Robert Cazimero is revved up for the annual Lei Day concert — Monday at the Waikiki Shell — and inspired by the recent Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo.

Merrie Monarch, he said, turned out to be a fertile expedition for ideas and a tremendous boost emotionally. "When you don't compete, it's much more relaxing," he said of the marathon of hula and Hawaiiana. "It's pretty much stress-free ... if you're not competing."

He knows. He's been there, done that. Last year, his Halau Na Kamalei competed — and came out as overall winner, plus first in kane kahiko, kane 'auana and kane overall.

He paused long enough to field Five Questions:

Q. Lei Day falls on a Monday this year. Does this make it a bit more difficult to attract a crowd on the night of the first back-to-work day?

A. I was concerned about it, up till last week. We've always been able to come up with all kinds of good stuff, trying to get it together. (Having completed a recent concert at the Hawai'i Theatre and using it as a blueprint for this one) made it little easier to plan; and with 'Ala (Leina'ala Kalama Heine) winning at Merrie Monarch (her Na Pualei O Likolehua won wahine kahiko), her girls and our boys will be ready. And we have Brother Noland as a guest artist — which makes it really exciting.

Q. How valuable is Merrie Monarch to your vision as a Hawaiian entertainer and kumu hula — and how does it impact your Lei Day repertoire?

A. I was playing and singing (for Maelia Loebenstein Carter's Ka Pa 'O Kauanoe O Wa'ahila and Manu Boyd's Halau O Ke 'A'a'i'i Ku Makani) ... and I think what I picked up was how much great talent is coming up, halau I would love to put on (in May Day shows). Too late for this year, but the valuable lesson I learned was to appreciate new talent more than ever.

Q. Pikake has been your favorite lei. Are you worried that those dreadful downpours in March will mean fewer pikake for Lei Day?

A. Oh my God, pikake coming out of the woodwork; I saw girls wearing nine strands. These days, if you can get one strand, you're lucky. I'm more worried about (the availability of) 'ilima for Roland. It's time to wear a lei, give a lei, make a lei.

Q. The Caz have never been lacking for new material; when do you anticipate doing another album?

A. We recorded a Christmas album, so I hope we can do a Christmas-in-July thing. But as for Hawaiian music, we've been gathering material. Maybe we'll record at the start of 2007.

Q. Speaking of Christmas, your next big yule concert will be at the Hawai'i Theatre this December. Are you already in holiday mode?

A. We're still working on dates, but we'll do three shows at the Hawai'i Theatre. Much of our new Christmas CD will be in the show. But ... I need to find a big Christmas number for 'Ala. So maybe "Little Susie Snowflake" is in the cards.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.