Neither rain, nor wind, nor flooding have halted the arrival of Bunny season.
Translation: The 2026 edition of Easter pins is out and hopping.
Two batches of the holiday pins – what I create annually for Easter – have been mailed at the post office, and more will be surfacing in the weeks ahead.
So watch your mail box office. Initially, out-of-town recipients will be the first to receive Easter pins.
Neither rain, nor wind, nor flooding have halted the arrival of Bunny season.
Translation: The 2026 edition of Easter pins is out and hopping.
Two batches of the holiday pins – what I create annually for Easter – have been mailed at the post office, and more will be surfacing in the weeks ahead.
So watch your mail box office. Initially, out-of-town recipients will be the first to receive Easter pins.
“West Side Story,” which was to open Friday night (March 13) at Diamond Head Theatre, will not happen even it is an audience sell-out. Because of the lingering stormy weather, the governor has shut down all educational facilities.
Though DHT is not under the governor’s jurisdiction, the Kapiolani Community College is and its parking lot across the theater will be shuttered, said DHT executive director Trevor Tamashiro. The theater patrons need KCC’s parking spaces, which will not be available.
Trevor Tamashiro
“We just got the notice earlier at 1 p.m., and we have crews trying to inform folks that the show on the 13 is not happening,” said Tamashiro.
Further, Saturday’s (March 14) show – also sold out — also likely will not happen, due to the weather.
A Sunday (March 15) matinee could be open, but it’s subject to the rain.
Curiously, these early March shows, were supposed to be pre-opening “extension” dates.
“The opening night still will be on March 20,” said Tamashiro.
“West Side Story,” often considered one of the world’s most powerful, poignant and enduing love story, has survived a storied past. Surely, it will weather the wet days and nights we’ve been having earlier this week.
Based on William Shakespeare’s fabled “Romeo and Juliet,” the DHT show is scheduled extended through April 9, which includes add-on playdates. But with the closures this week, make-up performances are expected to fulfill a five-week run.
The tale tracks the star-crossed young lovers, who are caught in the crossfires of two feuding “sides,” with nowhere to go but a tragic finale.
In the retelling on stage, “West Side Story” is set in the Upper West Side of New York of the 1950s, where street gang racial violence pit the white teens of New York against the Puerto Rican Sharks–
Like Romeo and Juliet, Tony and Maria are caught in the web and theme of trouble-seeking West Side youths provoking gang violence. The couple, from both side of the tracks, innocently become victims in warfare not of their making.
The music is by Leonard Bernstein, with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, whose melodies pump up the love and hatred and the original choreography and direction by Jerome Robbins propelled the show into a bona fide triumph of devastation, loss and unabashed tragedy. The book is by Arthur Laurents.
The original Broadway production had the eminent award-winning director Hal Prince as one of the producers overseeing the show.
Locally, Andrew Sakaguchi is directing and choreographing the DHT vehicle, with Jason Nomura as musical director.
The cast is comprised of Damien Chambers (Tony), Relle Revis (Maria), Jonah Guerrero (Action, Tony Alternate), Emi Joy Sampson (Anita), Mike Braud (Riff), Dwayne Sakaguchi (Bernardo), Karsyn Wentzell (Big Deal), Alex Miller (Snow Boy), James Lauer (Diesel), Tai Malalis (A-Rab), Owen Gaillard (Baby John), Colton Cameros (Guitar), Chandler Converse (Anybodys), Salote Vahai (Graziella), Brittany Lewis (Velma), Anneliese Wirsching (Minnie), Justin Garde (Chino), Sammy Houghtailing (Anxious), Tino Nozaki (Indio), Saea Hikila (Pepe), Paul Garcia (Luis), Trent Yamagata (Toro), Kirra Baughn (Teresita), Caris Leong (Francisca), Pualalea Slover (Consuela), Rain Young (Estella), KC Ann Olivas (Rosalia), Ken Roberts (Shrank), Brandon Yim (Glad Hand), Ioani Camacho (Krupke), Joe Martyak (Doc), Kalani Hicks (Shrank Cover), and Jasmine Weldon (Swing).
