Category: Show Biz

There’s a new addition to the Sayre household in Mililani Mauka. Loretta Ables Sayre, the entertainer, and David Sayre, her publicist hubby, have welcomed Kamuela Sayre, whose pitter-pattering around the house is music to the ears.

Kamuela is 7, so somewhat of a senior, and he is a black lab mix “that is all love,” says Loretta. “We weren’t looking for a senior dog after losing Kaimana so recently,” she says on Facebook. “But when we met Kamuela and couldn’t get him out of our minds, we knew he needed us.”

It’s been a mutual admiration relationship since. So the Hawaiian Humane Society is one dog short, and Kamuela’s constantly wagging tail means he’s happy to find a home.

Kamuela loves cooked rice, and is “77 lbs. of solid love,” says Loretta. “Our hearts are full again.” …

A Willie remembrance…

Since June is Willie K Month on Maui — and there’s no rule that we can’t salute Willie Kahaiali’i in Honolulu — thought I’d share a reflection from one of his fans on Oahu.

This was from an email I received today; the writer prefers anonymity:

“Before he was really well-known, a young pre-school teacher in our Alpha Delta Kappa educational sorority got him to entertain at our Southwest Conference at the Sheraton Waikiki because his child was in her class.  He liked her so much he did it for free.

“On the evening of our banquet he walked onto the stage with wild, bushy hair, aloha shirt, short pants and no shoes.  Seated next to me was a special guest from Washington, DC.  She was not a classroom teacher but an out-spoken woman who trained executives.  Taking one look at Willie K’s, she expressed her outrage at his appearance.

“Then as he talked and started with ‘local’ songs, she continued to complain.  However, she was silenced when he sang an operatic selection, and at the end of the evening she wanted to thank the pre-school teacher.”  

Willie often startles or even offends folks who’ve never seen or heard him, but inside this rough, perhaps sometimes crude exterior lived an artist who mostly let his music tell his story. Yes, he often wore slippahs and appeared on stage with a comfy disposition. But when he sang, he reigned supreme — a book that might have a tattered cover, but a soul with pages of significant power and compelling storytelling brilliance. Simply, he has been a cultural pioneer with hard-to-beat versatility. Imua, Willie, and yes, Hawaii and the world miss you dearly…

And that’s “Show Biz.”…

Actor Miles Teller, best known for his movie “Whiplash,” was assaulted at a Maui restaurant last week, putting a damper on his island vacation with wife Keleigh Sperry Teller and a celebrity couple.

As reported by TMZ, Miles was punched in his face outside of the restroom of the Monkeypod Kitchen on Maui last Wednesday evening. Apparently, the incident was unprovoked, and is under investigation.

The Tellers were on vacation and dining with the actor’s “Divergent” co-star and friend, Shailene Woodley, and her high-profile fiancé, MVP QB Aaron Rodgers of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers. Instagram photo postings reflect the two couples’ peaceful vacation that included hiking and swimming on Maui and some golfing.

The diners were also involved in karaoke singing and dancing before the attack. Reports indicated that the vocals included “Shadow” (the hit song from “A Star Is Born”) and “Stand by Me.”

Teller’s film credits include “War Dogs,” “The Fantastic Four,” “Insurgent” and “The Spectacular Now.” He will be seen in the upcoming “Top Gun: Maverick” with Tom Cruise and the yet-to-be-released “The Flag,” co-starring Woodley.

Woodley has previously filmed in Hawaii, when she had a leading role opposite George Clooney, in the 2011 hit  movie, “The Descendants,” a kamaaina story based on the novel by local author Kaui Hart Hemmings. Her other films include “The Fault in Our Stars” and “Insurgent.”

The assailant, allegedly a wedding planner, accused Teller of owing him $60,000 for earlier services for the couple’s 2019 wedding. …

Recording notes

It’s taken a year for entertainer Willy Falk, a New Yorker with Hawaii roots, to complete recording and mastering his first two island melodies.

He collaborated with guitarist Jeff Peterson, to put his own stamp of two popular Hawaiian ditties: “Hawaiian Lullaby” and “E Maliu Mai.” We got a preview listen. Superb! Seductive! Satisfying!

The key challenge in getting the songs mastered “because post-production studios were closed.”

But they’re now on YouTube: “Lullaby” at

and “Maliu” at

Indeed.

