Wishing all boys a Happy Boy’s Day. This is a notecard, complete with a koi, I created some time ago.
MAY 5 IS BOY’S DAY
4 ADDS, 1 MINUS IN ‘LILO’ CASTING
There have been four additions and one subtraction in the “Lilo & Stitch” cast list for Disney’s first live-action feature film, shooting here for eight weeks.
New to the cast:
- Tia Carrere, pictured left, the island singer-actress from the original animated series, returns to play the child services character Mrs. Keoka.
- Amy Hill, pictured right, Kumu from “Magnum P.I.,” will play Tutu, an elderly character. She is widely known for enacting motherly and grandmother characters.
- Courtney B . Vance, pictured right below, a veteran actor on Broadway, in films and on TV, will be Cobra Bubbles.
- Kaipo Dudoit, pictured left, a member of Robert Cazimero’s Halau Na Kamalei O Lililehua,has been tapped to perform the David character, replacing the earlier-announced Kahiau Machado, who dropped outfollowing a Disney internal social media audit revealing some negatives.
Maia Kealoha, of course, is the title character Lilo with Chris Sanders voicing her best buddy. Stitch, who will be a computer-generated character.
Dean Fleischer Camp will helm the project from the Chris Kekaniokalani Bright screenplay…
Mom’s the word
Mother’s Day – May 14 – offers a few splendid shows to honor all moms this year.
Among the attractions:
- Amy Hanaiali‘i , pictured left, headlines the largest show, heralding the 25th anniversary of “Palehua,” a song she recorded with the late Willie K, from 2 p.m. May 14, at the Hawaii Theatre. Her co-stars will be Kainani Kahaunaele and her daughter; Pomaik‘ai Keawe Lyman with her daughters; Marlene Sai, and Mailani Maka‘ina‘i. Tickets are $35 to $75, available at www.hawaiitheatre.com
- Na Leo Pilimehana’s Mother’s Day brunch concert, is slated at 10:00 a.m. May 14 at the Hawaii Convention Center ballroom. Doors open at 10 a.m. for brunch, served from 10:30 a.m; show at noon. General admission entry, from 11:45 a.m. Nalani Jenkins, Angela Morales, and Lehua Kalima will feature Josh Tatofi as their guest star. Tickets are $65 (general) to $110 (reserved, with brunch), $80 for children3 to 11, available at www.hawaiiconvention.com
Comedian Frank DeLima , pictured right, will present his Mother’s Day brunch show at 1 p.m. May 14 at Blue Note Hawaii. Premium seating is $45, loge and bar area is $25. Beverage and brunch options available. Tickets at www.bluenotehawaii.com or call (808) 777-4890. …
And that’s Show Biz. …
‘STITCH’ WON’T BE ORDINARY DOG
The mystery is confirmed, with the announcement that Chris Sanders — the only voice heard in Disney’s hit TV series and subsequent animated feature films — will continue to provide the words and sounds of Lilo’s sci-fi dog-like pet in the forthcoming “Lilo & Stitch” live-action movie.
Simply put, Stitch will be created by computer graphics, with genetically altered technology earlier embraced in the making of “The Lion King.” Not merely a dude in blue…but one with destructive power.
Thus, Sanders (pictured left) will provide the voice and words for Lilo’s sci-fi dog-like alien.
As earlier announced, the Big Island’s Maia Kealoha, 6, has been cast as Lilo Pelekai, in her film debut.
The cast will include Sydney Agudong, 22,(pictured left), as Nani, Lilo’s sister. It’s also her big screen debut, though she has minor TV credits.
And Kahiai Machado (pictured left) will portray David Kawena, Lilo’s surfer friend, which was originally voiced by Jason Scott Lee in the original TV series. In this outing, David will emerge as Nani’s love interest.
Zach Galifianakis has been mentioned to portray Wendy Pleakly, a quirky Galactic Federation agent. Further, Billy Magnussen has been listed to be in the cast, though the role is unknown.
