Author: Wayne Harada

Quinn Kelsey, veteran Hawaiian baritone and international opera star, will originate the role of Timoteo Ha‘alilio, in “The Sheltering Tree,” a groundbreaking endeavor in Hawaii Opera Theatre’s history-making Hawaiian opera debuting in the 2025-2026 season.

Kelsey, 48, is a Metropolitan Opera luminary especially noted for his performances in operas by Verdi.

“The Sheltering Tree” will embrace Hawaiian language, chants and hula, in a commissioned opera about Haʻalilio, Royal Secretary and close friend to King Kamehameha III, detailing his mission from 1842-45 to secure international recognition of Hawai‘i as a sovereign nation. Despite immense challenges, Haʻalilio’s efforts brought the Kingdom of Hawai‘i to global attention, and the opera celebrates his lasting legacy.

“The Sheltering Tree” will be staged at the Blaisdell Concert Hall now undergoing renovations. The opera is anticipated to be a significant cultural and historical milestone in the annals of Hawai‘i’s operatic history, and Kelsey in the leading role won’t go unnoticed in the operatic community nationally and internationally.

 “The Sheltering Tree” explores universal themes of cultural pride, identity, and sacrifice, set against the colorful backdrop of mid-19th century Hawai‘i. The fact that it combines island language and culture, with the European operatic tradition, makes it a true hybrid of the highest order.

The creative team includes composer Herb Mahelona, librettist Victoria Nālani Kneubuhl, and director and kumu hula Patrick Makuakāne.

The piece, delivering Hawaii-centric mele and hula, narrates the intertwined tales of two significant historic events: the restoration of the Hawaiian Kingdom following a six-month British takeover and the securing of treaties from America, Great Britain, Belgium, and France, recognizing Hawai‘i as an independent nation.

The production also will explore universal themes of cultural pride, identity, and sacrifice, set against the colorful backdrop of mid-19th century Hawai‘i..

These events, celebrated today as Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea and Lā Kūʻokoʻa, are poignantly told through the story of Timoteo Haʻalilio, a diplomat and unsung hero who dedicated his life to his country, alongside King Kamehameha III, Kauikeaouli, and missionary and advisor William Richards.

A workshop reading of “The Sheltering Tree” is scheduled in Honolulu in August, featuring a week of rehearsals culminating in a full musical run-through for key HOT staff and the creative team. This critical phase will refine the opera’s dramatic flow and vocal writing, ensuring a powerful final production.

Also, a panel discussion featuring the creative team will be presented to board members and community leaders.

This historic production will illuminate pivotal events from the 1840s in Hawaiian history, bringing to life the vibrant story of Hawai’i’s struggle for independence and how a Hawaiian hero sacrificed everything for his love of king and country…

HOT ’24-‘25: TRIO OF SHOWS

The Hawaii Opera Theatre has announced its 2024-25 season, comprising three productions in two venues.

The schedule:

• “Stuck Elevator,” Oct. 18 and 20, at Blaisdell Arena. Based on a true story, performed in English, Chinese and Spanish, with English supertitles.

Plot: A Chinese food deliveryman, struggling for freedom from debt, human strugglers, loud-mouth co-workers, and the temptations of General Tso, is stuck in a Bronx elevator for 81 hours. A drama on the science escape, amid realities of immigration, labor, familial obligations of an undocumented immigrant and an indentured slave in 21^st century America

•  “The Riot Grrrl on Mars,” Feb. 21 and 23 2025, at Blaisdell Concert Hall. An English adaptation of ”Italian Girl in Algiers,” performed in English with English supertitles.

Plot: A space opera about a Punk Rocker chick, crash-landing on Mars.

The King of Mars —  watching American television broadcasts for some time – is fascinated with all things human and searches for a new Earthling queen and captures Mosquito and the Riot Grrrl attempting to rescue her beloved. An exploration of Martian lore the red planet is part of the journey.

• “Carmen: A Staged Concert,” April 11 and 13 2025, at Blaisdell Concert Hall. Performed in French, with English supertitles.

Plot: Bizet’s smoldering tale of seduction, about Carmen and her suitor Don Jose, features some of opera’s most beloved memories. Carmen, a fiery gypsy, abandons Jose for a charismatic bullfighter, triggering a murderous obsession with Jose.

Presented as a staged concert, with the orchestra on the mainstage, fully visible to the audience and part of the landscape of the piece. Performers will be in full costumes, revived from HOT’s 2017 production, so you can experience the depth of each character, minus a set…

And that’s Show Biz…

Two superstars of music – Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga – have collaborated on a new single, “Die With a Smile,” just released last night.

