Entertainment suggestion for Honolulu
 

Went to a show of Jerry Santos at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Rainbow lounge in July. He told me he played at this venue (Chais Island Bistro)on Mondays at Aloha Tower? Surfing on the net I popped by the restaurant website. Anybody been? Looks like an excellent option for entertainment on Oahu. I have seen Robert Cazimero and Hapa in New York City, they won't disappoint. Well I just thought I would throw this out if anyone is looking for Quality entertainment on Oahu.
Can anyone comment on the food here ? Here is the weblink

http://www.chaisislandbistro.com/entertainment.html

Seen it and never been. Isn't it Italian food? It always looks classier than I'm dressed after a day in Waikiki.

Hi Sarah! I have been to Chai's many times for food and the entertainment--last week Wednesday we went for dinner and to watch Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom and it was great! Also went to see Makana, which was wonderful. On special holidays like Mothers Day and Fathers Day, Chai's has a special brunch and dinner buffet (no hand service) with entertainment. Last year we went on Father's Day so we could watch Jerry Santos play. We were absolutely in heaven! Good food, Jerry Santos, what more do you need?

I do have to warn you that the prices are fairly upscale. It's dubbed "Pacific Rim Cuisine" so their menu is varied and can be exotic. It's a good splurge, though, which my friends and I do every so often.

Thanks Melissa. YOU DO GET AROUND GIRL!!! What kind of music is Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom and Makana. How recent are they? Know any Hawaii based websites that might sound bite their music?

So how does this work? Do you eat and listen? I know this is a strange question but it is hard for me to imagine these musicians playing while forks are hitting plates. I think anyone from the mainland would agree once they hear them. They are seasoned hoku award winners. Just curious I am sure it works but how.

There is a little stage and they just play while everyone eats! Actually, you need to choose your tables if you're going for the music...some are outside, and while you can hear, it seems more like a CD than live out there. A few times, we took friends and were seatedright next to the musicians. Unfortunaately, we could hear each other talk! My favorite seat is inside, across the room. Saw Robert Cazimero one night and it was perfect!
Amy H-G sings contemporary Hawaii and some 40s hapa haole style as well. incredible voice, goes from whisky voiced tita jive to soothing lullabyes...the first time I heard her was with Willy K at an outdoor picnic. My husband and I both looked at each other and said, "She's gonna be somebody"

Sorry, I hit post before I finished and didn't proof the above...I meant we couldn't hear each other talk! (although with some guests, not hearing might be a good thing...;-)
Anyway...Amy is somebody now. Don't miss her if you get a chance.

Gosh, lcuy, maybe our next fodorite GTG should be at Chai's!! :)

Sarah, I think you can check out Amy G and Makana at www.mele.com. Amy is real "old style" yah lcuy?? I thought she sounded a lot like Aunty Genoa Keawe. Makana is a slack key pro, also known as the "Kiho'alu Kid" in those circles.

You should make reservations or you will end up outside, as we always do (will I ever learn to plan this ahead?) but ask for Anthony, cute blonde waiter, and that makes it all better. ;)

Thanks Melissa and Lcuy (Where have you been?). I wish these guys came to NYC more often. We get lessor known people that do mostly slack key. Nice but I prefer vocals. I am seeing Leward Kapaana on Friday at Lincoln Center. Saw him at the zoo in Waikiki on the 30th.


At the risk of really pushing you here. Has anyone else big entered the music scene in Hawaii in recent years.Will check out AmyG at mele.com.

Hi Sarah! I've been around, but not posting as much..always in a hurry these days...I've been busy with on the Punahou carnival this year and while it's tons of fun, it is time consuming. It's Feb 6&7 this year- and we get great free entertainment at the Hawaiian Plate site. Aunty Genoa and her talented granddaughter, Hapa, Na leo, to mention only a few.

I may need some NYC advice from you later this year. My daughter's boyfriend is starting at Columbia and she's twisting my arm for a spring trip. Knowing young love though, I think I'll see how they're getting along at Christmas before I plan that one! ;-0
Melissa- when is out next GTG? Any excuse for Chais, I also want to try Tikis. I heard its a fun place for a group with good food and fun drinks. Have you been?

hmm, we can make a GTG any time you want! I figure you and Kalena have kids in school so we need to work around that schedule. Let me know.