The new film will continue the exploits of Lilo and Stitch, extending their bond while still residing in Hawaii, and plagued by government agents and social workers, according to online reports.
The Dean Fleischer Camp is directing; the group has a background in comedy and is known for its “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On.” The screenplay was written by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and the production is being overseen by Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich.
Though a release date is not yet firm, it’s likely to be on Disney+’s 2024 agenda. …
Tam among actors in ‘Earth Day’ concert
Jason Tam, Hawaii actor (“A Chorus Line,” “Jesus Christ Superstar”) will be among the participants in the second annual “Broadway Celebrates Earth Day” concert on Saturday (April 22) at Times Square.
The Broadway Green Alliance, in partnership with the Times Square Alliance, are co-hosting.
The event will be staged from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Broadway, between 45th and 46th Streets. If you happen to be New York, local boy Tam (pictured right) will appear in the morning program.
Seth Rudestsky and James Wesley will host the concert. …
Broadway grosses, for week ending April 16
So “The Phantom of the Opera,” which closed April 16 after a 35 year run, left the building (the Majestic Theatre), taking along $3.739 million in its adieu.
The tally might’ve reached $4 million, because the finale included a lot of comps and likely a star-studded crowd eager to see the chandelier crash for the final time.
Here are the top seven shows, for the week ending April 16, with figures provided by The Broadway League:
1 — “The Phantom of the Opera,” $3.739 million.
2 — “The Lion King,” $2.825 million.
3 — “Wicked,” $2.251 million.
4– “Hamilton,” $2.040 million.
5 — “Sweeney Todd,” $1.789 million.
6 — “Funny Girl,” $1.762 million.
7 — “Aladdin,” $1.761 million. …
Here’s the complete list:
And that’s Show Biz. …
‘PHANTOM’ CLOSED TONIGHT ON BROADWAY
A historic moment: “The Phantom of the Opera” closed tonight (April 16) at the Majestic Theatre. How’s this for a cast photo to mark the milestone? It’s Broadway’s longest-running musical…until the next biggie arrives. RIP, though who knows, a revival might be in the distant future.
KEVIN: RETIRED BUT STILL ACTIVE
Kevin I, aka Kevin Iwamoto, has formally retired but no doubt will be busier than ever.
Most retirees have hectic, fruitful, and yes, busy lives when they make the plunge. It’s normally because you decide, when you get up in the morning, what you’ll do. You’ll elect to focus on retiree choices: tend to the garden, take more trips, schedule occasional lunches or dinners with friends and family. Or not. You can do absolutely nothing.
A pal from back in the day, Kevin was a recording artist and frequent singer, at local clubs and venues. We’ve known each other for decades – five? six? —when we both young, green and eager to make a difference in our chosen fields.
Kevin’s had many jobs, spanning a spectrum of successes, moving up the business ladder after ending his performance career. It’s not so much that he feared not finding a performing job, but another option – in his case, aspects of business – would be a better foundation.
Me, I prevailed in one and only occupation – a journalist, a reporter, a critic, a columnist – as if my needle was stuck on the record player. Boring, perhaps, but filled with some opportunities but loaded with memories.
Kevin, of course, has had a luminous career and was, and still is, an active voice in the corporate travel industry. Why not? He earned his stripes at TIM, the University of Hawaii’s fabled Travel Industry Management program of the Business College, and he rocked and rocketed, from a Hawaiian Airlines employee to the Bizly biggie, where he was chief strategy officer and head of enterprise. When he retired a few weeks back, he emerged – when you look back – to be one of the sparkplugs of the corporate travel industry for 35 years. He’ll continue to advocate for the biz travel community, consulting and speaking, as he’s done throughout his career.
Those in the biz world, who worked with and knew Kevin, will attest to his generosity of time and skills, during various facets of his growth as a corporate leader.
Business Travel News named Kevin Travel Manager of the Year in 2001 for accomplishments at Hewett-Packard, and he was named an Industry Icon in 2009, by the National Business Assn. now known as the Global Business Travel Association.
