ED KAAHEA & DA COMICS

Ed Kaahea (above) was on Oahu for his 40th class reunion up at Kamehameha School. Ed is the surviving member of Booga Booga, Hawaii's original comedy group. They were the first folks to go off in Pidgin English on local TV. This was not considered cool by Honolulu's broadcast establishment. To anyone young, hip and local, it was the funniest thing ever. Ed, along with his dear departed fellow maniacs, Rap Replinger and James Grant Benton were packing 'em in at the old Territorial Tavern on Bishop Street, downtown. I worked the mornng drive slot and rarely went out at night. But Friday nights, with Booga's comedy and Olomana's music, were some great times.

I loved watching the guys work, and I loved working with them. Our first meeting was on-air, a spontaneous encounter that evolved into one of the most popular features I ever did on local radio. After our first stunt in July 1976, every Friday featured a special guest. We did over 150 of those artist hang-out-interview-play music sessions during my run at KKUA, where Whodaguy was born. Ed had gone off to UCLA, where he studied drama for a while, before finishing up back home, at UH. Ed, like Barack Obama and me, was born in Waikiki. He told some great stories about his "small kid time." 

Rap, (center) like Barack Obama and me, attended Punahou. Rap was the funniest human I ever met, bar none. Most people who saw this comic genius perform are quick to agree. James (right) was the public school grad, having gone to McKinley. But he was the most serious thespian of the group. Several of his adaptations of Shakespeare--in Pidgin--were staged in Honolulu. Rap and Jimmy died way too young, Ed moved to Kauai years ago, where he did a radio show for years. Of late he's been a televangelist. On his first visit to our jungle studio we "discussed" religion, but just about every other subject was toasted under the Kaneohe sun.

We also presented the Official Jacobs/Kaahea Historical Review of local humor. You'll hear records and archive goodies by Kent Bowman, Lucky Luck, Frank DeLima, (above) Andy Bumatai and others. I also surprised Brother Ed with a tape of that first Aloha Friday Show of July 16, 1976. It  began our good fun relationship, which is even more fun today. At least we had plenty of it doing the show.