The gang's all here for Booga Booga tribute

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Among the local comics performing in "Lolo No Ka Oi" tonight are: top, from left, Lanai and Augie T ; and above, from left, Da Braddahs — James Roache and Tony Silva, right, Mel Cabang. The comics will pay tribute to Booga Booga member James Grant Benton, credited with bringing "local comedy" to the forefront, who died last month. 'Lolo No Ka 'Oi' 7:30 p.m. today Hawaii Ballroom, Sheraton Waikiki $18, $25, $35 526-4400 Benton: Funny man, father figure and friend

"There's really pressure on me," said Ka'ahea, who did a comedy gig last weekend with Augie T in Hilo. "Everyone was calling Booga Booga and me a legend; I was taken aback. There have been too many things happening since Jimmy died (of a heart attack May 28, at age 53) and I've been gearing up for the 'Lolo No Ka 'Oi' show. First things first; I'm taking my time to assess the situation."

On the eve of the "Lolo" evening of comedy, tonight at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, participating comics reflected on Benton, a pivotal force in local-style comedy.

Mel Cabang remembers Benton as an actor.

Tony Silva of Da Braddahs recalls him as a mentor.

James Roache, also of Da Braddahs, will always think of Benton as an island comedy icon.

Augie T can't forget Benton's straight-man role, despite his capacity for the hilarious.

Benton was like a father figure, offering sage advice, according to Lanai.

Benton was to appear with Ka'ahea, in a segment dubbed "The Viagra Years: Aging Gracefully in Paradise," which was intended to be a vehicle to trigger a comeback by Booga Booga as seniors in the comedy marketplace.

In respect to Benton, Ka'ahea said he's shelving that material and will do other sketches and share anecdotes about his cohort. "It's best to leave that material alone for now," said Ka'ahea. "I was hesitant to do any portion of the 'Viagra Years.' Maybe in the future, when another actor of his calibre emerges."

All participating stand-ups will pay homage to Benton and admit his influence was formidable. "Benton was a known actor, so he knew what to do with pidgin for TV, making his knowledge work for a series," Cabang said. Benton was a pidgin consultant for the short-lived ABC series "The Byrds of Paradise."

"Booga Booga was my competition, 'cause when they were working at Territorial Tavern, I was at the Gold Coin (both clubs are now defunct). They all used to come watch me, and we kicked around some after that. He was laid-back, always nice, but he could be a little weasel, trying to pull a fast one on you," Cabang said.

Said Augie: "I was the last member to replace Jimmy when he decided to leave Booga for a while. "He was always helpful with advice, making sure I was on track. What I'll always remember about him was that he told me that what I have is a gift and it shouldn't be abused. He told me to learn from mistakes and not repeat them."

"Jimmy and Andy Bumatai were the first guys to get me to do stand-up comedy," said Lanai, a radio and TV host and sometime laugh-maker himself. He's emceeing tonight's show, but will get in a gag or two. "James walked me through stand-up; it was at the Polynesian Palace, where Andy was doing an Island Comedy Showcase. He really was like a dad. He told me, 'If it's funny to you, that's all that matters; eventually, it will be funny to somebody else.'"

"Jimmy brought local comedy to the forefront," said Roache, who, with Silva, are latter-day Booga types in that they adhere to sketches that reflect the inanities of the island lifestyle, fodder for Booga laughter, too. "If people think we're the younger generation Booga, I feel it's an honor, not a burden, because Tony and I have helped revive sketch comedy."

BENTON: Funny man, father figure and friend

"Jimmy used to coach me, when I first started doing comedy, 17 or 18 years ago," said Silva. "Once, I did a five-minute bit that seemed like an eternity, and when I came offstage, Jimmy told me I did a good job, but to work on my material. He knew I was flustered, yet he encouraged me. It meant a lot to me that he cared, and I never really had a chance to thank him. I was going to tell him at the ('Lolo') show, seeing if he remembered."

Da Braddahs, a hot commodity on Oceanic Cable 16 (8:30 p.m. daily except Mondays) has enjoyed huge exposure, thanks to television and a debut CD, but the "Lolo" comedy montage, with more established veterans in the business, is an opportunity to expand their demographics.

"Kids and families know us, but not the (Waikiki) crowd," said Roache. The Sheraton engagement will be a trial balloon for a once-a-month club date, starting Aug. 3, at the Hula Hut.

"Nobody would touch us before we appeared on Oceanic," said Silva. "Everyone was skeptical. We had to rely on our credit cards and bank accounts to get started. But everything snowballed when we started on Oceanic; there is all kinds of merchandising, and we hope to have a DVD out in two months."

"It helps that we had some film background," said Roache, who knew Silva while both were in high school (Silva at Kamehameha, Roache at Hawai'i Baptist Academy and Pac 5). Silva, who appeared with a popping group called Mechanical Masters in his teens, later was part of Don Ho's performing ensemble in Waikiki and evolved as a sometime actor on TV shows produced in the islands. It was during TV's "Marker," starring Richard Grieco, that their professional paths crossed.

"Knowing people in the (TV) business has helped," said Roache, who said Da Braddahs are eager to produce, write and star in films they'd like to pitch to the Hawai'i International Film Festival and others like Cannes and Sundance.

That's going a giant step farther than Booga Booga.