1999: The Year In Review
‘Baywatch Hawaii’
gave isles exposure
By John Berger
Special to the Star-Bulletin
HOW will 1999 be remembered in terms of local entertainment? Three of Hawaii's most enduring musical attractions reached milestones this year:
The Society of Seven celebrated 30 years as headline attraction at the Outrigger Main Showroom in March. Tony Ruivivar and Bert Sagum are the survivors of the 1969 SOS; Hoku Low (bass) joined the group in 1977. No act in local entertainment has headlined one major venue as long as the SOS.
Don Ho, a Waikiki showroom headliner since the mid-60s, played his first scheduled nightclub show since 1981 when he headlined Don Ho's Island Grill in January to a standing-room-only crowd. The band included Benny Chong of the original Aliis. Guests included Danny Kaleikini, Nephi Hannemann and some of the guys who played with Ho at Honey's in Kaneohe before he hit in Waikiki.
Genoa Keawe celebrated her 81st birthday singing as usual at the Hawaiian Regent Hotel in October. "Auntie Genoa" shared her stage with 12-year-old Brittney Anelaikalani Jennings, who is perpetuating the tradition of wahine falsetto singing for the next generation of Hawaiian vocalists.
Here are more of 1999's memorable events:
Goodbye: Among the saddest news to hit the entertainment industry was the February suicide of former Kalapana member Mackey Feary, who was sent to prison for 10 years after being found guilty of drug possession charges. Feary had previously attempted suicide while behind bars and had vowed to kill himself rather than "live in a cage." He made good on his promise while left unattended.
Beach rescue: Al Masini played a key role in promoting Hawaii as "Baywatch" became "Baywatch Hawaii" instead of "Baywatch Australia" and Masini's "Destination Stardom" found a use for the Hawai'i Convention Center in featuring aspiring entertainers nationwide. Gov. Ben Cayetano also made his TV acting debut playing himself on "Baywatch Hawaii." A sweeping local casting call turned up newcomers Jason Momoa, Stacy Kamano and Kala'i Miller for "Baywatch." Miller also appears on "Destination Stardom."
Concerts: Celine Dion erased all memories of her problematic 1998 concert here with an excellent performance at Aloha Stadium in February. Janet Jackson's long-awaited Jan. 30 Aloha Stadium concert was less impressive; pacing and material were the major problems. In August, Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers introduced the acoustic blues sound of their new album headlining with Jimmy Cliff in the biggest reggae show of the year at Kualoa Ranch.
Other notable concerts were Kenny Loggins (Waikiki Shell), Yo-Yo Ma (Blaisdell Concert Hall), Sheryl Crow (Andrews Amphitheatre), Metallica (Blaisdell Arena), Lou Rawls (Waikiki Shell), Michael Feinstein (Waikiki Shell), Martin Nievera & Rocky Brown (Blaisdell Concert Hall), Kenny Rogers (Blaisdell Concert Hall), Al Jarreau & Michael Paulo (Blaisdell Concert Hall), and Rod Stewart (Blaisdell Arena). 'N Sync ends the year with three nights at Blaisdell Arena (Review) The Smothers Brothers staged the outstanding comedy show of 1999.
Michael Jackson and Hank Williams III were among the no-shows. Jackson had been scheduled to bring in the year 2000.
New sensation: Pure Heart was the big winner at the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. The trio won Album of the Year, Contemporary Album, Most Promising Artist(s) and Favorite Entertainer. Jake Shimabukuro was so overcome he couldn't stop crying until his final trip to the podium. Later, news that the group was going "on hiatus" took Shimabukuro, percussionist Lopaka Colon and the public by surprise. It turned out co-founder Jon Yamasato was leaving to concentrate on school. Colon and Shimabukuro continued Pure Heart with Guy Cruz.
Divas unite: Nohelani Cypriano, Loyal Garner, Carole Kai and Melveen Leed combined their talents and were a hit. They sold out the Sheraton Waikiki Hawaii Ballroom in June and did it again with a two-night Christmas show.
The Aloha Jam '99 live cybercasts at http://www.pixelworld.net gave local musicians another venue for getting their music to an international audience. The marathon event at the Pier Bar in November was followed by shorter shows.
"The Playboy Show" opened at the Ilikai Hotel amid the biggest brouhaha since Hooters Restaurant opened at Aloha Tower. Moral guardians claimed a show that might include bare-chested female dancers would somehow debase a city in which countless bars already offer total nudity up close. Others fretted that if Playboy did the Hollywood hapa-haole rocker "Rock-a-Hula Baby" it would defame the hula. The show opened with bras on the dancers and without "Rock-A-Hula Baby." It closed within weeks.
Local music booms: More than 200 new titles were released, including anthologies. KCCN's "Pride of the Islands" competition, Frank B. Shaner's falsetto contest, and I-94's "Brownbags to Stardom" continued to provide exposure for local singers, musicians and writers.
The Makaha Sons and Amy & Willie released hapa-haole albums. Keali'i Reichel's year-end "Melelana" set a new standard in enhanced-CD albums for the local record industry.
We love you, "Miss Saigon," and local theater: Ronald Andrew's presentation of "Miss Saigon" capped the year for theatrical spectacle here. Expatriate islander Johnny Fernandez distinguished himself as Thuy.
Aiko Schick made Castle High School's spring production of "Sweet Charity" her personal talent show with a Po'okela-worthy performance in the title role. (High school theatre is not adjudicated but Schick's performance in Army Community Theatre's staging of "A Chorus Line" got her nominated for a Po'okela.)
Guy Merola and Andrew Sakaguchi were the dynamic duo that made Manoa Valley Theatre's "Kiss of the Spider Woman" successful. Sakaguchi, one of two recipients of a Po'okela for Leading Male (Musical), said he would share the award with Merola (who inexplicably wasn't nominated).
Diamond Head Theatre's spring production of "42nd Street" was one of the highlights in local musical theatre, and Kumu Kahua's "Joy Luck Club" provided memorable drama.
Vanita Rae Smith's Sunday afternoon "Readers Theatre" program at ACT, and the "Dark Night Series" at Kumu Kahua, continued to provide venues for refreshing alternatives in local theater.
Club hopping: Honolulu Symphony Pops Conductor Matt Catingub spent his summer playing neo-swing as Big Kahuna & The Copa Cat Pack at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Tropics Showroom. Poi Dog Pondering played a five-night reunion engagement at the Wave Waikiki in August. Nicholas Nickolas became Aaron's Atop The Ala Moana with a big party in September. Jack Law's Wave Waikiki marked its 19th anniversary in November. "Legends in Concert" closed. Chip Jewett and Jed Roa opened the Pipeline Cafe & Sports Bar in Kakaako in December.
Radio warfare: 98.5 sacrificed its "classic rock" to an "island rhythm" format late in the year, rivaling KCCN FM100. Some local musicians and record producers are hoping the competition will lead to air play for more artists in the year to come.
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