Sunday, November 08, 2009
Search
Blogs
HiLife Online 
Give us YOUR Weekly Opinion
Reader Poll
Most Read
- Educators accused of unethical conduct
- Desperate times at Aloha Stadium
- Communication gaffe raises fuss in chief selection
- Symphony cancels concerts and will downsize
- Access justice
- Senate to grill DOE on stimulus
- Kahuku rallies for the Red
- Downturn hurting donations
- TV deal includes payment of $22M
- Letters to the Editor
- Delivery with a smile
On the Scene
For Tuesday, January 1, 2009
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jan 06, 2009
(Single Page View) | Return to Paginated View
KARAOKE KING CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY: Keith Haugen, right, was one of many guests who performed when Walter and Robertha Omori celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Dec. 27 at the Japanese Cultural Center. Walter Omori has been Hawaii’s most prominent promoter of karaoke singing and equipment for years, but his credits as a showroom sound man and musician go back more than a half-century, so several big-name entertainers were in the house. Haugen, a pretty “big name” himself, serenaded the couple with a song he dedicated especially to Omori: “Trucker’s Lament (I Just Don’t Look Good Naked Anymore).”
Carole Kai, left, Danny Kaleikini and Melveen Leed told stories about working with Omori in the ’60s and ’70s. Leed entertained the well-wishers with powerful renditions of “Skylark” and “When I Fall in Love.” Kaleikini sang a Hawaiian Christmas medley a cappella and also showed off his pop repertoire with “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing.” Kai thanked Omori for helping with her long-running “Hawaii Stars” television show.
Karaoke contest veterans Arnold Pontillas, left, Brenda Garcia and Amado Cacho performed individually during the three-hour songfest. Garcia entertained the crowd with “For Once in My Life,” Pontillas chose “The Impossible Dream” and Cacho showed why he is a national karaoke contest winner with his showroom-quality delivery of “Meglio Stasera (It Had Better Be Tonight).”
Vacations Hawaii exec Kevin Kaneshiro, left, congratulated Jessica Yashiki and her husband, karaoke singer Rylan Yashiki, on winning an aromatherapy candle that was one of the table prizes. The three agreed that it was just like Omori to not only provide gifts for the guests, but also to insist on personally running the sound system throughout the party so that everyone else could enjoy themselves.
One member of the Fab 4 had already “left the building” when group members Janel Akana, left, Frankie Villanueva, center, and Kea Davis-Milo rejoined their guests, Jacques Walker, second from left, and Joshua Milo, after the quartet closed the show with a set of ’70s soul hits. Akana, Villanueva and Davis-Milo met while competing on “Hawaii Stars,” became friends and decided to sing professionally.
(Single Page View) | Return to Paginated View
Today’s Edition
Hawaii News
- Nonprofits feel pain of poor economy
- Symphony cancels concerts and will downsize
- New life for paraplegic lawyer
- Furlough rally held at Capitol
- Educators accused of unethical conduct
- Senate to grill DOE on stimulus
- Communication gaffe raises fuss in HPD chief selection
- Ala Wai traffic lanes reopened
- Newswatch
- Police / Fire
- The Search for Signs of Hawaiian Life
- Iraqis who return home face unemployment and poor services
- Prospect of more U.S. troops worries a wary Afghan public
- Kokua Line: State can enter property to act on hazards
- Surf sample sale in Kahala
- Got nutrients?
- Religion briefs
- Wood Craft: Sacred Hearts volleyball team is perfect
- Kahuku rallies for the Red
- Moanalua's time comes
- Farrington has Castle's number
- Desperate times at Aloha Stadium
- Further Review: UH's 2-6 mark makes a win tonight a must
- Wahine run over Fresno State
- Hawaii Beat
- Scoreboard
- Television & Radio
insideStarBulletin.com
