Q: I loved Waltz of the Wind, Ledward Ka`apana's CD from 1998 with all those amazing country musicians. What's his connection to Nashville?

A: Each year in 1989-1991, and again in 1993, Ka`apana was part of the Masters of the Steel-Stringed Guitar Tour, put together by the National Council for the Traditional Arts, a private non-profit corporation founded in 1933 and dedicated to the preservation and documentation of traditional arts in the U.S. The wildly successful tour also included great guitarists John Cephas, Wayne Henderson, Albert Lee, Tal Farlow, Cal Collins... and brilliant resophonic guitar wizard Jerry "Flux" Douglas.

Douglas, who cut his teeth on bluegrass music, is one of the most respected session musicians in Nashville. He has appeared on over 1000 projects with folks like Reba McEntire, Randy Travis, Alison Krauss, Garth Brooks, James Taylor, T-Bone Burnett, Ricky Skaggs, Paul Simon, Bruce Hornsby, Tim O'Brien, Maura O'Connell, Leo Kottke, Lyle Lovett, Bill Frissel, Trisha Yearwood, and Steve Earle. "Flux", his nickname, refers to his fluid, seemingly effortless playing.

"His style of playing is so unique. He's so talented!" says Ka`apana. "When I do my music, I'm so involved with the guitar... and watching Jerry, we're both so natural. We just love what we do, I guess!"

A few years later, Ka`apana decided to make an album with some of the bluegrass musicians he'd met while on the tour. Fiddler and vocalist Alison Krauss, mandolinist Sam Bush, guitarist Pat Pergeson, and Flux himself all joined Ka`apana on this project, which proved to be an extraordinary mixed bag of traditional Hawaiian tunes, country & western standards, and old swing favorites. Additionally, "Move It On Over", Hank Williams' honky-tonkin' tale of changed locks and doghouses, features bluegrass powerhouse Ricky Skaggs on lead vocal and Douglas on Dobro. "Koke'e", a mele pana (place song) written by Dennis Kamakahi about a beautiful and spiritually powerful spot on the island of Kaua'i, is interpreted by Ka`apana and brilliant fiddler Stuart Duncan.

How did all those country kids manage the album's Hawaiian tunes? "Oh, they did good!" Ka`apana laughs. "They loved it! I just love to play with those guys. They're really professional. It takes me back to the days when I was growing up, listening to my dad and my mom and my uncles and aunties. They all played instruments, and they all had their own style of playing... but they always complemented one another, you know?"

New Orleans electric guitarist Sonny Landreth, jazz pianist George Winston, and vocalist Dennis Wilson all have credits on this amazing album. Musical visionary Steve Buckingham handled production, and contributed bass and guitar accompaniment. Steel guitar virtuoso Bob Brozman is also here; Brozman, of course, teamed up with Ka`apana for this year's wonderful CD, In The Saddle.

In addition to his links to Nashville, Ka`apana has connections to the Left Coast's traditional music scene. He played concerts on O`ahu, Maui, and the Big Island with California's premiere bluegrass guitarist Dan Crary last year, and enjoyed every minute. "I met his agent when I was playing up in Canada," says Ka`apana. "He introduced himself and said that I should go tour with Dan." Sounds like a great idea; we'll keep our fingers crossed!

Catch Led's solo gig at the Waikiki Beach Marriott each Wednesday night from 7-11PM and at the Annual Ki Ho'Alu Festival at the Maui Cultural Center... but do it quickly, because he's leaving for a mainland tour in July!

Q: Jack Lord died in 1998, but whatever happened to James MacArthur, who played sidekick Danny Williams ("Book 'em, Danno!") on "Hawaii 5-0"?

A: The adopted son of actress Helen Hayes and writer Charles MacArthur, James MacArthur appeared in over a dozen films (remember him in The Swiss Family Robinson from Disney?) before settling into his role as Danny Williams on the longest continuous-running police series in television history. "Hawaii 5-0" aired from September 1968 to April 1980, and was shot almost entirely on location on O`ahu. MacArthur played Danno for 11 of those 12 years.

