Bumatai, Augie T on comedy double bill

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

•	Andy Bumatai and Augie T Comedy 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Hoku Hale Showroom, Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel 923-3981

Bumatai, once billed as "Hawai'i's First Stand-up Comic," sees the weekend shows as a stress buster for locals who fear war is imminent.

"We're trying to make Waikiki attractive to local people, and also provide relief" from war and terrorism worries, he said. "And maybe it's a little bit of trying to hand down the baton" to Augie T.

Augie (the T stands for Tulba), a radio personality on Island Rhythm 98.5 FM, has emerged as his generation's Bumatai, quick on the repartee and plugged into the local comedy scene.

"It's like graduation — Andy's been my childhood idol," Augie said. "And doing the show together is like writing a page in my lifework of comedy."

The format will be each one doing 35 to 40 minutes of comedy, then possibly a bit of stage time together.

"I think we'll jan ken po to see who goes on first," said Augie, who co-hosts the locally televised "Jan Ken Po" game show.

"There's a need to bring Augie to Waikiki," said Bumatai, who headlined showrooms such as the Royal Hawaiian Monarch Room and the Outrigger Waikiki Main Showroom in the glory days of big Waikiki shows.

After several years of TV work, Bumatai settled into the mobile telephone business, but he's now back into show business.

He and brother Ray Bumatai have launched "Buma Vision" on Oceanic Cable 16. Andy Bumatai recently produced a Don Ho animated music video and pitched it to MTV, where it is scheduled to air (for a peek, visit andybumatai.com) as a proposed prelude to a full-on Ho animated series.

Bumatai believes his own presence, appealing to an older demographic, would complement Augie's following, which is mainly a younger radio audience who follows him to smaller lounges and clubs.

"Let's just say we could bring heat to the party together," Bumatai said.

"Two comics for the price of one," Augie quipped, citing value: "One young, one older."

There will be a $15 cover charge.

The Friday-and-Saturday slot was negotiated with Ho, who performs in the club Sundays through Thursdays only.