Month: March 2025

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ROBERT: PIONEER WITH CONSTANCY

Constancy is what Robert Cazimero is all about.

As a veteran Hawaiian entertainer, he’s done a lot of different things in his ongoing career, and is truly a pioneer and survivor in a field where many others have struggled and even failed.

As a serenading singer-pianist at Chef Chai’s on Kapiolani Boulevard, Cazimero makes his magic work, month after month.

And March being his birthday month, and March 20 being his birthday, Cazimero soldiers on, demonstrating his flexibility as kumu hula, crooner, and raconteur. He’s at Chai’s through Sunday  (March 23), in an ongoing fundraiser for his Halau Na Kamalei O Lililehua.

Robert Cazimero

Best known as a Hawaiian trouper, Cazimero possesses a quick mind and a wide repertoire, and thus is capable of delivering hapa-haole tunes like “Hawaiian Hospitality,” “For You a Lei,” “Lahainaluna,” and “Hanalei Moon.”

He also programs melodies with instinct, sharing “Wahine Ilikea” and “Puu Hone,”  two of many iconic favorites he recorded with his late brother, Roland Cazimero. There’s plenty of memories in these flashbacks. There’s also a renewed vigor where he’s revisiting songs he shelved because they required competency and integrity with Roland, like the “Hokulea” song his bro composed back in the day.

I’ve come to anticipate his occasional surprises, where he dusts off an oft-forgotten number, like “Aioa,” and a gem of a song from the left field, “Trees,” a lyric poem by Joyce Kilmer that also is a song seldom heard. Nifty job of discovery and  recovery.

Yes, there are hula interludes with his regular dancers, Sky Perkins Gora and Bully Keola Makaiau

And special guest hula dancers, like six from Halau I Ka Wekiu, were invitees to perform to fill he aisles with their “My Sweet Gardenia Lei” number.

On this particular eve, Malia Ka‘ai was an invitee to render  “O Makalapua,” a rare honor for a singer, since most guests are hula dancers.

Every so often, Cazimero dusts off Disney ditties, and travels the childhood trail as he did last night with a medley of “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah,” a Mouseketeer chant, and “Bibbidi -Bobbedi-Boo”… plus the ancient “I’m a Little Teapot” tune.

Reservations for the birthday celebration/halau fundraiser is $159, at www.opentable.com/r/chef-chai-honolulu …

Around town

Mary Gutzi

Mary Gutzi, a Broadway actress who’s often at home in Honolulu, will be featured in “Lillian,” a Readers Theatre presentation, at 7:30 p.m. March 24, 25, 26, 31 and April 1 and 2, at The Actors Group’s Brad Powell Theatre at Dole Cannery.

The show, by William Luce, is directed by Vanita Rae Smith, and is set in a room at a New York hospital, where Lillian Hellman awaits the death of her companion, Dashiel Hammett, in a seductive memoir of her life and times. Tickets: https://taghawaii.net/reader-s-theatre …

Shari Lynn, center, flanked by Jim Howard, left, and John Kolivas, right.

The Shari Lynn Trio will take the stage at Medici’s at Manoa Marketplace from 7 p.m. Saturday (March 22).

Singer Shari, backed by keyboarder Jim Howard and bassist John Kolivas, is known for her repertoire of jazz, the Great American Songbook and Broadway fare.

Reservations: (808) 351-0901…

And that’s Show Biz…

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TAG TAPS 3 WILSONS, 1 CATALUNA

TAG  — The Actors Group – has announced its 2025-26 season at the Brad Powell Theatre at Dole Cannery.

TAG will continue its cycle of  August Wilson plays – three titles are on the agenda this coming season – with two world premieres plus one Hawaii premiere. The island launch is the first by a work by popular island playwright Lee Cataluna,  which makes its world debut next spring.

The slate:

  • “The Piano Lesson,” a Wilson drama, Sept. 5 to 21 2025, directed by  Shervelle Hanna.
  • ‘Higher! Higher!,” a musical by Tom Cooper,  Oct. 31 to Nov. 16, 2025, directed by Brad Powell.
  • “Seven Guitars,” another Wilson entry, Jan. 9 to 25, 2026.
  • “Fire Pit,” by Cataluna, March 6 to  22, 2026, in a world premiere directed by Betty Burdick.
Lee Cataluna
  • “Fences,” the final Wilson drama, May 1 to 17,  2026.
  • “The Lake Effect,” by Rajiv Joseph, June 26 to July 12, 2026, in its Hawaii premiere.

Details on the season’s plays to be announced.

Season tickets will be available later.

