Great to learn that some of our Hawaii-reared talent are finding their way to the big screen.
No, not referring to the likes of Jason Momoa and Dwayne Johnson. They are in their own league, with signature projects under way.
Talking about the likes of Keala Settle, who will play Miss Coddle in the Jon M. Chu-directed movie version of “Wicked.” You know Settle best as the former Kahuku actress who famously portrayed the Bearded Woman in Hugh Jackson’s mega-hit musical, “The Greatest
Keala Settle
Showman,” in which Settle might have been a sideshow attraction but wound up performing and scoring a huge musical hit, “This Is Me.”
Headliners in this Broadway-to-cinema transition of “Wicked” will be the earlier announced Cynthia Ervo and Ariana Grande, who will take over the leads of Elphaba (The Wicked Witch of the West) originated by Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth (Glinda the Witch of the South), respectively. “Wicked” (the movie) also will bring together Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard, Ethan Slater as Boq, Marissa Bode as Nessarose, and Bowen Yang as Pfannee.
Director Chu, who helmed Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights” in its film incarnation, has expressed an opinion that “Wicked” ran 2 hours and 45 minutes as a Broadway show, but opined on Twitter that “it would be impossible to wrestle the story of ‘Wicked’ in a single film without doing some real damage to it.” Omitting or trimming tunes or character roles felt like fatal compromises to the original sources, and composer Stephen Schwartz seconded the motion. Thus, a two-parter is in the works and composer Schwartz has agreed that Act 1 will conclude with “Defying Gravity,” and he will write a new original addition to the flick version, as reported in Variety. “Wicked Part 1” is due to be released by Universal on Dec. 25, 2024, and “Wicked Part 2” will follow on Dec. 25, 2025. Talk about a multi-Christmas present. …
Auli’i Cravalho
Elsewhere, Auli‘i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in Disney’s “Moana” animated film, has been cast in the forthcoming Paramount+ film version of “Mean Girls,” which will be directed by Arturo Perez and Samantha Jayne. Cravalho will portray Janis, with Renee Rapp reprising her role as Regina George (she did it on Broadway), Angourie Rice as Cady, and Jaquel Spivey as Damian in other key roles…
Still strumming and teaching
The annual Ukulele Festival no longer is in founder Roy Sakuma’s rear view mirror. He’s moved on.
Roy Sakuma
“Boy, how times have changed,” he said in an email. “ I am still teaching (mostly on Zoom) but do go to the studio on Wednesday mornings to teach. It’s still a lot of fun to teach.”
Of course, the folks love him since he’s a jovial sort, with not just teaching skills, but with memories to share.
Meanwhile, wife Kathy still has been busy running the studio. Almost like a mom-and-pop operation, like the good ol’ days. …
Is there still a lot of honesty in the world today?
My answer — based on personal experience — is an emphatic yes.
In the past month, I dropped (lost) a couple of credit cards and my driver’s license.
The first time was at the Safeway check-out in Hawaii Kai a couple of weeks back. Picked up a card, but not my license. I learned the license was missing when I had a one-night staycation in Waikiki; at check-in, no license. Needed a card with a photo … and fortunately, one credit had an image. When I called Safeway in Hawaii Kai, was told that my lost cards were turned in and in a safe, awaiting my inquiry.
The second instance was yesterday; was shopping at Marshalls at Ala Moana Center. Used a credit card for payment; but a few cards slipped out of my wallet without my knowledge. Backtracking, figured the only time I used plastic was yesterday. So called the store; was told the cards were found, and was able to retrieve them after dinner last night since the store was open till 11 p.m.
Clearly, I need to be more cautious and diligent in monitoring my cards. First time that I’ve had these issues. Happily, there’s a burst of honesty about some folks, for which I will be eternally grateful.
A footnote: I got a notice from one of my cards about a suspicious charge of more than $600 for a hotel stay that wasn’t mine. So that card was deemed invalid and I’m awaiting a replacement next week.
Makena, the splendid hybrid group comprising members of The Makaha Sons and Ho‘okena, staged two performances at Blue Note Hawaii yesterday (Dec. 11) at the Outrigger Waikiki resort.
The clever fusion of two prolific and popular Hawaiian acts – the “Ma,” for the Makaha guys Louis “Moon” Kauakahi and Eric Lee, and “kena” for Ho‘okena’s Horace Dudoit III, Chris Kamaka, and Glenn Smith – has resulted in an entity with impeccable harmonies and flashy guitar and fiddle bass dynamics. Wow!
With Ho‘okena’s hula dancer, kumu Nani Dudoit, providing elegant, exquisite dances, the Hawaiiana forces are formidable. She’s also singing now, adding new dimension to the act.
I took in the second show and it was a rouser, with generous island melodics and a dash of Christmas favorites, perfect for the season.
Nani and Horace Dudoit: She now sings, too..
The magic began with cheerfully curated yuletide numbers, “Home for the Holidays” and a medley of “Christmas in Hawaii Nei” and “Mele Kalikimaka Ia Kakou,” which smoothly expressed the spirit of the season.
Chris Kamaka
Then came a nostalgic and nuanced medley, from the archives of The Makaha Sons of Ni‘ihau (the original act, with the regional name) recreated from a live show, themed “Makaha Bash,” at the Waikiki Shell. A sizzler!
With wisdom and wonderment from the two camps, Makena is a lingering marvel and invention. One of The Makaha Sons’ signatures – famously sung by the late Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole at a previous Na Hoku Hanohano Awards show, but struggling because he forgot the lyrics – and the moment of aloha came when the estranged Kauakahi and his singing bros took the stage to join and “rescue” Bruddah Iz on “Kaleohano,” a treasure in the Sons’ music box forever.
Glenn Smith
The newish twinkle in Ho‘okena’s repertoire is Nani (Horace’s spouse) joining Makena on “Nou e Pauahi,” and she shared her powerful soprano voice with joyful confidence, earning applause from the audience and smiles from the musician singers. Of course, her periodic hula interpretations added grace and glamor to the evening.
Additional Christmas treats included “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” an ensemble effort, and Lee’s lead voice commanding “What Child Is This.”
Eric Lee
Ho‘okena’s annual holiday ditty — Kui Lee’s “The Song of Christmas” — happily is shared with Horace’s back-in-the-day story/attempt to listen to the tune and write down the lyrics. He was confounded with the phrase, “Aurora Borealis,” the majestic night lights in the skies, garbling up his original notations with non-sensible lyrics. Nani also had to make-up moves, now altered, when nature’s wonder is sung. ‘Tis the best chuckle of the season.
Louis “Moon” Kauakahi
The show had its oddity, the inclusion of a budding Waimea (Big Island) couple, Kala‘e and Kalenau. Both sing; he strums guitar, she’s on the synthesizer. Their moments on an original, “We Are a Voice” and “O Holy Night,” the latter in English and in Hawaiian, lacked the chemistry or musicality to match the high bar of talent on stage. It’s wonderful to introduce new talent, but the duo, with pitch issues, seemed like auditioners on “American Idol.”
She redeemed herself a skosh on “The Prayer,” the Ho‘okena holiday hit with English and Hawaiian lyrics, since Maila Gibson has exited the entertainment realm in favor of real estate. …
