Divas to perform at Garner funeral

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

Because music was so much a part of Loyal Garner's life, mele and hula will play a large part in tributes by family and friends to the "Lady of Love" at her funeral next week.

Many remember performer Loyal Garner, who died Thursday at age 55, as "the essence of love." Advertiser library photo • June 27, 2001

Garner, 55, died Thursday at The Queen's Medical Center after a nearly two-year battle with colon cancer.

A member of the popular Local Divas — with Carole Kai, Melveen Leed and Nohelani Cypriano — Garner was always preparing the music for the foursome. But she also had a solo career as the "Lady of Love," a nickname that emerged when she regularly was host for the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy telethons.

The nickname continued as her career flourished in recordings such as "Chotto Matte Kudasai" and "Shave Ice," in clubs from the Three Torches at the old Cinerama Reef Hotel to the Canoe House of the 'Ilikai Hotel, and on TV commercials for Cutter Ford and Windward Mall.

"She was the essence of love — she always loved everyone, even strangers," Kai said.

"The Divas will perform at the services," said Janice Ukauka, Garner's companion and manager for the past 20 years. "But there are so many people who want to perform, we're asking Cha Thompson (of Tihati Productions) to coordinate."

Thompson said yesterday that performances by the Local Divas and Garner's brother Kimo Garner, also a musician, were the only ones confirmed so far.

"So many performers have been calling Janice to be part of the program, she's asked us to help," said Thompson, who can be reached at Tihati offices (735-0292) or cellular phone (864-5454). A roster of performers was to be completed by the weekend.

Garner's death prompted the surviving Divas to revamp their planned concert, still themed "This One's for You, Loyal" and slated for 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29 at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel's Hawai'i Ballroom. From a mostly holiday serenade, with individual and group vocals, the concert has been reshaped into a tribute that will celebrate Garner's life and legacy.

"Her last wish was to do the concert," Kai said. "Loyal had been orchestrating our music, so the show will go on, which was her desire; and in a sense, she'll still be directing us, since she did the charts."

"She had every intention of being at the concert, though she didn't think she could sing; maybe just one song," said Ukauka. "So we're shocked that she's no longer here, though she really fought (the cancer) to the finish."

The illness resulted in massive medical bills, said Ukauka, and Garner, a champion fund-raiser herself, was able to see her peers, friends and fans rally around her own cause. At least $30,000 was raised Oct. 7 when 2,500 gathered to pay homage to Garner at Windward Mall. "She stayed the seven hours, because she was so touched, but she developed a blood clot sitting in the chair for so long," Ukauka said.

It was Garner's last public appearance. A few days later, she was hospitalized at Queen's, where she died last week.

Because of the mounting bills, Kai said, the Nov. 29 performance also will take on a benefit perspective.

For every ticket sold, Sheraton will hand over $5 to the Garner medical fund. Kai said proceeds from another Divas concert in the weeks ahead also will go to the Garner fund.

Besides brother Kimo Garner, survivors include another brother, George Manu; sister Alicia Smith; hanai family Lisa and Lanson Kupau; and three children, Ashley, Lanson and Janson.

Correction: A previous version of this story gave an incorrect phone number for Cha Thompson's Tihati office.