Information: (808) 741-4699 or www.taghawaii.net

Cazimero’s birthday bash a halau benefit

Robert Cazimero will stage a birthday event from 5 p.m. today (March 19) through Sunday (March 23) at Chef Chai’s.

Robert Cazimero

His serenades, from the grand piano, will feature periodic hula from his usual pair of dancers, with other impromptu participation from hula troupers among the diners.

Cazimero’s actual birthday is tomorrow (March 20), when he turns 76. The event is a fundraiser for his Halau Na Kamalei O Lililehua, which is headed to Hilo next month to compete in the Merrie Monarch Festival.

The last time kumu hula Cazimero and his male dancers ventured to the Merrie Monarch competition in April 2015, they copped first place in the kane division, as well as best-overall laurels.

Cazimero participates in the hula competish once a decade, so this year is the timetable for that visit.

Reservations for the birthday celebration is $159, at www.opentable.com/r/chef-chai-honolulu …

Broadway grosses, for week ending March 16

George Clooney

Though “Othello” continues to top the Broadway charts – indeed, “the play’s the thing” – George Clooney’s debut in “Good Night and Good Morning” drama proved to be quite a draw, and clearly means star power works. It’s the No. 3 attraction, on the Great White Way.

The  Top 10

1—“Othello,” $2.824 million

2—“Wicked,” $2.490  million

3—“Good Night and Good Morning,” $2.358 million

4—“Hamilton,” $2.009 million

5—“The Lion King,” $1.994 million

6—“Glengarry Glen Ross,” $1.907 million

7—“The Outsiders,” $1.500 million

8—“Aladdin,” $1.312 million

9—“The Great Gatsby,” $1.260 million

10—“MJ the Musical,” $1.248 million

The complete list, courtesy the Broadway League:

And that’s Show Biz…

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WUN TON, CHICKEN, AND MORE…

Zippy’s wun ton min, a mainstay on the daily menu, remains a valid lunch choice.

It’s been so long since I’ve ordered it — last time, perhaps three years ago— but I was at the Makiki Zippy’s  the other day and opportunity knocked.

At $11.15, the small wun ton order is still affordable with no frills.

The presentation remains the same: Saimin noodles and wun ton dumplings — four or five pieces — swimming in the broth. There  were two  slivers of  pink and white fish cake, the size of quarters, plus a couple of pieces of egg.  The stem of  spinach in the soup was a great addition.

Zippy’s photol: note char siu pieces, top.

However, on this day, the char siu pork was a wash-out. There seemed to be) single piece dissected into four teeny shreds, and I guess the days of scoring three of four actual wedges of char siu are long gone. Guess char siu prices are high and not generously served.

My photo: note char siu shreds, top left.

For proof, Zippy’s online wun ton photo, date unknown, displays actual char siu pieces; my photo shows the char siu flaw.

Good to know that the serving of wun ton min has 460 calories, but not sure if the total is higher with the side of mustard and shoyu added. Further, there seems to be no formal right or wrong, when it comes to spelling wun ton min. Take your pick: won ton min, wun tun mein, wonton min.

Signage of the times

You’ve seen the makeshift sign at one of the busiest corridors in Waikiki, where Kalakaua Avenue merges with Kapiolani Boulevard. You know the forthcoming drill.

It’s already a hot traffic spot, even without a current tenant at the site, so imagine the anticipation of the snarling traffic when Chick-fil-A roosts at the prime triangular corner where a  low-profile coffee house was the last occupant. Earlier, Hard Rock Café settled into that fabled turf but  pioneering tenants like Kau Kau Korner (which boasted a Crossroads of the Pacific landmark sign) and Coco’s Coffee House prevailed back in the day, with no strain in traffic. Must be there were fewer drivers and cars then, but these were establishments that locals flocked to, particularly after movies and Waikiki  nightclub shows, for late night snacks.

But now, there’s a clear worrisome issue. Whoever approved this Chick-fil-A location didn’t learn about the chaos of the chicken fast food eatery opening on Beretania Street, where Burger King was located, across the street of McDonald’s.

In Waikiki,  there’s no clear resolution to the anticipated mess; one way in, one way out? No left turns into or out from the property.  Is there a plan, or is someone even interested in the potential headache?

Is the chicken worth the pilikia? Just asking.

Sorabol is history

Fans of Korean food should already know that Sorabol, a mecca for kal bi and grill chicken for four decades on Rycroft Street off Keeaumoku Street, had been at its “new” site,  Pagoda Hotel/Restaurant, for a short spell. Haven’t heard if Sorabol has landed a new location, so it’s the end of the road for the family-run, 24/7 Korean restaurant.

