Written on Debbie's Mac under the mango tree.
This is a Polaword of what happens, production-wise during a busy day at our Kaneohe cottage/studio. Yesterday was filled with behind-the-scenes activity, known as, "The rest of the story." Not in school, which I dropped out of, but at my first paying job at age 18, I learned forever that: It is always about TEAMWORK. I thought it would be fun to list some of the soopah people I talked to or met up with yesterday, A Day In A Once Boring Life:
Old morning deejay metabolism still functioning, I'm up at 4:00 a.m. Talked to my buddy Allen Daviau (a five time Oscar nominee for shooting pictures like E.T., COLOR PURPLE, BUGSY, etc.) about his new gig. I am ragging him in an avuncular way about stayin' alive.
Another dear friend in L. A., with whom I go back the statehood year of 1959, is Rocky Gardiner. She's originally from New York, but we met in the KPOI parking lot at 1701 Ala Wai watching a giant weather balloon unroll. (Don't ask). Rock took her interest in the stars to a career as an esteemed astrologist. She wrote a column in VOGUE for years but switched to the L. A. WEEKLY when she moved to Haolewood in the late 60s. If you check our WDG Credits page you will see Rock listed as our Official Astrologer. She selected our 7/7/07 start date. I talk to Rock whenever events begin to freak me out, or for her glimpses into the future. I spoke with her yesterday morning an hour after my Virgo moon came out of Mercury in retrograde--or something like that, OK? That explained why people from my past were popping up like mushrooms in cow pie during the past few weeks. Rock says things will be a bit more mellow and I am most certainly ready for that.
Then Ms. Millicent Cummings, bulging with child, dropped by on her way to town and then to Kauai. This is release weekend for ALTAR NATIVE, which, IMHO, is a CD masterpiece. She picked up the company videocam and we arranged for me to get some copies of the album to send to friends.
Last week I jumped into the Pacific Ocean for the first time this century. Whee, it was fun, as I indicated in the SANDY BALLS blog. But portions of Kailua Beach remained in my right ear. As much as I love the land, that was driving me nuts, so I raced downtown to see the man for these matters, Dr. Gene Doo. I first went to him with a sore throat, bad thing for a deejay, back in 1976. Since then, besides his thriving practice with normal folks, Dr. Doo has become the man who treats the voices and ears of many of us who rely on those parts for a living. Dr. Doo still has all his hair and great sense of humor. He put a thing in my ear, I heard and felt high-pitched sucking, with some big rocks shooting by. "Looks like Kailua sand to me," said Dr. Doo. I left healed, with a few tubes of drops and an appointment to finish the job next week.
I was blocks away from Millicent, by now at her shared Maunakea Street digs. She was on the sidewalk, this hugely hapai woman, doing an interview with Melissa Moniz of MIDWEEK, Oahu's most widely-read newspaper. On the sidewalk were the new CDs and wonderful posters. After six years, her CD baby is born. The human one looks like he's gonna arrive during some high note during one of mama's Kauai shows.
Uncle Tom Moffatt called in from his car, on the ferry to Maui. He has a rare vinyl album by Stan Wilson, the first folk and calypso singer to arrive in Waikiki in the 1950s. I need a song or two from one of Stan's LPs to include in my phone interview with Bob Shane, founder of the Kingston Trio. I interviewed Bobby, by phone, at his house near Phoenix. We talked Old Days Kine and managed to get in the Hawaii origins of the Trio, a major influence in American music in the second half of the 20th Century. Moffatt left the LP with Dunbar Wakayama, founder of Audio Media, the studio where the pros work, and my friend forever, seemingly. Dig it: There is no turntable in this state of the art studio. Dunbar took the record to his Pearl City house. We discussed how he'll email some MP3 tracks to Kaneohe, so we can finish assembling the show.
That job is done by Ed Kanoi (one of Mihana's Lip Smack Boyz). Ed was with me at KKUA before my daughter was born, and that is soon to be 32 years ago. Ed and I discussed upcoming shows and a newly arrived 750 GB drive, needed for backup. I also pestered him to have his girlfriend, who works at Verizon, get me the extra cell phone stuff I need using her discount. Remember, I am Jewaiian.
I spoke with Cyril Pahinui, a big Hoku winner and old friend. We've been trying to sync our schedules for months so Cyril can come play at da house. We also talked about young Peter Moon, Jr., who Cyril has taken under his wing. The legendary Peter Moon, one of Hawaii's most gifted and innovative musicians, has not been well. As I have on many of the shows, I say, "Hang in there bruddah Moon. We all love you and pray for your mana." Saint Teresa Bright dropped off a copy of her next CD, which I am dying to hear, here in Nanakuli.
Owana Salazar called to confirm the date of her visit to da brah-cast studio, which is July 16. She, in turn, told me of a high-spirited wahine on Kauai, Kaiulani Huff, who is doing some Old School Hawaii Activism. Ms. Huff is camped on a beach, on which there are ancient Hawaiian anthropological treasures as well as spiritual artifacts. This place is scheduled to be turned into more ugly, cement condos. It appears I've found another cause to take up. Here we go again. Slack key master Cindy Combs, who was on Oahu for the Hokus, is heading back to Hanapepe, Kauai. So we gossiped on the phone till it was time for her plane to depart. We all love Cindy. She is featured on the Hoku Review show with John Berger, now streaming from Kaneohe HQ.
While driving and doing errands, I spoke with two of my best buddies, Mitch Fisher in L. A. and Paul (Sid The Soaker) Loria, in San Diego. Both are going through medical hassles. In each case, things were made worse by hospital mistakes when they checked out! Scary stuff. Makes you wonder who you can trust. Fortunately the guys, now back home and scheduled for second operations, the prognosis is good.
I reached Honolulu Skylark, on the Big Island, just back from her chores at the Hokus. She is on the HARA board and also presented major awards. Sky is the first female announcer I invited to be on WDG. She accepted and that is why we present Instant Class and Flawless Hawaiian Pronunciation at the click of a button. She and I decided to correct the consistent omission of first year Hoku Na Hanohano winners from the list of previous recipients. (I accepted one for the KKUA Radio HOME GROWN album project. And there were many important winners of the first Hokus ever, who for some reason have been purged from the records. Or maybe just got lost and dey no like admit it We have a year to fix that).
Besides talking with the folks above, I received a bunch of emails from people discovering our new MySpace, plus the usual incoming stuff. Paid the bills. Chowed down on leftover fried chicken, muffins and donuts (!) and managed to watch some videotaped TV. HAHAHA,
Lakers!
At noon I headed for the Nanakuli Hideaway, also known as Cherry's Kitchen. Gotta decompress from this thrilling-but-draining week. And to rekindle my dream as we prepare to head into Year Two. I can't say it enough: I am blessed to have such wonderful friends and supporters who pitch in, in so many ways, to Keep It Going. IMUA, OHANA!
Sorry, no da kine fotos, I stay pau hana, li' dat.
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