For Dad, anticipation grows daily
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
James West, father of Camile Velasco, has maintained patience and has chosen to curb his enthusiasm and hold off trekking to the Mainland to see his "American Idol" finalist in action.
"I haven't seen the show yet," said West, in a phone conversation from Maui.
So his anticipation is mounting as the "Idol" tour heads this way for its three-night stand, starting tomorrow, at Blaisdell Arena.
With their International House of Pancakes business to run on Maui and prepping an O'ahu flapjack restaurant sometime in 2005, James and Rennie West, parents of Velasco, opted not to travel to the Mainland earlier to catch the "Idol" tour. (However, mom made a trip to California last week to catch a performance Thursday night in Anaheim).
"I was on the Mainland for two months, while the contest was on," said James West, explaining his reluctance to catch an earlier performance. "And our son J.J. got an invitation for an educational program for gifted youth at Stanford this summer, so I was there with him for a month. Because I've spent quite a bit of time on the Mainland, I decided to wait to catch Camile when the tour hits Hawai'i."
It's not like her parents didn't have a pipeline to Velasco's activities; they have been chatting by phone four or five times a week.
"She's having a great time, though she has the smallest role in the show; but she's OK with that," said West. "She hasn't gotten burned out. So she's happy about her situation. But she can't wait until the 'American Idol' tour is over. That's when she will finally own her own life."
Her parents are involved in Camile's looming business affairs. Rennie West was to sit in on some Hollywood meetings last week; James West pores over business documents.
"Camile has an entertainment lawyer, the same as Fantasia Barrino and Jasmine (Trias)," said James West. "Camile is definitely on track about what she wants to do. Her future's bright."
And like James West, Velasco has a lot of decisions ahead. "She's had a ton of offers, and it's important she makes the right choices," he said.
