Well, not exactly, but close!

The show was in Wailuku on Monday, Hana on Tuesday, Molokai on Thursday and will be playing on Lanai on Friday (2/8)! Last week, it was Waianae, Kapolei, Hilo and then Kona. The performance at the Hilo public library coincided with the start of the stormy weather. The cast performed just off an open-air courtyard of the library. It was so rainy and windy the set had to be duct taped to the floor, but the show went on!

Kimo reports:
“We’ve been getting some amazing responses, from kids seeing it for the first time, and the old timers who thank us for bringing Raps spirit back through his humor. I wish you could’ve seen us at Kealakehe, the kids went crazy! Almost all of them knew the words to Fate Yanagi, and as we were leaving, they literally mobbed our van. CRAZINESS!”

This Saturday 2/9 you can catch “Rap’s Hawaii” FREE at the Hawaii State Library at noon. Go check em, go!

BTW, on the album “Poi Dog”, the Mahalo Airlines stewardess says “Wailuku, Hana and Denver” but on the DVD from the television special “Rap’s Hawaii”, the character says, “Wailuku, Hana and Budapest.” When given a choice between the two versions, this production goes “back to da roots” of the original Poi Dog album.

Here are just a few pics from our tour so far:

Our first library performance at the beautiful Kapolei library

Big Island Candies

Pomai, Charley, Kimo, and our stage manager Peggy at Hilo Library

Waiakea!

Go LUNAS!

Hana High

More coming soon!

Off to Moloka’i in a few hours!

Why do you like being a part of this production?
ACTOR CHARLES TIMTIM: Rap Reiplinger was one of my early inspirations… I can remember sitting in the back of my family’s house with my dads headphones on listening to my brothers copy of “Poi Dog” laughing myself to sleep. I even did a career speech “I Would Like To Be A Stand-up Comedian” in the eighth grade using his material. What an honor for me to be working on a piece that has the material of one of Hawaii’s most memorable and beloved entertainers. And what enjoyable memories it brought back for me. Like sitting with my family watching “Rap’s Hawaii” on my grandfathers old television set up at Papakolea, or sitting down and actually trying to figure out if “Local Argument” actually made sense.

When people ask me what project I’m working on next and I say “Rap’s Hawaii” they tell me all kinds of stories about how much they love his work and memories they have about it, and then they go on sharing their rendition of one of their favorite sketches… There are so many people that have shared a laugh with me, whether with me, or on their own. But they experienced that because of Rap, and to me that’s priceless. It also ramps up the pressure to do his works correctly, too many people know his sketches word for word and to let them down would be an injustice. I personally know that just because its Rap Reiplinger this show will create a lot of buzz, especially to my generation that grew up with it, so I’m glad that I have the opportunity to make sure its done right.

Thank you very much. Mahalo nui loa. T’ank you nui loa and mahalo very much!
Charlie, Pomai, and Kimo here; the cast of HTY’s “Rap’s Hawaii”

Waaaasup! Charlie hea, I’m kinda like a rash, I act up every so often, so no mind me. I’ve done a couple shows for HTY and enjoy every chance I get. Born in Okinawa, lived in Maine, grew up in Papakolea, reside in Waipahu, MEAN ah? So could be I one Okiainapapakopahuan, or one really tan guy who like potatoes and poi and can clean yard real good…could you say I’m a “Rap” connoisseur? Yeah, but no way am I a “Mastah” in the ancient art of Rap-ology (get plenny more training to do). What an opportunity to work with the material I grew up with and cherish! “What is your favorite piece?”, you goin’ ask, as well you may. Guess you goin’ have to ask me in person at one of our shows!

Howzit!!! My name is Pomai Lopez. This is my first season with HTY and I am so honored and excited to be a part of the Rap’s Hawaii cast! I grew up listening to Rap’s material, I have so many memories and favorites… I think Rap was so clever with the way he wrote his pieces, with the use of pidgin and the way he celebrated local culture. We hope you all can come out and make it to a show! Go check um, go check um, go! Take care. *Aloha!

Aloha, hello! I’m Kimo from Kaua’i, I’m 20 years old, I’m a Pisces, and i enjoy long walks on the beach and… oh… wrong website.

This is my first year with HTY, and how lucky am I to be in this awesome show!? I’ll never forget the first time I met Aunty Marialani. I was on the floor laughing. Working on this show has been such an amazing experience, Rap was truly a comic genius and the responses we’ve gotten so far have been a testament to that. In the coming weeks I hope we can connect with a few fans out there, spread some interest, and share our experiences.

We’d love to hear your responses, comments, questions, memories, and ANYTHING to do with Rap’s or local comedy.

So come check us out in a city near you:
Mon, Feb 4 3:00pm - Wailuku Library
Sat, Feb 9 12:00pm - Hawaii State Library

Thurs, Feb 21 2:30pm - Lihue Library
Sat, Feb 23 1:30pm - Aiea Library

And our extended performance at Tenney Theatre in March (check out Htyweb.org for details)

Welcome to the Rap’s Hawaii blog! Over the next several months Honolulu Theatre for Youth will be touring the entire State performing Rap Reiplinger family appropriate material in schools, libraries and finally in two weekends of public shows at our home in Honolulu. Rap was unquestionably a comic genius. HTY pays tribute to the insightful humor of a man obsessed with capturing and celebrating the diverse humanity of Hawaii. If you are seeing Rap’s work for the first time or longing for hanabatta days you are sure to leave the show chuckling.

The Hawaii Department of Health Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division has sponsored a short discussion after each performance of the show. We hope that this blog will be augment that discussion as well as giving a public forum to celebrate this material and talk about this production.

The company actors, designers and director have all been invited to contribute to this site so keep checking back to see what we have added. Most of all we want to hear from the community and welcome your thoughts and questions.