Page 5 - Hawaii Island MidWeek - Jan 19, 2022

“So, I kept doing videos of these stereotypical workers and videos from a local boy perspective and it kept blow- ing up and my followers kept growing and growing.”
“It’s the same comedy, the same style of jokes and I’ m the same person no matter the show,” he says.
“I was into magic a lot,” Tu- inei shares. “I was interested in performing in front of people and I liked that feeling of amaz- ing people, which now turns into making people laugh. That wasinmefromwhenIwasa small kid. I also always want- ed to be an actor and I realized there are so many actors in the world and everyone’s trying to make it and I figured out that the quickest way to become a well-known actor is through comedy.”
In fact, his parents have starred in several of his skits, helped out behind the scenes and are the focal point of some of his jokes on stage.
Bumatai, Augie T, Frank De Lima and Rap Reiplinger, saying they “paved the way for younger comics like me.”
there, which is great because I want people to feel like they can bring the whole family to Tumua’s show for a good time.”
When restrictions eased, Tu- inei announced he was doing a show at Blue Note Hawai‘i. Within an hour, it sold out. Then, he posted another one and another one. Fast-forward a short year and some months later, and Tuinei sold out three nights at Blaisdell Concert Hall, a feat on the same lev- el as big shot comedians like Jo Koy and Gabriel Iglesias (who were, in fact, scheduled to perform at the same venue in November and January, re- spectively).
“I wouldn’t have done it without my fans,” he adds. “I feel like Hawaiʻi is such a strong place; it’s different from any other place in the world. We have a strong community
He’s already scored a speaking part on NCIS Ha- wai‘i after a producer came across his work and asked him to portray a nīele paparazzi on screen. Next, Tuinei hopes to take on a bigger role and says he doesn’t restrict himself to just the funny stuff.
“I have this thing about be- ing a lot smaller than my dad and uncle because that really did hurt me growing up and was part of the reason why I didn’t get any scholarships, just because I’ m a smaller guy,” he explains. “But talking about some hardships I went through and putting a spin on it and shedding light on it is what comedy is all about — it’s about pain and making people laugh at your pain.”
“I don’t know when or why, but local comedy died down a little bit and it’s just different. We would have other comedi- ans come here and they would be cursing and talking about taboo subjects, but we never really had that old-fashioned, local comedy where you can come up and make fun of Portuguese, Samoans, Ha- waiians and all that, and just have good fun and an interac- tive show. That’s why I called my tour ‘Bringing Back Local Comedy.’
Coming up next month, Tu- inei has a show on Maui and hopes to lock down dates for Kauaʻi and the Big Island, too. (Follow him on Instagram, @ tumua_, for updates.) Later this year, he’s planning to bring local comedy to the mainland with an extensive list of tour dates expected for cities west of the Rocky Mountains.
“It’s crazy, it’s surreal,” Tuinei says with an air of al- ways-present humbleness. “I
all over Oʻahu from Kāne‘ohe to ‘Ewa Beach. When asked what side of the island he reps most, the 25-year-old is quick to say “it depends who’s ask-
“My mom always tells me I have to get a job with medical and I tell her, ‘Don’t worry!
As his top influences, Tuinei lists Hawaiʻi greats like Andy
“If you ever come to one of my shows, you’ll see kids in the audience and you’ll see grandmas in the audience. It’s a whole wide range of people
Well, we’re about to find out.
For Tuinei, there isn’t really a disparity between talking in front of 12 people, like he did only a few years ago, to 2,100 each night at one of Hawaiʻi’s biggest venues. Perhaps the only difference is that the laughs just keep getting louder.
ly, committed and caring as a child, characteristics not unlike those he embodies today.
This is the plan. It’s going to work out.’ And, now, she’s starting to realize this is my career. Same with my dad, too ... he sees my passion for comedy and that it’s my dream and he supports it. They both do — they’re my biggest supporters.”
(Left) Tumua Tuinei suited up for the Rainbow Warriors during the 2015-18 seasons, logging much of his time on special teams. (Above) Hanging out with his dad, Tom, who played in both the NFL and CFL. PHOTOS COURTESY TUMUA TUINEI
Gand a big fan base and whenev- er they see a local boy succeed, they want to support it.”
At the end of it all, though, the question still remains: What happens when a Uni- versity of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa football player enrolls in a stand-up comedy class for an “easy A”?
rowing up, Tuinei, who currently re- sides in Māʻili, lived
JANUARY 19, 2022
HAWAI‘I ISLAND MIDWEEK 5
A Comedian Who Keeps ‘Em Rolling In The Aisles
FROM PAGE 4
videos.’ But when the pandem- ic hit, the clubs closed down ... and I thought, ‘What am I going to do? Am I going to just sit back and do nothing?’ So, I decided to put that toilet paper video out — it was a hot topic at the time — and it ended up on the news and we went viral. I was like, ‘OK, this is what the local people want.’
remember the first show, right after I finished, I was telling (my manager) Greg that it just felt like any other comedy show. It didn’t really hit me until the week after that I just did that.”
ing” with a cheeky grin.
“If I need to show off and be big-bodied, I’ll say, ‘Oh, I’m from the Westside,” he adds
with a laugh.
He describes himself as sil-
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2021 Tracy Lewis
2020 C Kupono Pa
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above and beyond this already strict professional benchmark. The 2021 recipient was selected from a wide field of anonymous nominations. In the end, Tracy Lewis, who should have been recognized years ago was a unanimous choice. Overtheyears,Tracyhastrainedcountessagents(includingyourstruly)aspart ofhisbrokerage.Thepublicdoesn’trealizethatmostnewagents(especially inyearspast)receivelittleformaltrainingoncetheyreceivetheirlicense.Most learnthrough“onthejobtraining”.Armedwithayellowpadandgreenpen,Tracy requiredeachofhisagentstolearnorrelearnthebasics.It’snotacontract,it’sa
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2010 Debi Au
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2001 Mary Begier 2000 Adele Eggel 1999 Chris Brilhante 1998 Helene Tajiri and
1991 Daniel Wilson 1990 Doris Smith 1989 Yukio Takeya 1988 Pat Ito
1980 Alma Prigmore 1979 Elroy Osorio
1978 Doris Smith
1977 Beverly Paplimu 1976 Peter Shayne
1975 Helene Hale
1974 Kenneth Griffin 1973 Edward Araujo 1972 Masashi Yamanaka 1971 Leina’ala Devine
Denise Nakanishi 2008 Gary Rothfus
2007 Heather Hedenschau 2006 Arabel Camblor 2005 Wade Park and
Donna Herbst 1997 Edith Crabb
1986 Paul Ingledew
1985 Patricia Scullary and
Frank Goodale 2004 Gary Davis
1996 Nancy Cabral
1995 John Tolmie
1994 Robert G. Williams 1993 Michael Shewmaker 1992 Glenetta Bennett
Delene Osorio 1984 Bill Pendered Jr.
2003 Christine Makaweo 2002 Gae Callaway
1983 Jerry Hirata 1982 Alvin Inoue 1981 Vern Yamanaka
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