I have been to Tiki's--took my niece there for lunch before she left for college (GREAT sitting on the lanai). Went for dinner, but that was a little too crowded, IMHO. But the food IS good!

Sarah, how new do you want the artists? Pureheart broke up a few years ago and formed a new group, Colon (not the body part, this is someone's last name--pronounced like cologne) and from there the members went on solo careers. Most notable is the young ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro.

Sarah, I lived in Hawaii for a time and left in 1982 when Olomana was really big, so I'm really looking forward to seeing them when I return for vacation in a month. Is Santos still with Robert Beaumont? And are the Beamer Brothers still around? And one last thing--Rap Replinger was a very popular comedian when I was there but I think I heard he died; do you know about him?

Rap died of a drug overdose many years ago. One of his "booga booga" partners, James Grant Benton, also passed away last year of a heart attack. The new hot comedy people are Augie T. & Lanai....although Booga Booga is making a comeback and Andy Bumatai and Frank DeLima are still going strong.


As for the Beamers.....I saw Keola Beamer perform last year with the Honolulu Symphony, but I am not sure where he performs regularly. will let you know though

Too, cool, Melissa..I forgot about Andy Bumatai. This all just makes my heart ache to be back there again, even if it's only for ten days as a tourist (I still have my handicapped bus pass from 20 years ago; it has no expiration date on it. Wonder if it will still get me around the island on the #52 bus :)

oooh, I dunno about that Swan! The bus drivers may be striking soon, causing the City to take away rider benefits!

Hi Lucy,

You should talk about that carnival on this forum closer to the date. That's a great community event. Never had that famous mango chutney. I did see Auntie Geona there though. Consider it one of the highlights of my time living on Oahu.

PS fire away anytime you have questions on NYC. I can check anything out for you, if you give me enough notice. I am right here in the city.

Melissa I was just wondering if anyone new was coming up to the caliber of Keali Reichel and the others I mentioned. Much of what I heard on the radio when I was there this past July was playing strong in the mid 90's. Just wondering who is hot now, and hot for a reason I should say.

OH OH Melissa who was that falsetto singer (group name also)that joined Olomana HHV that night. I did not get his name, just remember it started with at P. Also think I can pick up those bubble tea kits in Chinatown in NYC?

Swan51 sounds like you are going to have a blast. I think you will be happy with the bus. They now pick up every 30 minutes in most spots making it VERY CONVENIENT! I still have my bank card and library card from my stint in Hawaii!

Well I keep saying I need to get out more often ---- so, when's the GTG ladies? Lcuy, we have to catch up on these parenting issues and recent developments --- Melissa, you trend tracker you, maybe you can bring us moms au courant.

Sarah, check the Mountain Apple Company's web site at
http://www.mountainapplecompany.com/
for a musical virtual visit. Many of our faves.

aloha, k

Adding to Melissa's post: Colon is definitely a Spanish surname. Christopher Columbus is Cristobal Colon to the entire spanish speaking population of the world.

Sarah, you mentioned you had seen HAPA perform in New York City. I just wanted to let you know the original HAPA (Barry Flannigan & Keli'i Kaneali'i) has disbanded! Barry is currently touring under the HAPA name but if you prefer good vocals you will definetly miss Keli'i's incredibly smooth voice! I believe Keli'i performs on certain nights at the Pacific Beach Hotel in Waikiki.

THE RETURN OF KALENA!! I was wondering where you were. Do you know, Kal (from here at fodors) always asks about you? too funny. OK I'll be emailing you ladies soon.

Sarah: I'm not sure about the falsetto singer. This is what my friend (who dances for Jerry) said. "the one that was playing bass all night, kinda Japanese looking is Hoku Zuttermeister, he is the great grandson of the late Kau'i Zuttermeister, she was a hula master....the one that came later in the evening...Hawaiian, his name is Kuana Torres, plays for Na Palapalai now, they have a CD out. I think those were the only two falsetto singers there that night."

I'm not sure if you know but the group Na Palapalai is super popular now. The Cazimero's featured them in their May Day concert this past year and the crowd went wild!

Well, I couldn't wait...going to try Tiki's on Sunday evening. I got lanai seats in time to watch the sunset. Hope the weather is nice, It's our last "family" dinner before we take our oldest daughter off to college on Monday. :-(

lcuy, do you mean tonite or <b>next</b> Sunday? My brother's middle daughter just got a job there as hostess! Can't miss her, she looks like the older one.

