Today marks a health milestone for me. On Jan. 5, I was hospitalized to have my gall bladder removed, because It was a problematic organ that earlier sent me to the Queen’s Medical Center for two weeks last August.
So: I’m on the road to recovery, but not without challenges. In August, I left the hospital with a walker, a device that has given me support in walking. Post-surgery after the bladder removal, I still rely on the walker to navigate treks to the doctor, the post office, Longs, and a few nighttime plays.
But I’ve been very fortunate the past few weeks.
I signed up for interim physical therapy to strengthen my legs. Learned some worthy exercises that are doable at home.
I’ve not experienced what my from friends who had their gall bladders removed warned me about: the runs and/or constipation.
I’ve lost weight during hospitalization, to 186 lbs; weighed myself this morning, and I was 179. At my heaviest, I was 225.
My diet was rigid, initially — beef and/or chicken broth with soda crackers for a few days after surgery. I’ve been slowly adjusting and graduating to real food in the past month:
— Breakfast now includes oatmeal, toast, frozen waffles, croissants, naan bread, with margarine, jelly, jams or syrups.
— Lunch includes canned veggie or chicken soups, turkey or tuna sandwiches, and sushi. Occasionally, saimin.
— Dinner includes rice, chazuke, grilled salmon, pasta, salads, corn, beets, udon, and cheated once with tempura.
— Dessert includes Jell-O, pineapple slices, mandarin oranges, and – a recent treat – Haulolo (a combo of haupia with kulolo).
–Snacks include apple sauce (included seasoned versions with other fruit), bananas, apples, oranges, pears, wheat thins.
I still can’t have beef, milk products like ice cream, yogurt, fried foods like fried chicken, processed food like hot dogs and Vienna sausages, fatty food like bacon and Spam. And bakery desserts.
Yes, I miss Zippy’s fried chicken, and apple fritters, and Spam musubi,
Perhaps someday, but not yet. Have an appointment with my primary physician this week, and with my surgeon in two weeks, so I have lots to discuss.
To those who sent wellness thoughts and prayers my way, mahalo plenty.
So the journey continues. Sharing my experience to perhaps help others in the same boat. Recovery is a day-by-day process, so thanks for making my days worth living for.
Several generations ago, the Kodak Hula Show was a must-see, must-do freebie attraction for tourists at the amphitheater adjoining the Waikiki Shell. The sponsor for 65 years (from 1937 to 2002) was Kodak, the film- and camera-making company, which logically presented a mid-day hula attraction for visitors to catch a “Kodak” moment.
Remember, back then, when everyone eager to shoot photos needed a camera, plus film, making Kodak a logical player in this endeavor. When Kodak shut down, so did the hula show.
But nowadays, few tote a camera when taking pictures; an iPhone has become the camera of choice. And a new edition of the milestone hula show is expected to attract a new generation of fans, beginning Feb. 15, at the same amphitheater of the renamed Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell, staged by the non-profit Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement., in partnership with the City and County of Honolulu.
Hooray, history is repeating itself, and for the better. The show will be staged from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays, with veteran announcer Kimo Kahoano as host. He was the emcee of the original show in its later years.
Producers are CNHA and Roy Tokujo of Hawai‘i Entertainment Productions; KipeEbana will co-direct with Nā Kumu Hula and Merrie Monarch winners Tracie and Keawe Lopes.
The show will embrace traditional and new mele that honor Waikīkī, featuring hula dancers from six award-winning hālau from across the state. And the historic cut-out letters will be returning, too, an update of the photo-moments of yesteryear.
Surely, there will be some fresh faces and newbies amid the cast. Perhaps a couple of recognizable tutu and kupuna types would embellish the roster and find appeal for the visitors. One name that ought to be considered, who brings a lot of personality, vocal dynamics and even humor to the plate, is Karen Keawehawai‘i. Just an opinion, from this corner. …
A touch of Hawaiiana at the Grammys
Island performers Kawika Kahiapo and Bobby Moderow are participating in a Grammys weekend showcase that began yesterday (Feb. 1) and continues today (Feb. 2) and tomorrow (Feb. 3) at Duke’s restaurants in Southern California.
Kawika Kahiapo and Bobby Moderow
The events are a benefit for the Grammy Museum and TS Restaurants’ Legacy of Aloha. TS Restaurants operates Duke’s in Waikiki and the participating L.A. sites.
