Music Scene
A host of Hawai'i performers will pay tribute to '70s Waikiki

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

Tony Conjugacion, kumu hula of Halau Na Wainohia, rehearses in costume for tonight's Kamau Pono show at the Hawai'i Theatre. Gregory Yamamoto The Honolulu Advertiser 'Kamau Pono IV — The Golden Sands of Waikiki' 7 p.m. today Hawai'i Theatre $18 528-0506

"I wanted to pay tribute to the folks and show styles that were popular in Waikiki in the '70s," said Conjugacion, a chameleon of a performer. He is kumu hula of Halau Na Wainohia, a chanter, sometimes a Hawaiian singer, a frequent pop stylist, a former Broadway singer-dancer and a former child star (he used to be called Little Anthony).

He savors the '70s because he remembers being shuttled from one showroom or lounge to another as a kid singer and a protege of Melveen Leed. After work, Conjugacion would go club-hopping with Leed and his mom.

"Those were fun times. Showrooms had dancers in big opening numbers. Performers all had their signature songs. It's quite different now," he said. "So I asked many people who used to perform then, to join us in this tribute, and most of them said yes."

Thus, he wound up with an unlikely galaxy of troupers who would not commonly share the spotlight in the same evening:

• Jimmy Borges, who will do a bossa nova medley of "I'll Weave a Lei of Stars" and "Blue Lei."
• Don Ho, who will do one of his suck 'em up pleasers, "E Lei Ka Lei Lei."
• Sam Kapu, who will do his signature "Chotto Matte Kudasai."
• Iva Kinimaka, who will deliver his "He Aloha Mele" best seller.
• Boyce Rodrigues, who will sing "Paoakalani," which was a hula staple for his late sister Lani Custino. Beverly Noa will perform the dance.
• Melveen Leed, who will do what Da Tita does, reflecting on the era when Little Anthony was her nightlife sidekick. A duet of "Kanaka Waiwai" is among the songs on tap.

And more. Danny Kaleikini, Leina'ala Haili, Lena Motta, Tahiti Rava Nui.

"The idea for the evening was the release of the old Paradise Serenaders CDs," said Conjugacion, who cherishes his Hawaiian roots even if his career has taken more than one fork in the road. "And when Myra (Myra English, the "Drinking Champagne" lady) died, it hit home. I felt we needed to revisit this era of Hawaiian rock."

Well, it wasn't so much rock but upbeat rhythms, a time when some facets of Hawaiiana underwent change.

The evening also will be a tribute to Myrtle K. Hilo, whose health prevents her from taking the stage but, said Conjugacion, who plans to be in the audience.

To get into the spirit, Conjugacion and his crew combed Hawai'i thrift shops to stock up on period gear, from double-knit and polyester pants to patent leather shoes and safari shirts.

Conjugacion also is prepping a stage set that will look like a combination of La Mariana and the Canoe House, with fish nets and glass balls from another time. "Tacky as possible," he said in a mischievous tone.

There will be round cocktail tables on stage, too, with cast members posing as audience, to create the feeling of an audience watching an audience watching a show.

"I used to marvel at the showmanship of singers when I used to go to Club Yoko's, Keone's Lounge, Queen's Surf ... performers in the old days didn't lack showmanship. They were entertainers, not just singers who got up and did a song, and they had productions that really inspired me. I was fortunate to be around to be inspired by that generation. It's very different now."