Melissa-
I went last night! and I'm glad they're hiring new people, cause the service was AWFUL! She'll do well there...all htree of those girls are so cute..and they certainly are busy.

They couldn't find our reservation at first, then despite having us wait extra for the lanai table, they seated us not where we could see the sunset, but in a sort of half in/half out location. Took forever to get our order, brought 2 sets of water glasses (and placed them on the table!)but took 3 reminders to finally get our drinks with the main course. Served the salads, then the main course, then brought out the appetisers. To top it all off, they threw away our leftovers after offering to box them! (Plus if we had come for the 7:15 sunset that the reservation person had claimed, we would have arrived in darkness! It set before 7)

The good news was that the food was really good, the music in the bar was great, and the sunset incredible. I'd go back, but probably would stick with pupus in the bar area.

Must be the position of Mars, causing havoc in the universe. I went to Chiang Mai last night and had awful, awful service similar to yours. At least I got my boxed leftovers, though!

Hi Melissa
YEP, Na Palapalai was the group I was looking for. Will have to see if they have a CD out. HE WAS GREAT!!!

Neat to know that the base player was Zuttimeister's grandson. You know I have one Video on hula. It is called &quot;Hawaiians...the story of an island people&quot; (Moutain Apple Company). The woman you are talking about speaks about hula on it. Gives a very moving account of how her uncle taught her, what the past and future of hula are about. I remember her saying that the old chants were often prophesizing. They foretold a time when many different races would live on Oahu according to Zuttimeister. Funny I ask about her every time hula comes up around me in Hawaii. People are always telling me that they have heard about her but they did not understand her high status among other hula teachers. She says on the video when I die (I know she has sinse passed) and blank dies (one other woman that was living at the time of that documentary) we come down to the master?s level of hula teacher. Anyways thanks for the info. Can't wait to find one of those CD's.

Thanks Kolohegirl (some sign on name)

I saw hapa about 4-5 years (?) ago in the west village at the bottom line. Flanagan was drunk beyond belief, no wonder they split up. I remember Keli'i Kaneali'i being there. Recognized him from the cd cover.

Several groups will be at the Windward Ho'olaule'a Sat Sept 6th 10am - 10pm at WCC.

Just went to the Hilton tonight. Saturdays draw more locals than Fridays, so you are more likely to see jerry santos pull people up for spontaneous song and/or hula! Tonight kumu hula Frank Hewitt was there, as well as people from his halau, so there were a lot of guest entertainers. Loved it! I felt like I was at a luau, only the drinks were outrageously expensive!

I am a part of the zuttermeister ohana(family) and i would like to thank you (sarah) for passing on the life of hula and talking about my great grandma, kau'i, an cousin hoku. if you have any questions about them please feel free to e-mail me.

Just pulling a few loose threads together.

First, Frommer's has explicit reservations about seating within Chai's dining room while musical groups are playing, and I agree. Over-amplified. Sit somewhere on the edge, just inside or just outside.

Second, Melissa does get around. She just got back from Rio after doing Carnavale and Mardi Gras with three companions (I will leave it to you to inquire about the companions) and she is now obviously into her Brazilian phase.

A sad litany to departed artists: in addition to Rap and Benton passing on, Robert Beaumont (Olomana) and Dennis Pavao (falsetto specialist with Hui Ohana) have also left us.

Thank goodness Genoa Keawe perserveres!
Everyone should take great measures to preserve her works.

Zutti, I think your cousin Hoku knows my good friend Cherie...she dances for Jerry Santos?

Jerry's one of my best pals -- we just spent this past weekend with him. His current dancer is Nalani (former haumana of Kawaikapuokalani Hewett).

Saw Hoku at the Shell -- the annual fundraiser for Punana Leo Schools (Hawaiian immersion program), playing behind Raiatea Helm and her dad (Hanale played, too).

Small, wonderful world of Hawaiian music!

As for Chai's Bistro -- it's one of the last places to hear/see a wide variety of some of Hawaii's best musicians...every night of the week. Always call first to see who is playing -- the lineup changes frequently (Sean Na`auao and Robi Kahakalau played their final duet there on Saturday, for example). No matter who is playing, it will always be good! :-d