — died Jan. 23 in Sioux Falls, S.D. He was 83. Read more
Ohta’s ‘Ukulele Story’ reaffirms his standing
When the child of a famous entertainer chooses to go into the same line of work, it’s almost inevitable that comparisons will be made between parent and child. Read more
Businessman, writer and rail opponent Cliff Slater dies at 91
Cliff Slater — businessman, newspaper columnist, author, photographer and community activist most visible in recent years for his steadfast opposition to Oahu’s controversial $10 billion rail project — died Jan. 20, with his wife and children beside him, at his home in Honolulu. He was 91. Read more
Maui’s Kalani Pe‘a wins fourth Grammy award
Pe‘a had previously won the Best Regional Roots Music Album category in 2017, 2019, and 2022. Read more
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