Yesterday’s event was at Duke’s Malibu, where Kainani Kahaunaele was guest performer.
Today’s show, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Duke’s Huntington Beach, and tomorrow’s, from 4 to 6 p.m., will be at Duke’s La Jolla.
Entrepreneur Alan Yamamoto organized the gigs…
‘Hamilton’ regains No. 1 slot
“Hamiton,”Lin-Manuel Miranda’s mega-hit, has bounced back to reclaim the No. 1 slot of Broadway grosses. It was a pioneering production that reigned as the enduring and first $1 million dollar attraction, and for a spell, was also a regular $2 million dollar blockbuster.
The Top 10:
1 –”Hamilton,” $1,725 million
2 –“The Lion King,” $1,1701 million
3—“Wicked,” $,163 million
4—”Merrily We Roll Along,” $1,598 million
5—”MJ The Musical,” $1,349 million
6—“Gutenberg! The Musical!,” $1,462 million
7—“Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” $1,120 million
8—“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” $1,145 million
9— “Aladdin,” $1,120 million
10—”& Juliet,” $1,058 million
The complete list of grosses, courtesy the Broadway Guild:
If you like haupia and kulolo, two popular Hawaiian desserts, you should enjoy the hybrid product called Haulolo, produced by a Kailua company and sold locally in select stores. I have some reservations, however.
The “hau” refers to haupia, the pudding-like white treat made from coconut milk. The “lolo” refers to kulolo, the healthy and tasty purple-ish dessert made from taro.
I found and bought the Haulolo at Foodland Farms. Times Supermarkets should have it, too, and perhaps a few 7-Elevens. You’ll find it where poi, the Hawaiian staple, is sold in a refrigerated (not freezer) shelf. At Foodland, seek Haulolo next to the poke counter.
So, how’s the taste? Sweet and delightful. But you’ll find more haupia than kulolo, and the kulolo sticks to the bottom of the plastic bento-type tray, and there’s perhaps a quarter inch of the purple treat, beneath about an inch of haupia. When you cut the product, you can’t get the kulolo to stay ‘neath the haupia, so I spooned the kulolo and placed it atop the white haupia. In the accompanying photo, you’ll see traces of kulolo on top of the haupia — not pretty, but it (sorta) works.
It’s a bit messy to serve, but it’s ono – too bad the kulolo can’t be firmer to serve as a crust…like a graham cracker bottom of a chocolate pudding pie. Perhaps the better notion would be to purchase haupia and kulollo separately, in portions to your liking.
Vocalist Shari Lynn, whose artistry embraces a wide spectrum of musical styles, shared a mixed bag of gems last night (Jan. 27) at the Paradise Lounge of the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Backed by keyboarder Jim Howard, Shari embraced pop hits (The Beatles’ “In My Life” and Mary Hopkins’ “Those Were the Days”), bluesy ballads (Robert Flack’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”), a parody (Steven Sondheim’s “The Boy From,” with Hispanic hilarity) infusing her acting skills and storytelling thrill in the process.
Natch, there were selections from the Great American Songbook and Broadway ditties. Alas, this was her closing night, as the Hilton is terminating its jazz-flavored format in favor of relaunching Hawaiian music in the venue. An ending means a new beginning; Shari anticipates returning March 2 to Medici’s at Manoa Marketplace, with Howard and bassist John Kolivas. Wherever she goes, her flock follow.
Singer Shari Lynn and her pianist companion Jim Howard launched a Saturday jazz format last year at the Hilton Hawaiian Village’s Paradise Lounge located in the hotel’s Rainbow Tower.
But all that jazz will come to an end this weekend, but appropriately, Shari (pictured below) and Jim will bring down the proverbial curtain this Saturday night (Jan. 27), since the hotel is changing to a Hawaiian format in the space in February.
In a town with many jazz stylists – vocalists and instrumentalists – but not enough jazz venues, it’s a shame. Hilton’s plan to resume Hawaiian music in the Paradise Lounge beginning February is not a bad tradeoff, since Waikiki hotels should offer island music, too. But the hotel doesn’t adequately promote the acts in this hide-away locale, so it’s rough going here.
