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Friday, June 7, 2002
Karaoke + the Row Bar

Friends since grade school
(l to r) Me, Shari and Bari

e rushed over and barely made it on time to meet everyone at the Karaoke Room 2. It was determined that it would be a potluck of sorts, requesting that everyone BYOB and supply light pupus ("appetizers" for the non-locals).

Apparently, everyone was serious about the BYOB part and alcohol flowed like water. I had never seen so many different kinds of beer and bottled spirits in a single room. As for Bari and I, we opted for an alcohol-free evening, as Bari sipped on Cokes and I nursed a bottle of water. 

Early in the evening, it was apparent who the hams (I mean the "singers") were. ;-) Trust me, Karaoke ain't no fun without a couple of shameless hams in the group. Their antics and ability to belt out the tunes with the best of them really keep the energy level high and gets everyone going.

For example, Jason is a great singer and leans to alternative music, singing such groups as Matchbox 20, Incubus, and others. However, he isn't tied to any genre and can sing Aaron Neville like you wouldn't believe!

I didn't even know that Bari could sing -- and I've known her since the 6th grade! Jason remarked, "Don't look now, is that J-Lo? -- No, it's B-Ko!" (Bari's nickname is "Bariko" -- the Japanized version of her first name. The suffix "-ko" is usually found at the end of Japanese girls' names.)

Mahealani is not only a great Thespian (and Marine Biologist in training), but she's also a great singer! She's got a great pair of lungs and can belt it out with the best of 'em! She does especially well with Alanis Morrisette songs and other angst-ridden female vocalists.

Tangent: Kamuela, who is involved in the film industry and has had his share of experiences rubbing elbows with the rich and famous, charmed Bari by saying that she was the Asian version Kirsten Dunst.

Lots of fun was had during the 4-hours that we had the room. As always, the fun always kicks into high gear when we're on the last few songs before our time runs out.

Metallica's "Enter Sandman" and Ozzy Osborne's "Crazy Train" were the last two numbers in our song list. The entire room was on their feet and the system was cranked up to "8" on the volume dial. Everyone was bellowing the lyrics at the top of their lungs and there was headbanging and air guitar playing going on -- I was afraid that a mosh pit would break out before the end of the night!

So dynamic was our finale performances, strangers passing by our room peered through the glass window, headbanging and screaming the lyrics along with us from outside. Bari swung the door open and the passerby's joined us in the last stanzas of "Crazy Train."

What a phenomenal end to a great night of karaoke!

Muscles are potentially dangerous.
Shari and her fiancee Gabe.

The 2 that stole the show:
Jason and Bari

Oh, by the way, did we mention that Donovan
is also running for office? Wave at him if you
see him on the side of the road with a sign.

Group Shot @ The Row Bar
(top, l to r) Kamu, Mahea, Wade and Bari
(bottom, l to r) Jason, Lisa and Jenny

Since we had so much fun at Karaoke, no one wanted the night to end -- so we deliberated a while, wondering where we could relocate our party to. After about 20 minutes of milling about and blocking passage in the hallways at the Karaoke Room 2, it was decided that we would meet at the Row Bar at Restaurant Row.

I toted along my bottle of water, much to Donovan's dismay, who kept calling me "cheap." Heck, it was an outdoor bar and I figured, why should I trouble the waitress for glasses of water when I had several bottles of water leftover from karaoke anyway?

Although I have no trouble bypassing alcohol, I do have a vice that isn't easily dismissed: cigars. It's a vice that I indulge in about once every six months or so.

Especially when Kamuela's around and he brings the good stuff; any cigar aficionado would be a fool to refuse his offer. Of course, being that Kamu is my Dr. Feelgood, he knows what my favorites are. He brought me an Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story which has a hint of a mild chocolate flavor and has an easy draw.

There's nothing better than spending time with friends outside in the cool evening air, enjoying a cigar and a bootleg bottle of water.

The evening ended at approximately 2:00 am. We had spent 16 hours together and I still felt a tinge of sadness come over me when I hugged Wade tightly, bidding him a fond but reluctant farewell. 16 hours isn't nearly enough time to make up for the years that I've missed my childhood buddy. At least I can look forward to seeing him again in August when he'll meet Shari and I in Vegas for her wedding.

Until then... Aloha, Wade! I love ya and I miss you!