Pagoda is part of the Highgate hotel chain and clearly will undergo a makeover. Highgate already operates the Alohilani  resort  (the former Pacific Beach Hotel) and will soon open the new Romer House Waikiki (the ex-Ambassador Hotel). In July, the Kaimana Beach Hotel will join the Highgate brand.

It’s quite certain that new dining spots will evolve at all new sites

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LISTEN UP: SOME WORDS ON ‘GREASE’

Even before it opens tonight (March 14) at Diamond Head Theatre, “Grease” will add three more performances on April 18, 19 and 20 at the tail end of the original run.

“Grease,” the stage musical, is about Rhydell High’s Class of 1959, with all the frills of the era, from hot rods to duck-tailed hair for the dudes and gum-chewing box-soxers doing the hand jive. A period piece, yes, laden with nostalgia

But some cautionary expectations, please, so listen up. The play is not the movie, and vice versa. So get famiiar with the boundaries.

The original stage show, which opened in 1972 on Broadway, should not be confused with the film version which opened during the summer of 1978. The movie surely cemented the popularity of  John Travolta  as Danny  and Olivia Newtown-John as Sandy. And put the show on the map.

The Rydell High teens in the stage musical, “Grease,” opening tonight at DHT>

The now familiar title song was not  in the score of the play. It was a priority special insert, by Barry Gibb and performed in the film score by Frankie Valli, and  the hit song fueled the catch phrase,“Grease is the word,” still uttered decades later.

Some shared tidbits about three other tunes added to the film – that you won’t hear on stage.

Three other titles, added to the film version, provided those romantic flurries and also a solid sliver of rock, which enriched the songscape of the movie soundtrack. You know ‘em well: “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” “You’re the One that I Want” (both written by John Farrar for the film and “Sandy” by Louis St. Louis and Scott Simon.

So, what’s in the stage score? A few titles you’ll recognize, including “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightning,” “We Go Together,” “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee.”  Oh, and that hand-clapper, “Born to Hand Jive.”

DHT’s cast features  Cameron Scot as Danny Zuko, Sophia Ysrael as Sandy Dumbrowski, Jody Bill as Betty Rizzo,  Alexandria Zinov as Marty, Parker Kilkenny as Frenchy,  Lainey Hicks as Jan,  Cate Labas as Patty Simcox, Jantzen Shinmoto as Kenickie,  Chad Navarro-Cortes as Doody,  Kevin Molina as Roger,  Jake Glasser as Sonny Latierri,  Pono Lundell as Eugene Florczyk,  Ryan Philips as Vince Fontaine, and Gabriel Ryan/Kern as Johny Casino.
The ensemble includes Emi Sampson, Jeff Andrews, Brianna Johnston, Victoria Chang, Kirra Baughn, Caris Leong, Jasmine Weldon, Maggie Ryan, Shane Nishimura, Drew Bright, Paul Garcia, Justin Garde and Sammy Houghtailing.

The artistic team includes  Michael Ng, director; Dwayne Sakaguchi,  choreographer; Darcie Yoshinaga,  musical director; DeAnne Kennedy, set designer; Kyle Conner,  props designer; Chris Gouveia, as lighting designer; Emily Lane, costume designer; Aiko Schick, hair and make -up designer; Kristen Kenney,  set painter; La Tanya Siliato,  sound designer;  and Trudi Melohn, stage manager.

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“Grease”

What: A musical about teens at Rydell High School, with book and music by Jim Jacobs,  and Warren Case, with a title tune by Barry Gibb

Where: Diamond Head Theatre

When: Performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays;  also, at 3 p.m. Saturdaysand 4 p.m. Sundays,  from March 14 through Aprill 20.

Tickets: $41 to $68, at www.diamondheadtheatre.com or (808) 733-0274

Broadway grosses, for the week ending March 9

For the second consecutive week, “Othello” has grosses $2.8 million, retaining the top spot on the The Top 10.

The  Top 10:

1—”Othello,” $2.818 million

2—“Wicked,” $2,435 million

3—” Hamilton,” $1.683 million

4—”The Lion King,”$1.543 million

5—”The Outsiders,” $1.306 million

6—”Gypsy,” $1.248 million

7—”MJ The Musical,” $1.202 million

8—”Aladdin,” $1.183 million

9—”Death Becomes Her,” $1.077 million

10—”Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club,” $1.061 million

The complete list, courtesy the Broadway Guild:

And that’s Show Biz…

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FINAL MAILING OF EASTER PINS

Finally, the Easter bunny delivered the final 2025 Easter pins. So: if you’ve not received yours, you’ll likely get ’em tomorrow or Saturday, in plenty of time to celebrate Easter.

Made, too, a limited number of Easter baskets with a pink rose attachment on the front.