SHOW BIZ
Pioneer dance drama has awesome moments
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
SHOW BITS: "Hanau Ka Moku," that stellar Tau Dance Theatre-Halau O Kekuhi collaboration Saturday night at the Hawai'i Theatre, was a sell-out, earning a rousing standing ovation and emerging as a landmark cultural treat. The dance drama, about the formation of Lo'ihi island off the Big Island, united two disparate companies — of modern dance and hula kahiko — and was fused with passion and fueled by the remarkable vision of co-directors and co-choreographers Peter Rockford Espiritu of Tau Dance and sisters Pualani Kanahele and Nalani Kanaka'ole of Kekuhi. While still a work in progress, the show boasted awesome moments of exuberance and energy. Aurally and visually, there was a lot to embrace. Kekuhi Kanahele's earthy chants, coupled with that of her scholar-husband Kaipo Frias, set tone and mood with assertive power and wisdom; eye-filling costumes by Puamana Crabbe and Nalani Kanaka'ole expressed both the roots and tradition of hula and the soaring uncharted hemisphere of modern dance in colorful bursts of daring and delight. If you were confused, that was part of the experience — the anticipation may have been initially blurry, because these artisans of movement and chant were flexing and stretching in true pioneer spirit. Wonder how this will play in Peoria? "Hanau Ka Moku" is destined for a Mainland tour in 2004, with fund-raising under way. ...
Next up for Espiritu: "Ladies Night Out" at 6:30 p.m. April 19 at Rumours at the Ala Moana Hotel, where he'll feature ladies of his dance combo, ladies from Kenny Endo's Taiko Drums of the Pacific, Halla Pai Huhm's Korean ensemble, Willow Chang's Devadasi Dance Theatre, Pua Melia Trio and Pi'ilani Smith's Malamalama Hawai'i. Melveen Leed emcees. ...
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AROUND 'N' ABOUT: You might say caterer Steve Ozark's career is mushrooming. Normally preparing gourmet meals backstage for visiting VIPs, Ozark will be at Costco Hawai'i Kai 9:45 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday to introduce Hamakua Mushrooms. "I visited their Big Island farms and these are really gourmet mushrooms, which are hard to describe — they grow in clusters, have a shrimp-like texture and work well with butter, garlic, simply fried with Portuguese sausage," said Ozark. To date, only Big Isle chefs and restaurants in the know have been serving these homegrown "finds," which look like alien species since they grow in clumps. ...
"Fifty First Kisses," a movie starring Adam Sandler, is auditioning for adult actors (Hawaiian ethnicities preferred), 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at the Hawai'i meeting room, second floor, at the Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki Hotel. Five children already have been tapped and are filming in Los Angeles. Pomai Brown of the Big Island has snagged a juicy role, too, as Nick, owner of the restaurant where the Sandler character meets his love (Drew Barrymore). ...
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NAMES 'N' PLACES: Ben Dowling, g.m. of Nick's Fishmarket, is pleased with the restaurant's Live Music Is Back in Waikiki promotion. Al Waterson (whose photo appeared in this space Tuesday, sans this item, because of an editing error) and a trio performing 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. every Friday in Nick's lounge have been attracting a listening and dancing crowd, like old times, and Waterson is quick to invite a fellow performer to the mike: Kristian Lei, Shari Lynn, Sandy Kinoshita, Alfredo Romero, Rhonda, Eddie Lactaoen, Randy Smith, Augie Rey, and Forté's Marlene Balueza ...
And that's Show Biz ...
Wayne Harada's Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays; reach him at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.