He, of course, is a native son of Hawaii, known for beaucoup chartbusters including “Uptown Funk.” She is not just a queen of song, but a diva on the big screen, notably for her “A Star Is Born” with Bradley Cooper.

The duo describe their new song as “a timeless ballad.” It’s the first new music from either crooner since 2021 and 2022, respectively. It’s No.2 among new trending music (watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPa7bsKwL-c ).

It’s likely to be No. 1 layer today.

 Gaga and Mars have amassed a remarkable 300 million recording globally, with a combined 13 singles that have reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100.

Gaga will likely be a big screen sensation again, with her co-starring role alongside Joaquin Phoenix, who is returning to his Oscar-winning Joker role in a sequel, “Joker: Folie à Deux.”

Mars has been on a global tour, but has had to skip shows in dangerous hotbed cities. However, as a staple of the Las Vegas Strip, he continues to expand on his residency at the Park MGM,  where he will ring in the New Year with six new shows at Dolby Live at Park MGM on Dec. 18, 20, 21, 27, 20 and 31, the latter performance a New Year’s Eve spectacle with all the bells and whistles. Tickets go on sale Friday (Aug. 16) at https://mgm/parkmgm.com/qq0gogow2n …

Remembering Don Ho

The incomparable Don Ho, who would be 94 if still alive, will be honored in a belated birthday salute today (Aug.16) at the International Market Place.

Ho, who was born on Aug. 13, died April 14 2007 at age 76.

He’s easily Hawaii’s best known entertainer, thanks to such hit songs as “I’ll Remember You,” “Tiny Bubbles,” “Lahainaluna,” “One Paddle, Two Paddle,”  “Pearly Shells” and “Suck ‘em Up,” and appearances at such Waikiki venues as Duke Kahanamoku’s, the Polynesian Palace, the Hilton Hawaiian Village, and the showroom at the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel.

A lei-draping ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. at Ho’s statue at the Market Place, with his widow, Haumea Ho, and members of Ho’s family also expected to be on hand. A tribute show at 6 p.m., led by Henry Kapono, will follow.

There is no admission fee…

And that’s Show Biz…

I love to nibble on little snacks before dinner each night.

I don’t sip wine anymore, but I still enjoy a simple store-bought snack, to accompany my Coke Zero or plain ice water. Over the past six or eight months, I’ve discovered stuff I really like.

So, let’s see what’s in the snack shack:

A refrigerated Costo pack

I love Sargento’s cheese and crackers snack, marketed under a Balanced Breaks product, and there are 12 mini-trays  in a bundle sold in the freezers of Costo. Six packs of Wheat Thins come with Monterey Jack and mild cheddar cheese  that you assemble like mini-pupu, one sliver on each teeny Wheat Thins.

The other half of the pack repeats the concept: miniature Ritz Crackers come with slivers of Pepper Jack and Colby Jack cheese.

I prefer the Wheat Thins combo over the Ritz Crackers, for no particulary reason except I like Wheat Thins better than Ritz Crackers.  But the variety is part of the joy…

A yummy party mix at Costo

Okay, here’s one that I’d expect to find at Marukai or Don Quijote.

This“Japanese Party Mix,” with rice crackers and familiar cereal variations, is clearly Japan-oriented. Its flavors include furikake,  and the mix includes rice and wheat Chex and corn Chex, but dubbed Squares, alongside pretzels, bugles, almonds, mochi and what obviously must be Honeycomb cereal, sweet and delightful, but not described. Arare, especially sakura-shaped rice crackers, is not among the ingredients but should have been…

A Japan treat at Trader Joe’s

Then there’s a Trader Joe’s snack called “Sweet and Salty Umami Crunchies,” a rice cracker package that’s savory and satisfying. A friend gave us a bag earlier this year, and I looked for it at the TJ in New York, but it was available. But another friend found ‘em at TJ in California, so I can’t wait to reunite with this one.

Tastes like and looks like a Japan item, but I’ll have to examine the package closely when I get one.

Happy munching!

Jason Tam,  one of Broadway’s popular singer-actors with roots in Hawaii, continues to develop his catalogue of credits.

You might remember him as the apostle Peter when NBC Live staged “Jesus Christ Superstar” on TV or as Paul San Marcos in the last revival of “A Chorus Line,” which earned him accolades.

