‘Major shift’ may have affected renewal of ‘NCIS: Hawai‘i’
As television fans were counting down the days to the official announcement of CBS Entertainment’s fall 2024 season, a fourth season for “NCIS: Hawai‘i” seemed like a slam dunk. 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
Versatile Hawaii entertainer Al Waterson dies at age 77
Over four decades, Waterson entertained Hawaii audiences as a showroom vocalist, a film and television actor, a recording artist and a karaoke bar host. Read more
CBS cancels ‘NCIS: Hawai‘i’ after 3 seasons
The series finale is set to air May 6. Read more
Royal Hawaiian Hotel to host Ballet Hawaii fundraiser
The festivities start at 5:30 p.m. with cocktails on the Ocean Lawn followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Read more
Bobby Benson Center founder Dave Benson remembered for big contributions
Dave Benson, a co-founder of First Night Honolulu and the Honolulu Symphony Fun Run fundraiser, Race Director of the Honolulu Marathon from 1980 to 1984, and 30-year veteran of the Honolulu Police Department, died April 2 after a short battle with ALS. He was 82. Read more
Janet Jackson donating part of proceeds to Maui victims
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Nyle Hallman, musician and co-founder of Honolulu Boy Choir, dies at age 95
With the help of her daughter, Hallman continued working until the age of 92. Read more
Veteran journalist Emme Tomimbang remembered as ‘dear, caring storyteller’
Tomimbang Burns gave back to the community by establishing and overseeing endowments and scholarships for underserved groups. Read more
Pearl Harbor survivor Sterling Robert Cale dies at 102
Sterling Robert Cale, a Pearl Harbor survivor who served the United States throughout World War II, and also in Korea and Vietnam, and then met thousands of visitors as a volunteer at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, died Jan. 20 at his home in Aiea. He was 102. Read more
Festival highlights Black talent, stories
The challenges faced and overcome by the United States’ first African American astronauts will be celebrated Thursday when the 13th annual Honolulu African American Film Festival opens with a gala screening of “The Space Race” at the Honolulu Museum of Art’s Doris Duke Theatre. Read more
Known as ‘The Hawaiian,’ Roland Leong loved auto racing from an early age
Roland Hung Chew Leong was born in May of 1944 at Queen’s Hospital and grew up on Pacific Heights. Auto racing became his passion at an early age. Read more
Baseball coach Brian McCreadie Sr. helped shape lives of hundreds of youth
The greatest legacy of teachers, school counselors and sports coaches are the young lives they shape and guide toward gainful productive lives. Read more
Keauhou’s Nicholas Lum explores musical frontiers with ‘Pewa’
Nicholas Lum — one-third of the Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning trio Keauhou — aims to challenge how Hawaiian music is defined with his new solo album, “Pewa.” Read more
Pianist Kit Samson, well known for performances at Kahala Hilton, dies at age 89
Kit Samson, a Philippine-born pianist who played a 23-year engagement with his band, Kit Samson’s Sound Advice, at the Kalaha Hilton Hotel, died Dec. 20 after several years of declining health. He was 89. Read more
Fred Kamaka Sr. to be honored Saturday
Kamaka was less than two months short of what would have been his 99th birthday when he died July 23. Read more
Surfer, swimmer Dean Otsuki was dedicated to protecting Hawaii’s beaches
Dean Otsuki — co-founder of the all-volunteer nonprofit Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawai‘i (B.E.A.C.H.) and an avid surfer and swimmer — died Dec. 8 after a 14-year battle with leukemia. He was 61. Read more
‘Malama Maui’ book to benefit fire fund
A new coffee-table photography book captures intimate and behind-the-scenes moments of several rock musicians who have performed at drummer Mick Fleetwood’s restaurant, Fleetwood’s on Front St., in Lahaina. Read more
3 popular comedians to headline shows at Pearlridge Center
Local comedians Andy Bumatai, Augie Tulba and Frank De Lima will be headlining at the No Vacancies Comedy Club, which will take advantage of empty retail spaces at the mall. Read more
Miss Hawaii USA 2020 Samantha Neyland Trumbo to star in BET Christmas rom-com
Hawaii audiences will see a familiar face when Samantha Neyland Trumbo, who was Miss Hawaii USA 2020, stars as Chelsea Alexander in the new holiday rom-com “Christmas Rescue” on the subscription streaming service BET+. Read more
Lyle Nelson, former Star-Bulletin staff writer and avid athlete, dies at 99
Lyle Nelson — a longtime Honolulu Star-Bulletin staff writer, avid sportsman and World War II veteran — died Nov. 11 at Pohai Nani in Kaneohe. He was 99. Read more
‘American Idol’ winner Iam Tongi to release Christmas tunes
Hawaii-born Iam Tongi celebrates his first Christmas as an “American Idol” winner with “An Iam Tongi Christmas,” a three-song EP that will be available Friday on all streaming platforms. Read more
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