The Paradise, clearly, is not so paradise-y, in that it is unabashedly a pass-through-corridor for visitors going to or coming from dinner. I’ve been there earlier when some walkers actually cross right in front of the performers. Further, the space has only a few seats where viewers can see the entertainers; two large pillars, which obviously help hold up the tower of hotel rooms, suggest that singers and listeners were not the intended tenants in the zone.
Word-of-mouth advertising – you know, the coconut wireless – has kept the club operational, with rotating jazz stylists like Ginai, Rachel Gonzales, Bruce Hamada, and Tommy James on Saturday nights. Even vacationing warblers like Mary Gutzi has added credence and joy to the menu.
Jan Brenner has been the agent juggling the acts for gigs in the club for the past year. She’s looking for a possible jazz nook elsewhere. Meantime, Shari will set anchor at Medici’s at the Manoa Marketplace, likely on March 2, with hopes of a once-a-month residency. Bassist John Kolivas will join Shari and Jim at Medici’s…
Pre-Grammy events at Kani Ka Pila Grille
Mahina Mele, a musical series from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (Jan. 25, 26 and 27) at Kani Ka Pila Grille at the Outrigger Reef Hotel, will be a preview of the forthcoming Grammy Week event in Los Angeles.
Ho’okena’s Horace Dudoit III, Glen H.K. Smith and Chris Kamaka, left, and Jeff Peterson, right.
The slate:
Thursday, Kawika Kahiapo and Kainani Kahaunaele.
Friday, Kahiau Lam Ho with Kala’e and Kalena Parish.
Saturday, previous Grammy nominees Ho‘okena with Jeff Peterson.
Pruden celebration of life is set
That earlier-announced celebration of life event for the late actress, Jo Pruden (pictured right) will be held at 2 p.m. Feb. 18 at Manoa Valley Theatre. The beloved actress, often known as “The First Lady of Hawaii Theater,” died Jan. 10 at her Mililani home following a long illness. She was 84.
Her husband, Jip Pruden, is creating a commemorative T-shirt featuring a Corky Trinidad cartoon of Jo, with proceeds to be shared by MVT and TAG (The Actors Group), where Jo did most of her late-in-life acting and Readers Theatre performances…
Samson service will be private
According to folks in the know, the family of the late Kit Samson (pictured), the versatile and likeable leader of the Sound Advice group, indicate that the service will be small and private, restricted to family. It was unknown, if the service has already been held, or coming up shortly.
Samson , who was 89, led his show and dance combo for nearly a quarter of a century at the original Kahala Hilton, and helped put the posh resort on the map, the first outside of the traditional Waikiki tourism zone. His keyboard dynamics and low-profile personality, coupled with Danny Kaleikini starring at the next-door Hala Terrace, made for a dynamic combo.
His first gig was at the Waikiki Biltmore, run by his family, which was eventually developed into the Hyatt Regency Waikiki by Chris Hemmeter on prime Waikiki real estate. Samson moved to the Kahala resort , which was to become the hub for vacationing notables and continues to attract celebrities now.
Because Samson and his Sound Advice were anchored in the Maile Lounge, which had to be accessed to get to the fabled Maile Restaurant, the music quickly became a passport and passageway to the restaurant. With his vast repertoire and ability to recognize a “name” walking through the corridors, Samson commonly played a theme song associated with the star.
The Sound Advice originally featured Anna Lea, who was followed by Connie Kissinger, though numerous female vocalists had the privilege to chirp in his spotlight.
Samson became fast friends with another poet of the piano, Roger Williams, of “Autumn Leaves” success, who visited Samson at his Kahala home and autographed Kit’s piano, and Burt Bacharach, the composer of numerous hit songs, who obliged to man the keyboards one night…
‘Lion’ again is king of the Broadway jungle
“The Lion King” is back where it used to be, ruling over the Broadway jungle. Missing from the Top Ten: “Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” Eking in a slot: “& Juliet.”
Here’s the Top Ten grosses, for the week ending Jan. 21:
1 – “The Lion King,” $1,813 million.
2—“Hamilton,” $1,762 million.
3–“Wicked,” $1,695 million.
4—”Merrily We Roll Along,” $1,688 million.
5 –“MJ The Musical,” $1,436 million.
6—”Gutenberg! The Musical!,” $1,163 million.
7—”Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” $1,076 million.
8 – “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” $1,074 million.
9—” Aladdin,” $1,051 million.
10—”& Juliet,” $974 million.
The full list of shows and grosses, courtesy The Broadway League:
