Photo courtesy I-94 radio
Joe Onosai, a former UH football player,
towers over his radio co-host, Lanai.

Onosai - minister, radio host, community activist - is a special guest on the newly released "Imagination: The Musical," a souvenir album for the theatrical production that closes at the shopping center Saturday.

He sings a new arrangement of "You're Not Alone" with composer/vocalist Roslyn. "That song really reaches into the hearts of people - especially young people coming from dysfunctional homes and having low self-esteem. It's important to remind them that they're not alone," Onosai said.

Recording with Roslyn has motivated him to take on his next project - a solo full-length album of "a little Hawaiian music, Samoan, Christian music and love songs."

To pull that off, though, he'll have to work around his primary obligation - reaching out to teens as the leader of the Men Of War program.

Onosai's 2-year-old Men Of War program involves a crew of ex-convicts, former gang leaders, police officers and retired drug dealers who tour high schools with uniquely popular motivational assemblies.

"If someone stands up there saying, 'Just Say No,' the kids'll boo 'em off stage or tune 'em out; so we use the power team concept of strength feats to capture their attention - breaking bricks, bending steel bars, blowing (up) hot water bottles, lifting huge logs, placing a slab of concrete on a team member's stomach and then shattering it with a sledge hammer."

Then come the messages about drugs, violence, gangs, teen pregnancy, low self-esteem. "Our approach is confrontational but everything is motivational. If there are kids on the borderline of committing suicide or doing a murder it is our hope that we give them something to think about."

Men Of War don't lecture but the message is clear. No matter how hard some budding street punk may fancy himself, these guys are harder. They've been there, done that, and returned with a message: "Don't even think about it" (For information on Men Of War call 524-2447).

Onosai is able to extend his teen audience further with "Street Talk," his weekly radio show with I-94 deejay/recording artist Lanai.

Sundays at 10 p.m. they address issues such as alcohol and substance abuse, gang violence, relationships and domestic violence.

"A lot of kids grow up with no direction, no core values, no principles to live by because they either get no guidance at home or they don't listen to their parents," Onosai said. "I went through that phase when I thought I knew everything - I'd get the same advice from my parents that I'd get somewhere else but I wouldn't listen to my parents."

When Onosai talks about making positive choices he speaks as a man who has survived some world-class setbacks.

He capped a stellar football career with the University of Hawaii Rainbows by being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys - then suffered a career-ending neck injury that left him paralyzed for two years. Onosai bounced back to the point where he could vie in the World's Strongest Men competition ("The best I've ever placed is fourth").

If not for the injury, he might have three Super Bowl rings, he said, "but I wouldn't trade where I'm at today for those rings. I can lay my head down on the pillow (at night) and say that I'm making a difference in somebody's life. It's an awesome feeling."

On stage: "Imagination ... The Grand Adventure Begins," with special guests Joe Onosai and Roslyn.
When: "Imagination" at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Onosai and Roslyn sing at 7:45 p.m.
Where: Ala Moana Center Centerstage.
Admission: Free.
Call: 946-2811.

Imagination: The Musical, Original Cast Recording, Mistral

A duet by Joe Onosai and Roslyn is the commercial hook on this beautifully packaged souvenir for the successful production staged by Ala Moana Center.

"Imagination" has been drawing near-capacity shows since it opened four months ago. This is a late but welcome memento.

All the songs from the show are there, but the dialogue that ties the songs together is not. Fans who know the show will be able to visualize the characters and choreography, but anyone who hasn't seen it will find the story hard to follow.

Original cast members Jade Anguay, Randall Hubbard, Alan K. Kaleleiki, Tisha Love, Chris Luke and Mariah Senica reprise their roles.

Anguay's big number, "Bright Eyed N' Bushy Tailed" is still a stand-out song; she deserves an album of her own. Luke's performance on the original arrangement of "You're Not Alone" shows he has a promising future, too. Onosai is not a cast member but acquits himself well as Roslyn's partner on the bonus track.