Description: Nothing, but nothing, embodies Waikiki better than the world-famous, globe-trotting, "Tiny Bubbles"-singing, King of Hawaiian High Camp, Mr. Don Ho. I was shocked to learn that at 70-something, he is still doing a nightly show, and was even more surprised to find that it is a ton of fun.
I am too young to remember when he first 'had it', but Don hasn't lost it. He even had a screaming middle-aged groupie who sang along to everything and applauded wildly after each number. The show is more than just Don singing. He showcases other artists, tells jokes, involves the audience, and makes sure every last person has a great time. The best part was his cuttingly self-deprecating sense of humor: most of the jokes are at his own expense. In one off-the-cuff moment, when his microphone sagged and refused to stay upright, he commented to a stagehand, "It's bad enough I have to deal with these sorts of problems at home!"
The audience got involved, like it or not. Using free cassette tapes and CDs as bait, he lured people onto the stage and got them to do silly stunts, like the row of matronly hula dancers he got to accompany one song, though none had taken so much as a single hula lesson. One volunteer was asked to read an email aloud, which turned out to be a joke sent by a fan: An elderly man walks into the kitchen dressed up in his Sunday best. His wife asks, where does he think he's going? and he answers, "To get me some of that Viagra!" His wife bolts to her feet and rushes into the bedroom, then comes back out with her best coat and hat on. "And where do YOU think YOU'RE going?" the husband asks. She replies, "To get a tetanus shot!"
Between songs, Don questioned the audience, asking people of various categories to raise their hands. Newlyweds, military veterans, couples who have been together more than 50 years, New Yorkers ... most everyone fell into one category or another. He even asked if anyone knew the words to "Cielito Lindo" in Spanish, then convinced the guy to come up on stage and sing it. The newlyweds got free champagne - as did my husband and I, thanks to a kindly waiter who thought we looked like newlyweds (after 9 years... Hawaii will do that to you!)
My favorite souvenir of Hawaii is a photo of the three of us: husband, wife, and Don Ho. Everyone gets their photo taken on the way in to the show, and on the way out, you can stand on line to have Don sign it. He did so with a smile, adding our names and hometown so our souvenir would be more personal, and there is no doubt in my mind that despite his jokes ("are you sick of this song? I sure am!"), there is nothing he would rather be doing than entertaining people.
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