By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

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Waikiki Ho'olaule'a 7-10:30 p.m. today Kalakaua Avenue, between Lewers Street and Kapahulu Avenue (Kalakaua will be closed from 5:30 p.m.; reopens at midnight) Free, but $5 Aloha Festivals ribbon suggested 589-1771 Also: Royal Ball, 6-11 p.m. Saturday, Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom; $85. See story. Big Island festival: Today through Sept. 29 Lana'i festival: Sept. 27-28 Moloka'i festival: Sept. 28-Oct. 5 Kaua'i festival: Oct. 4-13 Maui festival: Oct. 11-26

Isaacs, a city employee for more than 33 years, has been supervising the electrical needs of tonight's Waikiki Ho'olaule'a and last Friday's Downtown Ho'olaule'a. He's always been behind the scenes, a workhorse.

"It's all very different for me this year," said Isaacs, who with his queen, Helen Mealoha Yuk Jun Kuoha-Torco, presides at festival events.

"I feel pressured; it takes getting used to," he said about being in the limelight, letting go of some of his usual duties.

"It's chicken skin when you realize that so many people come out to see you, to celebrate and preserve Hawaiian culture," said the son of the late and great slack-key guitarist, Barney "Ata" Isaacs.

"When you're out there, you're the man; when you talk, they listen. I've been trying to perpetuate my grandpa's and my dad's music, and when you are in the middle of something this big, and see not only the Hawaiian people, but the haole, the Japanese, the Chinese and others learning and sharing with you, it's just exciting."

For six or seven years, Isaacs, as Honolulu's line electrician supervisor, would spend time with a crew of about 10 to get the wiring needs of the Downtown Ho'olaule'a in order.

"It takes about three days for downtown, but maybe a week and a half for Waikiki, because we have to check out the power sources," Isaacs said. "Taking down always is much faster."

He's also the power honcho for "Sunset on the Beach" and "Brunch on the Beach" events presented by the city. Plus the annual "Honolulu City Lights," the biggest and most demanding, electrically speaking.

"I just found out that my responsibilities run for a year, not just now," he said of his role as mo'i. "Which means I have to learn to relegate (electrical) responsibilities. There are Neighbor Island appearances and some Mainland promotions, too."

Which is a little unsettling, because Isaacs is a hands-on doer.

He generally oversees a crew of 150 to 200 to get "Honolulu City Lights" bright and twinkling for its Dec. 7 to Jan. 5 run in the heart of downtown Honolulu. "We start setting up Nov. 12, and work all the way till Dec. 4," he said. "Everything is dismantled when we're pau, and stored at Manana. But we're already doing some prep work, to check on the lighting and doing repairs."

He had no inclination to seek the kingly role. "I happened to run into a friend of mine, Moana Yee, at the funeral of my uncle, Arthur Lyman, and she said I would make a good king, that she was going to put an application in. Next thing I know, I get a call and a letter to try out. I was interviewed and I guess I met the requirements."

What he didn't realize was that the mo'i is expected to "just sit back and enjoy, so I'm sitting back and enjoying."

Waikiki hosts a street party

• Waikiki Ho'olaule'a: Entertainment stages tonight (Map)

Tonight's Waikiki Ho'olaule'a offers entertainment on 11 stages:

Stage 1 — Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, between Lewers Street and Royal Hawaiian Avenue:

• 7:05 p.m. — Keali'ika'apunihonua Ke'ena A'o Hula
• 8:10 — Honolulu, featuring "24-7"
• 9:20 — Enbious

Stage 2 — Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, Seaside/Kalakaua intersection:

• 7 — Na 'Oiwi
• 7:45 — Blaine Kia with Kawaikahe Lani Malie and the Men of Kahulaliwai
• 8:45 — Maunalua
• 9:45 — 'Ale'a

Stage 3 — Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, across from Waikiki Theatre 3:

• 7 — Kealoha Kalama and Halau Hula O Pohai Kealoha
• 7:45 — Halau Hula O Maiki
• 8:45 — Halau Hula Olana
• 9:45 — Ledward Kaapana and Ikona with Halau Hula O Maile from Japan

Stage 4 — Outrigger Hotels, across from the International Market Place:

• 7 — Kumu hula Michael Canopin and Hula Halau Kealakapawa
• 7:30 — Na Ho'okele
• 8:15 — Kalia
• 9 — Hema Pa'a
• 9:45 — Maunalua

Stage 5 — Sheraton Moana Surfrider Hotel:

• 7 — Sam Kapu III
• 7:35 — Creation — A Polynesian Journey
• 8:15 — Augie Rey
• 8:55 — John Valentine and Ladies Night
• 9:30 — Tino and the Rhythm Klub

Stage 6 — Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort and Spa, Ka'iulani/Kalakaua intersection:

• 7 — Keahiwai
• 7:45 — Hobo House of Hits, with O-Shen, Believe, Namahana and Jamin
• 9 — Sean Na'auao
• 9:45 — Three Plus

Stage 7 — Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort and Spa, near Uluniu Street:

• 7:15 — Rubber Soul
• 8:15 — Pipeline Band
• 9:15 — Imua

Stage 8, Aston Waikiki Beachside, between Uluniu Street and Lili'uokalani Avenue:

• 7 — Tani Lynn Fujimoto
• 7:45 — Yvonne Elliman
• 8:20 — Inoa'ole
• 9:30 — Kahua

Stage 9 — Pacific Beach Hotel:

• 7 — Tsunami, Pacific Fleet Navy Band
• 7:55 — Hana Hou, Band of the Pacific
• 8:50 — 25th Infantry Division Band
• 9:45 — Marine Forces Pacific Band

Stage 10 — Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort:

• 7-10:30 — Syx Pack

Stage 11 — Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel:

• 7 — Kapena
• 8 — Baba B
• 8:50 — Darrell Labrado and special guest from Ho'onu'a
• 9:40 — Natural Vibrations

A starry show at Royal Ball

An all-star island cast will provide entertainment at the Aloha Festivals Royal Ball from 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village's Coral Ballroom.

Brickwood Galuteria will emcee and perform in a program with the theme "Na Haku Mele Po'okela (the Finest Weavers of Songs)," assembling Nina Keali'iwahamana, Bill Ka'iwa, Iwalani Kahalewai, Jimmy Borges and Tony Conjugacion. The Brickwood Galuteria Quartet, led by Imaikalani Yong, also features Gregg Kaneaiakala, Gordon Alfapada and Isaac Akuna.

In keeping with the overall festival theme, "Ka 'Uhane o Ka Loea (The Spirit of the Master)," the cast will present songs by Charles E. King, Sol K. Bright, Johnny K. Almeida, R. Alex Anderson, Irmgard Aluli, Helen Desha Beamer, Andy Cummings, Vickie I'i Rodrigues, Sonny Cunha, Johnny Noble, Andy Aiona, Alvin Kaleolani Isaacs, Kui Lee, Lena Machado, Bob Magoon, Jack Pitman, Lani McIntyre, Harry Owens, Mary Kawena Pukui, Maddy Lam and Tony Todaro.

Hula soloists will include Beverly Noa and Hula Halau Olana, featuring former Miss Aloha Hula Natalie A'i Kamau'u.

Tickets: $85 per person; tables for 10 are $750 to $2,500.

Reservations: 589-1771.