The technical crew is headed by Deanne Kenndy (set designer), Stephen Clear (lighting designer), Emily Lane (costume designer), Michael Minor and La Fa’amausili-Siliato (sound designers), Kyle Conner (props designer), and Aiko Schick (hair and make-up designer).
If you have tickets for performances that have been canceled, call the box office at (808) 733-0274. Regular hours of operation are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on weekends during production days…
Award-winning Robert Cazimero and his hula Halau Na Kamalei O Lililehua will go Windward in March, making their debut at the Windward Community College’s Paliku Theatre in two shows at 2 and 6 p.m. March 22.
The concerts, themed “A Ko‘olau Au” (“I Am the Windward Side”), will pay tribute to the region. Cazimero said the show’s title is derived “from an old chant many schools perform.”
He added, “What is most important is the fact that we are going to be doing songs for the Windward side of O‘ahu, from Waimanalo to Paumalū. It’s a celebration for its people, ‘aina and mele.”
Robert Cazimero
The Windward side, with its verdant and dominating Ko‘olau rmountain range, is notably impressive and inspiring especially during the winter raining season, like now. Over the decades, it has motivated and stimulated the imagination of many. Windward resources are plentiful; the Pahinui family in Waimanalo has been prolific singers-musicians, Singers-composers have made their marks with hit songs (think Jerry Santos of Olomana, with “Kuu Home O Kahaluu” and Jay Larrin, with “The Ko‘olaus Are Sleeping Now.”
Historic towns and communities like Lanikai, Kailua, Kaneohe, Waiahole, Ka‘a,’awa, Kahana, Punalu’u and La’ie have also inspired songs and mele; even Hollywood has been lured to a popular site, Kualoa Ranch, and welcomed filmdom’s Steven Spielberg and his “Jurassic Park” dinosaur box office hits.
Members of Halau Na Kamalei O Lilililehua, in hula kahiko
So there is no shortage of titles and theses from Cazimero and Halau Na Kamalei, reigning Merrie Monarch Festival winners.
“I am a towny,” said Cazimero, “and there is no doubt and I do love it. But it’s easy to let what you see at face value overshadow what you need for my heart’s value. When that happens, I drive through the Pali, to the Windward side of the Ko`olau. It fills and replenish me and is the inspiration for our show.”
A few other performers will be secured, but not yet named. Negotiatons also are underway for “the conglomerate of three hula halau,” he noted.
He added, “As should be expected, HNKOL will be there as well as Bob’s Boys. That would be my band consisting of Kaipo Hale, Keala Chock and Richard Heirakuji. (The gents made their debut as a backup band) at Cazimerio’s two concerts last Oct. 11 and 12 at Leeward Communty Theatre). I’m hoping that Miss Kanoe Kaumeheiwa Miller will be there, but I haven’t heard back from her yet.”
Cazimero,, left, with Bob’s Boys: Richard Heirakujii, Keala Chock and Kaipo Hale.
“It is my birthday month, but we’re not gonna be celebrating that too much. Cazimero will perform at his birthday bash at 6:30 p.m. March 19 at Chef Chai and it’s already virtually sold out. For reservation inquiries, call the retaurant at (808) 585-0011.
Cazimero, a legendary vocalist, showman, and recording artist, is featured at his first-time art show in the Gallery Iolani adjoining Paliki Theatre. The display, focusing on Robert and his brother Roland Cazimero and the Cazimero ‘ohana, will be open before the 2 p.m. Paliku concert and after the show, and also before the 6 p.m. finale.
“We’re taking advantage of the gallery next door and incorporating what’s there for the show,” said Cazimero. “It’s an opportunity to talk about those that I love in the gallery that are no longer here. I’m hoping that after the concert people will go to the gallery and appreciate it even more. It gives me chicken skin.”
Proceeds from the concerts will go to the sponsoring Wahea Foundation, and beneficiaries include Cazimero and his singing-and-dancing halau gentlemen.
