TIME MARCHES ON…CAZIMERO, TOO

March 20 is Robert Cazimero’s “39th” birthday, and he’s traditionally celebrating the whole month.

One “party” was his Full Moon concert last night (March 3), at Chef Chai’s, his monthly sold-out gig. But more on this later.

Cazimero, pictured below, is kumu hula of Halau Na Kamalei O Likolehua, the all-gents group of dancers, and the halau and its leader are staging a benefit  for the halau at 7:30 p.m. March 17 at Leeward Community Theatre.

Themed “Pae ‘Aina,” the show – still in planning and rehearsing mode – will feature an all-kahiko for Act 1, according to kumu. A unique Act 2 will assemble the halau troupers in three groups (senior dancers, mid-range dancers, and newbie-younger dancers), to reflect the spectrum of the halau members, according to Cazimero.

The show is sort of a prelude to next year’s milestone for kumu Cazimero –- “my 50th anniversary as a hula teacher,” he said —  and the halau will return to the Merrie Monarch Festival in 2025. So, it will be a memorable niche in the halau’s history…

But back to Cazimero’s show at Chai’s. It was a marvelous overview including usual serenades of Hawaiian music, in Hawaiian and in English, plus a nostalgic roster of pop tunes. The result; a lei laced with layers of memories and remembrances, of joy and humor, and nostalgic anecdotes from the past.

Robert Cazimero, on keyboards, with dancer Fern (Kapalai ‘Ula Silva).

Examples:

  • The first song he learned with brother Roland, before they became part of Sunday Manoa and then The Brothers Cazimero was “The Nearness of You,” emblematic of their bond that would establish the bros as a bona fide Waikiki entity, for several decades, including their 1982 to 1994 residency at the Monarch Room, at the fabled “Pink Palace,” aka the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Naturally, Cazimero sang “Royal Hawaiian Hotel,” a classic melody combining Hawaiian and English lyrics.
  • The mentors who taught him chords and the tricks of the piano were the legendary Mahi Beamer and Loyal Garner.
  • Tunes still lodged in his memory book, from visits to Disneyland in the past: “When You Wish Upon a Star,” “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah,” “Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo,”  and he sang ‘em all. Even “Meeska, Mooska, Mickey Mouse,” the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse song that today’s kids don’t know.

Bully (Keola Makaiau), dancing to “Leahi,” but victim of a mistake.

  • His playful moments with featured hula dancers Fern (Kapalai ‘Ula Silva) and Bully (Keola Makaiau) reflected comradery; she was the focus of “Lovely Hula Hands,” with her hula hands graceful as the birds mentioned in the tune; he was the victim of making an error in enacting “Leahi,” the melody about Diamond Head, and the playful miscue meant the dancer had to buy the singer-pianist a drink.
  • The drink led to the obvious toast and tune, “Drinking Champagne,” with intermittent pauses for Cazimero to take a sip of bubbly.

Don’t expect to hear these songs or chit-chats in future Full Moon Concerts at Chai’s, since Cazimero never repeats and regurgitates his patter and patterns. You get an original each time he’s at bat…

And that’s Show Biz…

KEKUNA BROTHERS IN 2 SEPARATE SHOWS

Ezekiel Kekuna, the Kaneohe lad tapped to star as Young Simba in Disney’s cast of “The  Lion King” on Broadway, is looking forward to return to the Pridelands.

Zeke has been on sick leave for several weeks, due to an injury that left him wearing a leg/foot boot, and he will finally return to the limelight this Saturday (Feb. 24) at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway. He opened last December for a six-month run before the injury in January sidelined him.

Ezekiel Kekuna and his February playdates in “The Lion King.”

Meanwhile, older brother  Ezra Kekuna will  portray Squidward in “SpongeBob Squarepants: the Musical,” a modified junior production of the Broadway musical based on the cartoon character and his undersea colleagues. It’ll be a three-day run Friday night (Feb. 23) through Sunday afternoon, in a Castle Performing Arts Center production at the Ron Bright Theatre.

Ezra Kekuna as Squidward, in “SpongeBob” at Ron Bright Theatre.

Hence, the brothers Kekuna will be in action in two musicals on two stages for the first time.

“I am so excited to be back and wanted to say a big thank you for your love, well wishes, and prayers,” Zeke said in a Facebook posting. “God blessed me with the best family, friends, doctors, and specialists to get me back to where I’m supposed to be, especially Mom (Sarahlea Gamiao Kekuna) for being there every step of the way. I am ready and look forward to seeing you in the Pridelands!”

Zeke’s performance dates are listed in the visual above; he is alternating with another youth actor as Young Simba, in compliance with usual Broadway guidelines. Many island family and friends had been securing tickets to see him on the grand stage; more are anticipated with his rejoining the cast.

Tickets for “The Lion King” can be ordered at www.disneyonbroadway.com or through usual websites like Ticketmaster or Telecharge.

Seats for “SpongeBob” are available at https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/79651sor (808) 233-5626 …

Disney casting for ‘Moana’ cruise

Disney Cruise Line is seeking dancers and singers for planned “Disney the Tale of Moana” shipboard show. Tryouts are underway in Honolulu.

Auditions for dancers were being conducted today (Feb. 20), at 9:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m., with calls for singers set for the same times Wednesday (Feb. 21).

Two islanders are involved in the first theatrical version of the popular Disney cartoon transfer to the stage: Peter Rockford Espiritu and Aaron Sala.  “Moana” also is in the midst of shooting a live-action film.

Contracts will be available for eight weeks of rehearsals in Toronto and also for a six-month tour aboard a cruise ship in Disney’s fleet. It’s not stated whether applicants should be able to withstand seasickness at sea.

And that’s Show Biz…