He’s authored books and was a prolific blogger for a network of travel biz followers, but he’s not forgotten his Hawaii roots, providing TIM scholarships for UH biz students.
In the past year, his entertainment career made a comeback of sorts, when his vintage vocals became a minor sensation in downloads with surprising sales and response from a network of new fans discovering his ‘80s music. Better late than never.
Ironically, he kept a stash of long-playing vinyl records for years, but discarded a bundle of ‘em when clearing out storage space in Hawaii, a miscue since the discs are now out of print.
I’ve not traveled with him, but Kevin has frequently met me and my wife in New York, to do a few touristy things, and we’ve gone to Broadway shows together. In the summer of 2019, when we took in “Hamilton” together we got to explore the onstage set after the performance. (Those visits were halted because of the pandemic).
We’re hoping to find a mutually workable date this year, to meet up in New York again. And here’s a morsel most folks won’t know about Kevin. He probably doesn’t remember, too, but he was briefly a journalist in Hawaii and turned the tables on me by conducting and then writing up an interview with me for a local publication.
It was a lovely piece, which I probably still have in box of memories at home.
So Kevin, enjoy your retirement. I know you will likely be the busiest retiree in. your circle, but will make time for activities you want to do, not have to do on your own timetable.
I share these recollections to congratulate Kevin on finally bidding aloha to the work force.
I know our paths would not have criss-crossed if he wasn’t a singer, but fortunately, his job at one time connected with mine as a journalist, and it’s been a blissful intersection and intervention since. …
About Spam and chow fun…
If you savor Spam, it’s old news that McDonald’s in the islands serves Spam as an accompaniment to eggs, in one of its breakfast meals. The other option, you must know, is Portuguese sausage.
These “side” options, however, are not available at McDonald’s on the Mainland.
Saimin also had been another only-in-Hawaii item at your local McRestaurant, but it was discontinued some time ago…
And lucky you live Hawaii, too, if you like chow fun with your Chinese take-out at Panda Express.
Panda here offers four starch choices (and you pick two): white rice, fried rice, chow mein or chow fun in plate-lunch portions or in bulk via its Family Feast option. But most Mainland Panda eateries don’t have the chow fun…
Scratch this on your list
Scratch Kitchen in Hawaii Kai – located on the former site of Outback Steakhouse on Kalanianaole Hwy., at the Hawaii Kai Towne Center – is opening at 9 a.m. Friday (April 14).
No specific details yet, but the restaurant plans to serve brunch (presume breakfast and lunch fare) as well as dinner.
Wish it would open earlier, like 7 a.m., on a trial run, for early birds who want to get breakfast before hitting the road, or retirees who get up early who would likely prefer an earlier time to have chit-chats with breakfast fare. You know, with eggs, bacon, and coffee, in a modified menu and timetable that would fill the void caused by the April closure of Zippy’s dining room at Koko Marina Shopping Center. Take-out counter service continues, but heck, dine-in matters, too.
Also newish at Hawaii Kai Shopping Center, is Tex808 BBQ & Brews, open for lunch and dinner on the waterfront. Ribs and brisket are the prime offerings and happily, there was a good-sized crowd when I visited Saturday night. There was live entertainment, but too loud with amplification. …
Pagoda koi population to downsize
Over at the Pagoda Hotel, you know that Sorabol has taken over the dining rooms, upstairs and downstairs, and in the pagoda clusters amid the ponds which have been home for the resident koi for decades. Korean food prevails in the dining halls.
But the koi population, as well as the scope of the ponds, apparently will be downsized.
The talk is that the koi and the watery element will be focused only in the front area of Sorabol, which means a key attraction on the site will be minimal. You could buy koi food and toss ’em as they swim to get their meals.
If there’s not much water surrounding the dining pods, there will be fewer koi, so the tradition will end, timetable not known.
Pagoda hotel guests still have access to breakfasts served at the Pagoda ballroom, where shows or special buffet meals prevailed before, but these American meals are not open to the public. …
And that’s Show Biz. …