Posted on: Friday, September 13, 2002

Night of stars

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Hula dancers will perform with musicians and singers during Kulia I Na Hoku at the Monarch Room of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel tomorrow night. Advertiser Library Photo

'Kulia I Na Hoku (Reaching for the Stars)' • 7:30-9 p.m. tomorrow • Monarch Room, Royal Hawaiian Hotel • $45 ($5 discount with Aloha Festivals ribbon) • 923-7311

A new Aloha Festivals event tomorrow unites island singers at the top of their game with similarly stellar kumu hula and halau in a single show at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel's storied Monarch Room.

There are many memories attached to the Monarch Room, considered THE place to do a show if you're a trouper. And "Kulia I Na Hoku (Reaching for the Stars)" arrives at an auspicious time as the grand dame of Waikiki hotels is in the midst of a 75th anniversary celebration.

"We all love the Monarch Room," said Marlene Sai, who co-starred in a Hawaiian revue when the club was a regular showcase for Hawaiian shows two decades ago. "It's always been the premiere room of Hawai'i, so it's nice to be in the Grand Lady to perform once more."

Excitement is mounting, too, at Aloha Festival headquarters.

"We hope to develop this concert into an annual event to be held the night following the Aloha Festivals floral parade," said Janet Hyrne, festivals director. "It's a chance for local talent to shine."

Sai will again step into the vocal limelight, along with two other Hawai'i divas, Melveen Leed and Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom. They will be joined by Tony Conjugacion, Ernie Cruz Jr. and Brickwood Galuteria.

All are previous Na Hoku Hanohano Award winners.

"We wanted to salute the greats," said Galuteria, the KINE-FM morning drive co-host who also is producing the event, a certified grand slam of entertainment kingpins. "I asked around and got this great bunch."

Few remember that he played back-up 'ukulele for two years when Sai was one of the Monarch Room headliners.

On the hula side, Galuteria is assembling top Merrie Monarch Festivals halau, including that of the late Paleka Leina'ala Mattos (Hula Halau O Kamuela), Olana and Howard Ai (Halau Hula Olana) and Chinky Mahoe (Halau Kawaili'ula). Dancers will hula with the singers.

"I'll probably haul out my 'ukulele," said Leed, who was Female Vocalist of the Year in 1978, '79, '81, '84 and '86. "It's great to be singing in Waikiki again."

In the Monarch Room show, Leed will unite with Conjugacion, her one-time prodigy known as Little Anthony. "Should be fun," she said of the reunion.

When she's not traveling or teaching, Leed also hooks up with the Native Hawaiian Band, singing with Ledward Ka'apana, Cyril Pahinui, Dennis Kamakahi, Mike Ka'awa and Milton Lau.

As for the Local Divas, of which she was a part, Leed said it's over. "With Loyal (Garner) gone, what's the reason to continue?"

"The marriage between the Merrie Monarch and the Hoku is a great thing for me," said Gilliom, who won various Hoku awards this year, in 2002, '99 and '98. "My 'Palehua' was a song of the year; two years ago, it was a winning song at the Merrie Monarch Festival. And one of my nominated songs, 'Aloha Na Kalakaua,' was written while watching the Merrie Monarch this year. So everything's a nice fit for me."

Gilliom has done KINE luncheon shows there, but not my own concerts," said Gilliom. "It's a beautiful room — and that view!"

Gilliom has been touring the Mainland frequently, and performing in Japan and Tahiti. She plans to tour Japan with Darlene Ahuna and Robi Kahakalau next month.

"And, I'm gearing up to taking the aunties — Genoa Keawe, Kealoha Kalama and Leina'ala Haili — on tour, to a couple of California cities (including San Francisco) and Seattle."

The synergy with the tutuwahine has been so good, she's checking out prospects of doing a Christmas show together.

Sai, the 1968 Female Vocalist of the Year, said she can't leave that stage without doing "Waikiki," her late uncle Andy Cummings' signature, which also has emerged as one of hers. "I've gotta do that one," she said.

Sai, who has been a performer for more than 40 years, has persevered in a wavering island music industry. She is self-employed, operating a business from her 'Alewa Heights home.

"It feels good to be singing again — if only it could be more often," she said.

Besides the Aloha Festivals event, she is appearing along with Danny Kaleikini, Rene Paulo, and Desiree Moana Cruz at this year's Kapi'olani Community College's fund-raiser, "Ho'okipa 2002," on Sept. 27. It's a food-related benefit featuring the culinary skills of future chefs of Hawai'i.

She's been up and down Kalakaua Avenue, performing at such clubs at the defunct Duke Kahanamoku's, the Hawaiian Regent (now the Waikiki Marriott Beach Resort), the Sheraton Moana Surfrider, the Hilton Hawaiian Village, and yes, Royal Hawaiian's Monarch Room.