THE LEFT LANE
C&K get together
Advertiser Staff and News Services
The legendary duo of Cecilio & Kapono is joining for a series of concerts around the Islands. Lezlee Ka'aihue, Kapono's wife, said the two reunited July 4 and 5, performing for American troops on Diego Garcia, an Indian Ocean island that is a refueling stop for military crews heading to and from Afghanistan. "It was fun, and it kind of turned out as a vacation for me ... the audience included quite a few local guys," Kapono said.
C&K reunions in recent years have been modest in scale; they last did the "Maika'i Night" (for Foodland) show in 1999 at the Waikiki Shell, along with a host of other performers, and a retro gig in 1998 at Honolulu Zoo.
This series starts with a two-night stand Aug. 23 and 24 at Kapono's in Aloha Tower Marketplace. The O'ahu shows include a variety of acts, starting with Ike Pono at 6 p.m., Reign at 7:45 p.m., then C&K at 9 p.m. Jook Joint plays at midnight Aug. 23 and Guy Cruz at midnight Aug. 24; tickets are $15 in advance at Kapono's (1,000 tickets per night), $20 at the door (to capacity); information, 536-2161. The Maui show is 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4, Maui Arts & Cultural Center; $35, $28, $10; (808) 242-7469. The Big Island show is 8:30 p.m. Sept. 28, Hilton Waikoloa Village; $45 (includes two drinks); (808) 886-1234 ext. 54).
A Kaua'i stop is pending.
American crush
For Katie Hemsley, the secret to this summer's hot new television series lies in a 23-year-old crooner with pearly white teeth, a mop of wheat-colored curls and a performance style slicker than a used-car salesman's. "We like Justin.
He's got charisma," coos Californian Hemsley, 15, who attended a live broadcast of "American Idol" with her mother and two friends.
She's referring to Justin Guarini, one of seven remaining singers duking it out for a $1 million record deal on the TV talent search, which airs Tuesday and Wednesday nights on Fox. Among his rivals are a 22-year-old, siren-voiced stunner named Tamyra Gray and Christina Christian, a 21-year-old beauty whose riff-happy vocal style makes Christina Aguilera seem subtle.
Scholars with swing
Three music students have won $20,000 scholarships from the recent Hawai'i International Jazz Festival for study at the University of Southern California. They are Brandon Tucay (drums), Iolani School; Marissa Machida (vocals), Punahou School; Zak Wass (guitar), Seabury Hall (Maui).
Correction: Kapono's at Aloha Tower Marketplace will seat 1,000 for the Cecilio & Kapono reunion concerts Aug. 23 and 24. An incorrect number appeared in a previous version of this article.