He has two children (a son, Charles, and a daughter, Mary) from his first marriage to actress Joyce Boulifant; his second marriage, to Melody Patterson, produced no offspring. Now 63, MacArthur lives in Palm Desert, CA with his third wife, H.B. Duntz, a former professional golfer, and their 16-year-old son Jamie.

In his later years, MacArthur got involved with the publishing industry. He had part-ownership in the Daily Californian, a San Diego newspaper, and he also owned and published Senior World, a magazine with a monthly circulation of 500,000; he tapped his Hollywood connections to contribute regular articles about entertainers. A few years ago he sold his interest in the magazine and is now living off his investments. Occasionally, he attends cast reunions and conventions.

Q: At Tiny Tadani's concert last month, I saw a comedian who was even shorter than Tiny - but his humor was HUGE! Who IS this guy, anyhow?!!

A: His name is Paul Ogata, and he's been doing standup comedy for a little over a decade. "I've had the pleasure to work with some of the comedians I admired while growing up, some of the most brilliant comedians of our time... Redd Foxx, Sam Kinison, Gabe Kaplan, and I went on tour with Howie Mandel. He's out of his mind!"

Born and raised in Pearl City, Ogata attended Pearl City High School ("because I'm Japanese, and it's the law!"). He says that he was the class clown all through his childhood, but that the role wasn't terribly rewarding. "The rubber rat in the teacher's desk... I got into a lot of trouble for that one!" he laughs.

Ultimately, an event in 1990, during his college years at UH, made Ogata think about pursuing comedy as a career. "There was a comedy competition on campus, sponsored by Doritos, and one of the judges was the owner of the Honolulu Comedy Club at the Ilikai. I didn't tell any of my friends that I wanted to enter; I just sorta snuck away from the dorm. And I won... actually, I was tied for third... actually, there were four contestants. It was a good sign!"

The Comedy Club owner invited Ogata to open some shows. "From there, I learned from all the touring comedians that would come through town. They'd give me pointers and teach me the secret parts of comedy." After he left the club, he worked for a time for his idol Andy Bumatai. "I learned a great deal from him! He is a true comic genius."

Ogata's first CD, "Mental Oriental", released in 1998, was nominated for a Na Hoku Hanohano award, and also won the Hawai`i Music Award for Best Comedy Album. He appeared on a TBS New Year special in 1999, and has also appeared on NBC's Friday Night and Showtime's Comedy Club Network. He does a lot of private shows and corporate parties, and occasionally gigs at big shows like Tiny Tadani's. He's currently assembling a super-duper, all-star comedy show which sounds like it could become one of the year's hottest tickets. "I don't wanna put a jinx on it; it's sort of a Hawai`i comedy festival, with comedians from the mainland!"

Unlike many comedians, Ogata conceives all of his own jokes. "I cannot feel comfortable doing stuff that other people have written," he explains. "You make a better connection with the audience when what you're doing truly comes from within you." That link is critical to his comic style: comedy as a collaboration between comedian and audience. "I like to interact with them, and together, I think we present a special show, each and every time."

On weekdays between 6-10AM, Ogata co-hosts the morning show at 102.7 Da Bomb, O`ahu's extremely popular reggae radio station. He's engaged to be married on January 26th, and says he's getting a lot of material out of that. "They say comedy comes from pain!" he deadpans. Much of Ogata's material comes from his own life as a short guy. "I'm real short, even for a Japanese guy," he sighs in mock despair. "I did some checking, and I come from a long line of short people... my family tree is a bonsai!"

What's the most valuable tip he's learned about being funny for money? "You just gotta keep getting up there," he says. "When you're first starting out, it's gonna feel sometimes like you're getting hit in the head with a very large sledgehammer... but if you're truly masochistic enough to take the punishment, you'll keep getting up there and getting knocked down. And one of these days, you're gonna knock the crowd down."

For a moment, Ogata ponders the first time he ever made an audience senseless with laughter. Then, quietly, he says, "There is no greater high."

For bookings & schedule, call Paul Ogata at 296-1027 or email paul@cyberstupid.com.

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