With the pandemic messing up everyone’s career and interrupting normal life the past year and a half, Falk is pondering the fate of the annual Buff N Blue Punahou Reunion Weekend  and alumni lū’au coming up June 11. Because of coronavirus, it will be the second year in a row without an Alumni Tent of 2,000 people.
“I will be home in front of my laptop for five hours … I am DEEP into being at the helm for my Punahou 45^th virtual reunion,” he said in an email. “I am literally on board to host all four events at my laptop here in New York. Weird, but we are trying to make it fun.”Tough to stage this one virtually. …

Silk Sonic, the duo with Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, are nominees for two BET Awards, set to be announced June 27. The first single, “Leave the Door Open,” is the reason that Sonic is quite the tonic, nominated for Group of the Year and Video of the Year. …

And that’s “Show Biz.” …

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Three “names” with island ties have fascinating tales in the May issue of The Magazine, the

AARP publication for seniors.

In a story dubbed Finding Their Heroes, the mag spotlights folks of local interest:

• Olympian Greg Louganis’ hero as an athlete was the late Duke Kahanamoku, the celebrated Hawaiian free-lance swimmer-surfer who won three Olympic gold medals. Louganis, who collected four gold trophies himself, is part Samoan, was adopted as an infant, but met his biological father Fouvale Lutu some years ago, and learned he had a half-brother and two half-sisters with Hawaii ties.

• Amy Tan, author of the revered “The Joy Luck Club,” credits local author Maxine Hong Kingston and her “The Woman Warrior” book for inspiration that Asians could publish stories they know. Tan notes that Kingston’s life wasn’t just her own – it was a turning page for other authors of color to open the door, or book, to share their tales.

• If there was no Patsy Mink, there might not have been a Mazie Hirono, because Mink was the first woman of color to serve in Congress in the 1960s and ‘70s, serving 12 terms. She created such trend-setting legislations like Medicare and co-authored the Title IX law for equal-sex opportunities.  “I’m grateful that America offered me many opportunities,” says Sen. Hirono, an immigrant (born in Japan) who was a lieutenant governor of Hawaii who earned a seat in Congress in 2013 and the nation’s first Buddhist to serve.

These separate stories reflect the power of minorities beating the odds and becoming models for generations to come. …

Whee, the people

Local boy KoDee Martin has been cast as Ferdinand, King of Navarre, in Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” a July production in Central Park. It’s his New York theatrical debut, so if you’re in The Big Apple this summer, go visit. Martin was part of the “Allegiance” cast when the Manoa Valley Theatre staged the Hawaii debut of the show at the Hawaii Theatre. …

Singer Shari Lynn and hubby Michael Acebedo head to New York shortly –  beginning a five-week vacation-celebration of their 45^th wedding anniversary, but one year tardy because of last year’s pandemic. If the Tokyo Olympics can stage a belated to-do, why not the Kailua couple? Bon voyage – and a shout-out for a happy 46^th. …

Isle actress B.K. Cannon has a featured role in “Why Women Kill,” streaming on Paramount + this summer. She filmed her Season 2 role from last October till last April, in the height of the coronavirus pandemic; it’s a 10-episode, dark comedy series set in 1949, with requisite period costumes, cars and set,  from Marc Cherry, who created “Desperate Housewives.” …

And that’s “Show Biz.” …

You know you’ve arrived when you make it as a crossword puzzle clue.

Example: Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole’s name landed into a Washington Post crossword puzzle on May 22. Indeed, that was an “aha” moment.

The clue was: “Instruments played by Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole.”

The answer was: UKES.

Simple. Stunning. Spectacular. Singular sensation.

There possibly might have been an alternate clue: Known for uke-strumming, with golden voice singing a famous rainbow song. The answer would be: Kamakawiwo‘ole.

But if that were to be the proper response,  there might not have been enough boxes to fully spell out his surname. And how would the ‘okina fare?

Of all the Hawaiian entertainers who became world famous in the past – and there have been several – the only other celeb who migrated into the world of crosswords was Don Ho,  in a New York Times puzzle. And this achievement eventually became a trivia question on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.” Bruddah Iz must be grinning and comparing notes with Uncle Don. …

Bruno sells part of catalog

A day after becoming the first entertainer to achieve Diamond Certification for five single hits, islander Bruno Mars has sold a share of his music catalogue to Warner Chappel Music, a publishing company, according to Billboard.

Mars, 35, has a stake in 232 songs in his entire catalog, sold a share of his catalogue to WCM. The deal was sealed about six months ago and announced recently, through terms were not disclosed.

“At the heart of his immense talents is his incredible songwriting, which he honed for years before he became a recording superstar,” says Guy Moot, CEO of WCM. “Like only a true great can, he’s mastered and transcended multiple musical genres with extraordinary originality and versatility.” …

And that’s “Show Biz.” …