O'ahu will be a center of attention during The Brothers Cazimero's Hawaiian music hoedown tonight at the Hawai'i Theatre.

"We'll be talking and singing about O'ahu yesterday, O'ahu kahiko and O'ahu today," said guitarist Roland

Cazimero, taking over brother Robert's usual talk-story role during a phone interview a few days before the show.

"Robert's out shopping for costumes," Boze (Roland) said of his bro.

Robert — the duo's acoustic bassist-singer — has another life as kumu of his Merrie Monarch-winning Halau Na Kamalei, which heads for New York tomorrow, as the first-ever Island group included in the 2008 Fall for Dance Festival at the New York City Center, under way through Sept. 27. Twenty-eight diverse international dance companies — including hula, hooray! — will be featured in 10 performances; Halau Na Kamalei performs Tuesday.

"We are beyond excited and unbelievably prepared," Robert said later via e-mail.

"It's such an honor to be invited to a world premiere dance festival. We are also hoping to get to see Loretta Ables," he said of pal Loretta Ables Sayre, who is wowing 'em as Bloody Mary in "South Pacific" at Lincoln Center.

But back to tonight: "When was the last time you heard 'There's No Place Like Hawai'i' and 'Honolulu, How Do You Do?' We goin' do 'em," said Boze.

Dancer Leina'ala Kalama Heine will provide the kahiko elements. The O'ahu today segment will include tunes from The Caz's top-selling "Destiny" CD and earlier albums with appropriate titles.

"The problem is, I'm worried about going back — gotta get the right keys and kinda forgot the words for the older songs. Gotta remember again," Boze said.

Boze doesn't want to repeat his dire memory lapse at a recent Caz concert. "Robert called (without preparation) 'In the Real Old Style,' and all I could think of was 'The Snows of Mauna Kea,' so he sang my verse, his verse and by the time we got to the chorus, I got the first verse but was playing the wrong chord," he said. "It was a senior moment."

Nobody knew, Boze said.

Next up: Christmas shows at the Hawai'i Theatre, Dec. 12 to 14.

"I wear my Christmas socks all year round — so I'm ready," said Boze.