Promoter Kimo McVay Entertainment promoter Kimo Wilder McVay died early today at Kaiser Hospital. He had been suffering from pancreatic cancer. He was 73.
dies of cancer at 73
He managed the careers of
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some of Waikiki's top talentsBy John Berger
jberger@starbulletin.comMcVay was the son of Charles Butler McVay III and Kinau Wilder; his mother was of the Hawaii Wilder family for whom Wilder Avenue is named. (Kimo's older brother, Charles Butler McVay IV, was nicknamed Quatro.)
McVay will be remembered as a guy who loved the challenge of promotion -- particularly entertainment events.
He made Duke Kahanamoku's the Waikiki hot spot in the mid-1960s and managed Don Ho & The Aliis for part of that time.
When Ho and the Aliis parted company, he brought in John Rowles from New Zealand to be the "new Don Ho."
McVay managed -- for various lengths of time -- the careers of Andy Bumatai, Freddie Morris & Moku Kahana, and magician John Hirokawa.
He also worked closely with Yemun Chung, the original Fabulous Krush, and Carole Kai in the late-70s and early '80s.
McVay had devoted the last years of his life to the campaign to clear his father's name regarding the sinking of the heavy cruiser Indianapolis in the last days of World War II.
He staged a media event in December 1990 that brought together several Indianapolis survivors, the commander of the Japanese submarine that sank the ship, and author Dan Kurzman, to promote the publication of Kurzman's book on the tragedy and subsequent scapegoating of his father for the loss of the ship and most of the crew.
McVay loved to send odd gifts to people on opening night, including once giving Don Ho a live duck on stage.
He was also known as Kimo "Knuckles" McVay in reference to his skill as a piano player.
McVay was a better promoter than businessman, but always seemed to land on his feet and make his way into the local three-dot columns.
His wife, Betsy, was in a wheelchair and an invalid for years. He had a hard time the last few years caring for her and then fighting cancer.
Services are pending. Besides his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Lindsey and Melissa and five grandchildren.