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By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
Roland, left, and Robert Cazimero make time to bond at one
of their favorite eating spots, Gulick Delicatessen.

After 23 May Days,
Caz don’t quibble with
a good thing

By John Berger
Special to the Star-Bulletin

Despite that cliche about blood being thicker than water, there's no question that family ties can fray as surely as any other partnership when it comes to the music business. Recent events in Hawaiian music prove the point:

The Pahinui Brothers -- Cyril, Martin and Bla -- found a national record deal insufficient incentive to stay together.

Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole never played an officially scheduled performance with his brother-in-law Louis "Moon" Kauakahi and the Makaha Sons after quitting the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau in 1993.

Keola and Kapono Beamer ended their professional relationship more than 15 years ago. Both have successful solo careers and observed the 20th anniversary of their "Honolulu City Lights" album separately.

ON STAGE What: Brothers Cazimero May Day concert Where: Waikiki Shell When: 7:30 p.m. Monday Cost: $17 to $23.50 Call: 526-4400 Also: "The Best of The Brothers Cazimero III" has been released to coincide with the concert

But then there are Robert and Roland, the Brothers Cazimero. When the two take the stage at the Waikiki Shell Monday night, it will be for their 23rd annual May Day concert at the Shell. It coincides with their 25th anniversary as a duo.

What is it that keeps them together?

"More than anything it's the commitment to the music, the culture and the business, and whether it's you who controls the whole thing or whether it's it that controls you ..." Robert says.

"... (and) having fun playing the music, carrying on the tradition of the music and trying to get other people -- young, old, whoever it is -- interested," Roland adds thoughtfully.

The brothers often work tag-team style when being interviewed together and this conversation at the Mountain Apple Co. offices is no exception. More often than not, one of them picks up the conversation in mid-sentence.

Robert, the older by two years, says he remembers noticing three or four years ago that he was thinking of Roland as a peer rather than as a "working partner, perhaps on a lower level."

"I had to go through a lot a personal lessons ... to get to the point where I could say at times, 'I'm the one who's being an ---- here.' It became much easier to work as the Brothers Cazimero rather than as Roland/Robert or as older sibling/younger sibling."

Roland agrees they've been sharing the work more evenly in recent years. "There are times when one of us will do more but it's not so much about Robert doing all the work or me doing all the work. It's much better if we ..."

"... share the responsibilities," Robert concludes. "I'm 51 and it's taken me almost fortysomething years to get to the point where I don't have to be the super person -- producing and choreographing and selecting and rehearsing, and be willing to give up some of that power to make things better for all concerned."

"And me being almost 50, it took me almost 50 years to ask Robert and Jon (de Mello) 'Can I do the next album?' " Roland adds.

The brothers agree another factor in their longevity has been the freedom to work on separate projects and pursue different interests. And they agree good local food is one interest they both share.

Robert is otherwise well known in the hula community as a prominent kumu hula and articulate advocate of Hawaiian culture. Roland's non-musical passions include restoring and modifying motor vehicles.

Both have recorded solo albums and appeared as guests on other projects. One of the outside projects Roland is most proud of is recording the Hoku Award-winning Hawaiian nationalist anthem, "Broken Promise," with Henry Kapono Kaaihui, IZ and Cyril Pahihui in 1991.

Robert says, "Our commitment as the Brothers Cazimero is to play Hawaiian music but individually, we can explore other facets of music and enjoy that freedom ..."

"... that as the Brothers we couldn't," Roland concludes.

Robert adds that he and Roland have learned over the years to sidestep some of the dangers that can come with success in Hawaii.

"Ours in the kind of society where you're so anxious to raise a person up to the heights of adoration -- whether it's an actor or a singer or an entertainer -- but at the same time, once we put them up there we are so ready to take pot shots at them.

"I think Roland and I have gone through that and we have also assisted people in taking pot shots at each other and at ourselves. I think what has happened now is that we stand by our commitment and what we believe is good.

"May Day is a part of that. We are committed to keeping it fresh, to that dream and that reality. Once you make a commitment like that in your career, there's nothing boring or old about it."

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