NO TICKET SALES AT THE DOOR

 

Cherrystones Luau Buffet

A fantastic Luau Buffet will be served from 6:30PM to 8PM.

Relax and enjoy great food prepared by Cherrystones as you get ready for fabulous music from The Music Company, and Pumana.  On the menu is Hawaiian Chicken Salad, Chop Chae Noodles, Steamed Rice, Potato Macaroni & Krab Salad, Broccoli Medley and Kim Chee! Along with Honey Pineapple Chicken, Steamed Chilean Seabass w/Blackbean Sauce and Beef Teriyaki, man this is Onolicious.

 

Scott Shimamoto
Master of Ceremonies

Scott Shimamoto grew up an outcast and popular kid at the same time. His life experience of having three sets of friends has molded his unique comedic viewpoint.  “I had three sets of friends growing up.  One was the studious, “let’s all get involved in school” type. The second was the athletes I hung out with while playing sports in school.  The third was the gangsters that I talked to when we were at school.

Shimamoto also credits his Latino friends for helping him develop the skills to talk smack on stage.  “I was 4’ 8” tall and 79 pounds when I started high school.  I was also being raised to be polite and unassuming as a ‘good Japanese boy’.  I quickly realized that I was growing up in the middle of a bunch of Mexican people that treated talking smack as a competitive sport.  I figured out really quickly, that I needed to be able to dish out and take verbal abuse without taking it personally.   It was that, or get my butt kicked daily in school.  Talking smack really is an art form of the streets.”  

In January 2007, Shimamoto enrolled in a comedy class and has been performing at clubs around town ever since.  He has performed at the Ice House, Comedy Store, Ontario Improv, Irvine Improv, Haha Café, Jon Lovitz’ comedy club, and the Commerce Casino.  He also produces many charity comedy shows that benefited the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life called “Relay For Laffs”.   He has also created and produced the annual Santa Anita YMCA comedy fundraiser called “You May Chuckle Aloud”.

Shimamoto recently opened for Tommy Davidson at  ACASA’s (Academy of Comedy Arts & Sciences Associated International) inaugural fundraising comedy show at Flapper’s in Burbank, California.

 

 

THE MUSIC COMPANY

The Music Company is the culmination of Japanese American musicians who grew up together in the 1960's and 70's from various LA bands of that era: Randy Yoshimoto (drums/ vocals), A Long time Comin' & Free Flight; Dennis Yokotake (keyboards), Easy Living; Dane Matsumura (bass) Beaudry Express; Mariko Nishizu (vocals), Free Flight; and Howie Hiyoshida (vocals) from A Long Time Comin'. In 1982, Randy Yoshimoto and Dennis Yokotake formed The Music Company. Dane Matsumura was soon asked to sit in on electric bass and for the next decade, this trio performed at nearly a thousand wedding receptions, private parties, and community functions. Long-time friends Mariko Nishizu and Howie Hiyoshida have been adding their vocal talents to the band ever since 1992. The Music Co. has recorded 2 CD's titled "Just Like Ol' Times" and "MUSIC CO. LIVE!" produced by Crane Productions. Their "old school" musical style continues to be a favorite at weddings, dances, private parties, and many special community events.

 

 

 

PUMANA

Pumana jams Hawaiian music! Emerging from a warehouse in South Central Los Angeles, Matthew, Ray and Mark started performing Hawaiian music in the 90's as the band known as Pohaku. They reunited in 2007 and now perform as "Pumana". Their music merges traditional Hawaiian songs with classic island rhythms. "Pumana" is Matt on lead vocals, Ray on guitar and vocals, and Mark on ukulele, percussion and vocals, with Keven on bass, and David on drums and percussion. What does the word "Pumana" mean? In the Hawaiian dictionary, "Pu" is defined as a musical instrument such as a conch shell or a wind instrument. "Mana" is defined as a supernatural or divine power. The name "Pumana" is respectfully derived from the spiritual combination of these two Hawaiian words to mean "a musical instrument from heaven creating music that spreads the sharing of Aloha throughout the world." From the balmy beach picnics on the Big Island, to the crowds at center stage of the Ala Moana Mall in Waikiki, to the streets of Downtown Los Angeles, we feel blessed to be able to share our music and spread the spirit of Aloha. Pumana wishes you peace and love. Aloha!