Reunion just musical, not romantic

• Shows give holiday merrymaking a Hawai'i spin

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Willie K. was asked by Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, his one-time partner in music and love, to launch a West Coast tour together. After four years apart, "the time was ripe for a reunion," she explained. Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom and Willie K 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday Hawai'i Theatre $18 balcony; $30 orchestra and loge 528-0506 Also: Gilliom and Willie K perform at 7:30 p.m. today at the Palace Theatre in Hilo, $25 and $30; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Kaua'i Community College's Performing Arts Theatre in Lihu'e, $25; and Feb. 13-14 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului, details to be announced.

The reunion, unfurling tomorrow and Sunday at the Hawai'i Theatre, was rekindled earlier this year when the two Na Hoku Hanohano Award winners did a West Coast tour that resulted in a "live" CD released recently.

Now, Honolulu folks will get to see, hear and revisit their merry music-making together. And because of the Christmas season, there will be holiday tunes, including Willie's signature take on "O Holy Night."

"Borders (Books and Music) was our first performance together (in Honolulu)," said Gilliom, speaking solo. "But there's no romance."

Willie declined to be interviewed for this story.

The time was ripe for a reunion, said Gilliom. "I was kind of at a point where performing again felt good, after tutu died," she said of her mentor and inspiration, Jennie Napua Hanaiali'i Woodd, who died in January. "It was me asking him if we can go back on tour; I was ready. I had taken time off to take care of tutu, and the only thing that comforted her, in those last days, was our music. She heard Amy and Willie over and over, dancing hula up to the last day, and made me feel that it was our mission to tour again."

So they rented Leann Rimes' bus, assembling 20 musicians and techies, and ventured up and down the West Coast, doing nine shows in 11 days, with both audio (and video) for the live CD. To bring the journey and experience full circle, a DVD will follow next year. It will include footage to be shot in the weekend shows, giving their Island roots some presence since it's not part of the audio release.

The tour attracted about 45,000, said Gilliom, and was a barometer of their continuing audience appeal.

Working with "Uncle Willie" has provided Gilliom increasing stability and a nod of confidence to return to the people, to share the music, to recall the past — while trolling the future.

"If tutu so enjoyed my music, and I'm her namesake, I think I need to (carry on)," she said.

Gilliom, who has tackled theater (most recently, a Maui production of "The Rocky Horror Show" that required her to sport blonde tresses, which remain), has been a musical chameleon. While her Hawaiiana posture has created the biggest stir, she has delved into blues and jazz, and currently is writing English-lyric tunes.

"I go through phases," she said matter-of-factly. Simply put, it keeps things interesting, in perspective, fresh.

She finds herself in a cyclical mode constantly, and wonders if she's unintentionally following tutu's path. "She had come full circle in her life," said Gilliom. "She started on Moloka'i, went to New York, became a diva in Hollywood films, and in the end, only spoke Hawaiian, and lived (and died) on Moloka'i. Interesting, sometimes, how life works."

In her time apart from Willie, Gilliom said, she has matured as an artist. "I don't think I would have had such change, some growth, such experiences if I hadn't broken away," she said. "I found myself singing with the Honolulu Symphony, touring Japan with Ho'okena, doing a lot of different things. Having been together with Uncle Willie before, it was easy to get back into it together again."

And remember, it's strictly musical.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.

Shows give holiday merrymaking a Hawai'i spin

With Christmas shows sprouting hither and yon, it's quite evident: The merry season is upon us.

Among the weekend's biggies:

• "Let's Celebrate," from 6 p.m. today, Kapono's at Aloha Tower Marketplace. Cecilio and Kapono continue to celebrate their 30 years together, this time with a combined CD party (an anniversary CD is due Dec. 18, a DVD, in early 2004) and a holiday sing-out. $25; $35 VIP seats available; service fee applies; additional $5 charge for walk-ins at the door. 536-2161.
• "Hawaiian Holiday of Stars Concert," 7:30 p.m. today (dinner at 6 p.m.), Coral Ballroom, Hilton Hawaiian Village. Melveen Leed hosts and sings; performers include Bill Kaiwa, Marlene Sai, Jay Larrin, Auntie Genoa Keawe, Karen Keawehawai'i and Richard Ho'opi'i (but not Jimmy Borges, who had a schedule conflict, although his name was in ads). $65; $150 Gold Circle seats available. 235-4958.
• "Christmas Pops With The Brothers Cazimero and Na Leo Pilimehana," 8 p.m. today and tomorrow and 4 p.m. Sunday at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. Robert and Roland Cazimero, and Nalani Choy, Angela Morales and Lehua Kalima Heine add Hawaiian luster to holiday tunes, backed by the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Matt Catingub. The Honolulu Symphony Chorus, directed by Karen Kennedy, also performs. $20, $30, $40, $50 and $65. 792-2000 or (877) 750-4400.
• Christmas party/comedy brunch, with Augie T. and Lanai and Kapena, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday at the Grand Ballroom, Pacific Beach Hotel. Doors open at 9 a.m. $36; $45 Golden Square seats available. 921-6137.