Posts Tagged ‘Holiday Traditions’

One of Honolulu’s most delightful Holiday Traditions returns to the C’est Si Bon Ballroom at the Pagoda Hotel (1515 Rykroft St) on Friday December 4 2009.  Comedian Frank De Lima’s Christmas Show is always a delight for the entire family complete with family friendly hours.  The fantastic Pagoda Prime Rib & Crab Legs Buffet at 6 PM, followed by Frank’s show at 7PM. Frank’s show remains a bargain a mere $50.00 for Adults, or those age three to ten, $25.00.  Reservations are a must, contact the Pagoda via 808-948-8370 or go to their website www.pagodahotel.com.

Frank De Lima is one of Hawai’i’s living treasures, entertaining the Aina for more than thirty years (ever since he was in diapers), creating a wild array of comical characters, crafting musical parodies delighting tourists & locals alike, with the musical duo of David Kauahikaua and Bobby Nishida, De Lima has headlined nightclubs, performed numerous sold-out concerts locally and on the mainland US of A, Emceed events throughout Hawaii and Frank has produced numerous audio & visual works. As of 2009 Frank’ has released three videos and 13 comedy albums, 11 of which have won the coveted Na Hoku Hanohano Award.

Are you looking for that perfect Holiday gift?  Give the gift of education by supporting Frank De Lima’s Student Enrichment Program.  “You can also make a difference in the lives of Hawaii’s students. For a $1,000 donation to the Frank De Lima Student Enrichment Program, Frank will deliver a first-rate, 30-minute performance for you and your guests. Please contact Frank at 808-521-4529 for more information,” or scope out http://www.frankdelima.com/speaker.html.

The hardest working trio in Hawai’i’an music, Moon Kauakahi, John and Jerome Koko, otherwise known as the Makaha Sons present ‘The Hawaiian Christmas Event of the Year’ inside the Iwilei Ballroom on Saturday, December 13. Prepare yourself for a treat with great food to eat.  A prime rib buffet featuring many island favorites begins at 11 AM; the show begins at 11:30 AM. It promises to be an exciting show.  In addition to the talented trio, there will be good time Hawaiian music by Bernard Kalua and Friends, the beautiful hula styling of Kealo Koko, and Merrie Monarch Winners Na kumu hula Michael Casupang and Karl ‘Veto’ Baker with Halau I Ka Wekiu.

The Makaha Sons have been entertaining the world for thirty-two years, evolving along the way from a five-man combo called The Makaha Sons of Ni’i’hau in 1976 to the current trio of Louis “Moon” Kauakahi on 6-string guitar, John Koko on upright acoustic bass, and Jerome Koko on 12-string guitar. Their greatest instrument remains their voices; their soaring harmonies elicit that purely local effect called ‘chicken skin’ — a wonderful shiver of delight. Their greatest asset is their sunny personalities enlivening their shows with comical antics.

Audiences around the world have enjoyed the Makaha Sons, who have performed at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City three times and traveled to Washington DC where they performed for the President and Vice President. “Their peers in music have also acknowledged their efforts by awarding them countless ‘Na Hoku Hanohano Awards’ for their timeless recordings and steadfast commitment to the music of Hawai‘i.”

Scope out the Makaha Sons via their web site. Collectively The Makaha Sons have released more than twenty albums — their very latest, a second ‘Best of -” entitled ‘Unforgettable,’ which was released on December 4^th, just in time for their “Makaha Kalikimaka 2008” show, a perfect gift for someone special.

The annual Makaha Sons Christmas show continues to be a terrific deal: only $65!  Special VIP seating is $120 and features gifts from the Makaha Sons, including their newest CD ‘Unforgettable.’ Keiki under age fourteen get a discount (in truth there is an extra discount: originally published as being $50 the price has been cut to $40!).

One can purchase tickets for “Makaha Kalikimaka 2008” by contacting the lovely Myrna at #808-536-0545, or send check or money orders to P.O. Box 22720, Honolulu, HI 96823. Treat yourself, family, and friends to what promises to be one of the best holiday shows this season.

Disclaimer: As an Event Coordinator I frequently meet with the Big Guy while he is waiting to make special appearances during the Christmas Season. I caught up with Mr. Claus prior to his annual appearance in the Hawai’i

Mahalo, Mr. Claus!

Kai parade.

CL: Howzit?

Santa Claus: It is going great, I have been having a wonderful Christmas Season.

CL: Christmas seems to be arriving earlier & earlier.  Does that wreak havoc with your schedule?

Santa Claus (patting his belly): It cuts down on my consumption of Thanksgiving turkey & treats. These days I have to be up and running the next day. And this year I had several requests to start my visits with children on the 22^nd of November so Mrs. Claus had to have my suit ready extra early, since she tends to any needed adjustments that meant she was at her sewing machine by November 1^st.

CL: Santa, one thing puzzling children all over the world is how you can be here, there, and everywhere all at the same time.

Santa Claus: Well, we, and when I say ‘we’ I mean the elves and Mrs. Claus tend to all of the important details.  I just grab all the credit.  They are the real geniuses; they have developed a wondrous device called the ‘Multi-dimensional Transponder.’  (It is sort of like instant cloning without the need of a DNA sample).  They simply send exact copies of me wherever I am needed. As I said, they tend to the details, and the details are top secret.

CL: Any unusual side effects?

Santa Claus (pondering, scratching beard): No, not really.  But it is a bit dizzying.  All of a sudden I have all of these memories jumbled up at once.  Why, just the other day I was at the Windward Mall listening to a first grader telling me what a wonderful teacher she had while at that exact time I was at the Pagoda Hotel singing with a Hula Halau.

CL: Often when I see you I hear the keiki asking, “Where are your Reindeer?”  What do you tell them?

Santa Claus (laughing): The truth — and everyone thinks it is a joke but it is true — is that when I am here in Hawai’i my reindeer love to surf. Their favorite spot is out by Makaha.  The locals are so friendly. They never disturb my reindeer; they just let them play and splash in the surf, and I tell you it is an amazing sight seeing reindeer hanging four on a board.

CL: Why do you use reindeer and not horses?

Santa Claus: Well, much as I like horses, they are high maintenance, requiring a lot of fuss and care, whereas my reindeer pretty much take care of themselves.  They can be a bit surly, but that is because they are smart.  They do all the navigating.  I am just along for the ride.

CL: What about the red suit?

Santa Claus: Well, to be honest, I can be a bit sleepy at the end of a long run, so if I fall asleep and tumble off my sleigh, a red suit stands out amidst the polar ice & snow.

CL: And finally, you have been doing this gig for more than a thousand years,.  What keeps you so young and vibrant?

Santa Claus: The joy and laughter of adults and children is a wonderful tonic.

Mele Kalikimaka Me Ka Hauioli Makahiki Hou!