Constancy is what Robert Cazimero is all about.
As a veteran Hawaiian entertainer, he’s done a lot of different things in his ongoing career, and is truly a pioneer and survivor in a field where many others have struggled and even failed.
As a serenading singer-pianist at Chef Chai’s on Kapiolani Boulevard, Cazimero makes his magic work, month after month.
And March being his birthday month, and March 20 being his birthday, Cazimero soldiers on, demonstrating his flexibility as kumu hula, crooner, and raconteur. He’s at Chai’s through Sunday (March 23), in an ongoing fundraiser for his Halau Na Kamalei O Lililehua.
Best known as a Hawaiian trouper, Cazimero possesses a quick mind and a wide repertoire, and thus is capable of delivering hapa-haole tunes like “Hawaiian Hospitality,” “For You a Lei,” “Lahainaluna,” and “Hanalei Moon.”
He also programs melodies with instinct, sharing “Wahine Ilikea” and “Puu Hone,” two of many iconic favorites he recorded with his late brother, Roland Cazimero. There’s plenty of memories in these flashbacks. There’s also a renewed vigor where he’s revisiting songs he shelved because they required competency and integrity with Roland, like the “Hokulea” song his bro composed back in the day.
I’ve come to anticipate his occasional surprises, where he dusts off an oft-forgotten number, like “Aioa,” and a gem of a song from the left field, “Trees,” a lyric poem by Joyce Kilmer that also is a song seldom heard. Nifty job of discovery and recovery.
Yes, there are hula interludes with his regular dancers, Sky Perkins Gora and Bully Keola Makaiau
And special guest hula dancers, like six from Halau I Ka Wekiu, were invitees to perform to fill he aisles with their “My Sweet Gardenia Lei” number.
On this particular eve, Malia Ka‘ai was an invitee to render “O Makalapua,” a rare honor for a singer, since most guests are hula dancers.
Every so often, Cazimero dusts off Disney ditties, and travels the childhood trail as he did last night with a medley of “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah,” a Mouseketeer chant, and “Bibbidi -Bobbedi-Boo”… plus the ancient “I’m a Little Teapot” tune.
Reservations for the birthday celebration/halau fundraiser is $159, at www.opentable.com/r/chef-chai-honolulu …
Around town
Mary Gutzi, a Broadway actress who’s often at home in Honolulu, will be featured in “Lillian,” a Readers Theatre presentation, at 7:30 p.m. March 24, 25, 26, 31 and April 1 and 2, at The Actors Group’s Brad Powell Theatre at Dole Cannery.
The show, by William Luce, is directed by Vanita Rae Smith, and is set in a room at a New York hospital, where Lillian Hellman awaits the death of her companion, Dashiel Hammett, in a seductive memoir of her life and times. Tickets: https://taghawaii.net/reader-s-theatre …
The Shari Lynn Trio will take the stage at Medici’s at Manoa Marketplace from 7 p.m. Saturday (March 22).
Singer Shari, backed by keyboarder Jim Howard and bassist John Kolivas, is known for her repertoire of jazz, the Great American Songbook and Broadway fare.
Reservations: (808) 351-0901…
And that’s Show Biz…
Thank you for including us in your column, Wayne. Enjoyed reading about Robert and Mary, of course.
There has been a recent development at Medici‘s supper club and Manoa school of Music . It looks like our show this Saturday will be the last one for the supper club. And both the club and the school will be closing.
This is very sad. The school has almost 400 students. And is a wonderful center of learning for young, budding musicians. And as you know, there are very few clubs in town that feature jazz and Cabaret in such a lovely setting. Carolyn has given such wonderful support to the teachers who now have to look for another place to teach. Both Carolyn and Tim have been supportive of the performing (and visual) arts in every way. I wish them much success in their quest for a new venue for the school and for performances. And I thank them for their great support of me as a teacher and a performer.