Tickets go on sale this week, with all seats priced at $50, though University of Hawaii students with student ID cards can purchase limited student tickets for $25, with a link at www.waheafoundationb@gmail.com
Good news: Zippy’s Kahala will be renovating its restaurant. Last day for dining: Wednesday Feb. 25. The restaurant will shut down for a facelift, though the update in the main dining room doesn’t appear to be tattered. The take-out counter and the on-site Japanese restaurant will be closed, too, beginning Thursday, Feb. 26. On-site wait-help will have to pitch in and tidy up the eatery…then seek shifts at other Zippy’s locations till the reopening.
Bad news: Zippy’s Kahala will be closed until June 2026. Precise reopening date will be announced later. That means if you’ve been accustomed to chowing and chatting at Zippy’s, you may have to settle for Zippy’s Hawaii Kai take-out at Koko Marina, since the dining room has been shuttered for quite a while now. The nearest Zippy’s (without the usual dining room) is the Kaimuki restaurant, not the same as a customary dining room. You’d have to go west to either the Maikiki Zippy’s near Washington Middle School, or the earlier renovated popular site where Wisteria used to be.
Jack be nimble: Maybe Jack’s in Aina Haina will lure the breakfast trade, since its menu has ample options and the grilled biscuits, with honey butter, always hits the spot.
Worth exploring: Beastside Kitchen, in the Niu Valley Shopping Center, has imaginative breakfast options, and with options lean in the area, this restaurant might be the one to come to the rest. Tried the breakfast earlier but the offerings now are more like inventive and bountiful lunch for the morning crowd, with daily feasts from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring creative island-style dishes, ranging from loco mocos to eggs benedict, kal bi with eggs, with options with imaginative names as Da Elvis French Toast and Chee Hoo Breakfast Sandwich. Bring a big appetite and hey, your breakfast feast turn out to be lunch, too.
Unconfirmed rumor: That open space where Fat Boy’s used to be, at Koko Marina, might become a future Popeye’s chicken restaurant.
Recent arrival: Domino’s Pizza, at the Hawaii Kai Towne Center, on the site of the former Jersey Mike’s.
Fritters: Fans of Safeway’s apple fritters are discovering that the version in the mix of doughnuts and bagels is simply OK; the current fritter is rounder than the one we all remember, and the “complexion” is lighter than the darker original which also had its own distinctive shape.
Recently, I had a yummy dinner the likes of which I haven’t had for perhaps 50 years.
It was fried aku bones.
Yep, many families used to dine on aku bones when available. No, you don’t eat the skeletal remains, but you’d nibble on the flesh of the bones of fish, which were seasoned with salt and pepper and served as a casual meal.
You were able to buy uncooked aku bones at your neighborhood market; if it sold aku filet, it would have had the aku bones – remnants of the fish – the home chefs would buy and then serve. Ono stuff.
Fried aku bones — a delicacy, if you can find ’em these days
But I don’t know how long ago that markets pulled the plug on aku bones. After all, it’s supposed to be a discarded item. If they’re still sold, it must be a regional secret.
But my nephew, who was on a mission to purchase aku filets at Tamashiro Market in Palama, noticed the availability of aku bones. He managed to score enough and save some for me.
These bones were simply wrapped up in a market’s pink paper, and given to regular customers. I mean, come on, you can’t buy/sell steak bones, so why can you sell aku bones?
Folks of a certain vintage will remember aku bones. You’d have to grab the bones with your fingers cuz you couldn’t use a knife and fork to cut the flesh off the fish, since there wasn’t much on the bone. Yet if you had two or three of these critters, you had a meal in the old days.
After salt and peppering – you could add a dash of garlic – you simply fried till it was koge – blackened or charred – and some folks deep-fried the aku bones. White rice wouldn’t have been the only other component you’d need to have a feast. Since the bone would be a hand-held item, a musubi would have been the perfect partner.
Then you’d suck away, till every morsel of the aku flesh would be slurped and consumed. But eating the aku bones required some skill and caution, because the bones were sharp and subject to poke and wound you. So you’d have to learn to use your tongue to navigate. Honest!
This all might sound gross and disgusting, but if you have elders in your household, ask ‘em about aku bones. It was an incredible edible, only consumed at home. You’d never serve it to guests at your dinner table and you’re never find it on a restaurant menu. But if you remember and treasured aku bones, you’d never forget ‘em.
So: If you’re a fan of fried aku bones, share your memories here.
