Frank Delima - "Babooze!"

Released in 1995 during his heyday this is another of Delima's musical parody albums. As with many of his other recordings these are not so much a series of jokes or stand up, but he instead takes familiar songs and writes new humorous lyrics to them. For example "Hawaii Sleeps Tonight" is a fun version of "the Lion Sleeps Tonight."

Delima made a name for himself as one of Hawaii's most popular comedians mixing a brand of "ethnic" humor with a number of zany characters and parody songs. Some of his most famous characters are Tita Turner, the Blalah, Abdullah Fatai and the Babooze. Some of his more popular songs are "Babooze," "Lucille" and "Black Dogs Roasting on an Open Fire." One of his most popular albums is "Don't Sneeze When You Eat Saimin." (very good advice)

During the early 1990s he started his yearly visits to nearly every Hawaii public elementary school entertaining children and speaking to them about the importance of reading and school in general. Around 1995 he also did several successful stage runs in Diamond Head Theater's Hawaii-ized version of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, playing a funny Scrooge.

Delima's popularity diminished in the late 90's as did his visibility. He has continued his yearly visits to the schools and he does still release parody songs, usually in response to some current event. Most recently he responded to all the idiotic people concerned with Obama's birthplace by changing the lyrics to "Born in the USA" to reflect our President was "Born in Hawaii Nei." He has also written parody songs about the Furlough Friday situation, football coach June Jones leaving right after taking Hawaii to its first BCS bowl game and the false Tsunami warning earlier this year.

Delima is a very talented comedian and ranks among Hawaii's funniest people. His humor is very specific to Hawaii and may not appeal to those who have never lived in the Aloha State but for those of us who are blessed to live in this Island Chain he is a comedy treasure.