Audiences love to hear songs about America
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor
When Don Ho sings "America the Beautiful" at the conclusion of his show at the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel, he receives a standing ovation from an audience high on patriotism.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
Across the street, the Society of Seven, headliners at the Waikiki Outrigger's Main Showroom, earns hurrahs midway into its show, when "God Bless America" is performed. But when the group does its hana hou, "God Bless the U.S.A.," the response becomes delirious delight — sending the audience to its feet in a standing ovation.
With the American flag as a backdrop, the Society of Seven gets a standing ovation at the Outrigger Waikiki's Main Showroom after singing "God Bless the U.S.A."
Red, white and blue have become the colors of choice and the theme for high audience approval ratings in Waikiki showplaces.
Ho, an Air Force veteran, has been saluting military men who have fought in any war — World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf — for years. During a typical show, he asks veterans to stand up and take a bow. Now, with the war against terrorism and as folks seek ways to cope with the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, his tributes have soared to a new high.
"The people just love him," said Neal Nakasone, an aide at the Hoku Hale Showroom, where Ho has started including firefighters and police officers in his nightly ritual of praising heroes.
"He's very passionate about this," said Haumea Hebenstreit, Ho's assistant. "And he dedicates 'I'll Remember You' to the soldiers and firefighters and police officers. Aside from two 'soft' nights, we've been pretty much sold out (since Sept. 11) because our market is American, not the visiting Japanese."
Patriotic performances
•
Don Ho Show, 7 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, Hoku Hale Showroom, Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel, 923-3981
•
Society of Seven, 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, Main Showroom, Outrigger Waikiki Hotel, 923-7469
•
Tino and the Rhythm Klub, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 8:30 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays through Thursdays, Esprit Nightclub, Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, 922-4422
SOS group leader Tony Ruivivar said Americana played well in Las Vegas, where the act was performing when the horror of Sept. 11 crashed into the American psyche.
"We were doing 'God Bless America' in the middle of the show, and added 'God Bless the U.S.A.' as a finale, and we were getting standing ovations," Ruivivar said. "We set the songs up as a multi-ethnic, multicultural thing, a reflection of who we are. (Band members represent a melting pot of ethnicities.) And sometimes we got two or three ovations a night."
Because of keen interest and demand, the SOS recorded a "God Bless the U.S.A./America the Beautiful" medley while in Vegas, to benefit charities associated with the recovery from the day of terrorism.
When the band reopened mid-October at the Outrigger, the patriotic placement prevailed, with similar results. "The audience just goes wild," said Ruivivar.
At the Esprit nightclub at the Sheraton Waikiki, Tino and the Rhythm Klub also recognized the validity of including a red, white and blue medley in its second set, combining "God Bless the U.S.A." with "America the Beautiful."
Also, each band member now wears a dog tag with the stars and stripes laid out in rhinestones. And drummer Lucky Salvador performs in front of a 6-foot American flag.
"Everyone joins in to sing along; some nights when you can feel the patriotism in the room, it just gives you chicken skin," said Gloria Chung, an aide involved in the group's booking at the Esprit.
Because of audience demand, she said, group leader Tino Ibach is looking for patriotic material for yet another medley.