Tam will portray John McCain, the late Republican senator from Arizona, in the world premiere of an upcoming off-Broadway musical satire, “Ghost of John McCain,” opening Sept. 24 at the SoHo Playhouse after a series of previews beginning Sept. 3.

Featuring a book by Scott Elmegreen and a score by Drew Fornarola, “Ghost of John McCain” is described as “an uproarious exploration of power, rivalry, and the human condition” and “the ticket we need during the election cycle from hell.”

The plot envisions McCain –the former U.S. senator from Arizona, who served as a Naval officer before turning to politics – amid an unusual heavenly environment.

With its political spin, with an election forthcoming, the show is timely with other lead players including Luke Kolbe Mannikus as Donald Trump and Zonya Love as Kamala Harris.

When McCain awakens in the afterlife, he finds himself trapped inside the mind of former president Trump, alongside a quasi-Greek Chorus of other public figures: Hillary Clinton, Roy Cohn, Eva Perón, Teddy Roosevelt, Robert Jordan, and Lindsey Graham. In order to escape, the motley crew is forced to engage in a high-stakes debate over life, legacy, and American values.

Catie Davis will direct…

Martin Nievera to mark 42^nd anniversary

Martin Nievera, known as the Concert King of the Philippines, will celebrate his 42^nd anniversary as a show biz veteran, with a performance at 8 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The venue, also known as The Big Dome, is located in Araneta City in the Cubao are of Quezon City, in the Philippines.

Nievera has performed numerous times in Hawaii and watched the Society of Seven shows regularly at the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel, because his dad, Roberto Nievera, was the resident romantic singer.

He attended Kaiser High School and graduated from a Concord, Calif. school. It was his exposure to the SOS performances that piqued his interest in becoming a crooner himself.

In the Philippines, he became a recording artist, a concert performer, a TV star and movie leading man, creating a brand crossing all facets of entertainment. The concert focus has become his signature…

‘Wicked’ tops ‘Lion’ in Broadway grosses

Something “Wicked” this way comes

Last week brought an interesting mix at the pinnacle of Broadway shows. Could all those filmic pitches, about the Thanksgiving arrival of “Wicked,” the movie, fuel the New York musical production to leap to No 1, dethroning “The Lion King”?

And what’s with “The Wiz”? It jumped up on the Yellow Brick Road to No. 4 this week. Further, “Hell’s Kitchen” dropped from No. 4 to No. 6.

The Top 10:

1—”Wicked,” $2.226 million

 2—”The Lion King,” $2.136 million.

3—”Hamilton,” $1.947 million.

 4—”The Wiz,” $1.683 million.

 5—”Aladdin,” $1.594 million.

6—”Hell’s Kitchen,” $1.544 million,

 7—”Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club,” $1.504 million.

8—”The Outsiders,” $1.486 million.

 9—”MJ the Musical,” $1.324 million.

10—”Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” $1.317 million.

The entire list, courtesy the Broadway League:

And that’s Show Biz…

It’s time to focus again on the blatant, ongoing mispronunciation of three common Japanese words/names.

Broadcasters – on radio, TV, you name it – don’t properly  pronounce three common Japanese terms or names:

1. Honda, the car.
2. Tokyo, the city.
3. Panko, the breadcrumbs favored by chefs.

I have friends named Honda; it’s a valid surname here and in Japan. They say it this way: “Hohn-da.” Yep, there is the Honda car brand. Media announcers unknowingly utter it as “Hahn-da.”  “Hohn” and “Hahn” are not one and the same. FHI , one of the original founders of the Honda vehicle is Soichiro Honda, whose  business was Honda Motor Company. No ifs, ands or buts. To reiterate, it’s “Hohn-da.”

Then there’s the city of Tokyo. It’s a two-syllable name, “Toh-kyo,”  if pronounced properly. However, you unilaterally hear it as a three-syllable name, “Toh-kee-yo.” Uh, uh, it’s “Toh-kyo.” If it were a three syllable name, it would have to be spelled “To-ki-yo.”

Then there’s that product now universally utilized by chefs and home cooks. In Hawaii, locals know “Panko” well,  an integral ingredient for tonkatsu or tempura. It’s properly pronounced “Pahn-ko,” but elsewhere, folks say it as “Pann-ko,” like in “frying pan.”

In 2021, I discussed this dilemma, but it still persists.

Then there’s yet other badly, frequently mispronounced word. It’s karaoke. Perhaps fodder for another time…