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Summary & Transcript Below…
Artist DAVO visits with Jason Schwartz in The Neutral Zone and recalls times in his career when he was on his art journey over the past 50 years. He shares of times with different musical artists at the Grammy Awards and his incredible career of giving art to artists to raise money for the “Music Cares” program. Davo shares about his book, which fortunately was created before the Lahaina August 2023 devastating fire that destroyed most all of his current works. 3-16-2026
Summary
The video transcript captures a wide-ranging, candid conversation with Davo, an artist and longtime Maui resident, reflecting on his colorful life, art career, and personal philosophies. Davo shares vivid anecdotes from his past, including experiences at major entertainment events like the Oscars and Grammys, his time as a draft evader during the Vietnam War living in the jungles of Kalalau, and his journey settling in Maui. The dialogue touches on Davo’s artistic evolution from pop art to neo-pop art, his encounters with famous musicians and celebrities, and his unique painting techniques that include glow-in-the-dark elements. Themes of nature’s power, spirituality, political commentary, and community involvement also emerge, with discussions about Maui’s natural environment, world conflicts, and local culture. The conversation is peppered with humor, personal stories, and reflections on mortality and faith, culminating in Davo’s promotion of his art book and local engagement.
Highlights
- [04:17] 🌿 Davo’s escape to Hawaii during the Vietnam War and his life living naked in the jungles of Kalalau.
- [06:29] 🌊 A near-dangerous experience walking into the ocean barefoot, high on magic mushrooms, at one of the most shark-infested beaches.
- [11:09] 🌪️ Discussion on the power of Mother Nature and the unpredictable impact of storms and natural disasters in Hawaii.
- [17:16] 👽 Davo’s personal UFO sighting over Kanaio and his belief in extraterrestrial intervention to prevent nuclear war.
- [25:13] 🥊 The artistic tribute to Muhammad Ali, highlighting his anti-war stance and cultural impact.
- [27:46] 🎨 Explanation of the difference between pop art and neo-pop art, with Davo’s unique glow-in-the-dark painting technique.
- [32:05] 🎤 Recounting a rare Bob Dylan speech introduced by President Jimmy Carter, emphasizing Dylan’s powerful cultural influence.
Key Insights
[04:17] 🌿 Vietnam War’s Influence on Life Path: Davo’s move to Hawaii was directly motivated by avoiding the draft during the Vietnam War. His survival strategy—living in the Kalalau jungles and embracing a hippie lifestyle—shaped his artistic and personal identity. This reflects how major historical events can deeply influence individual life trajectories and creative expression.- [06:29] 🌊 Interplay Between Nature & Human Vulnerability: Davo’s story of nearly being swept away by a wave while intoxicated highlights the raw power and danger of the natural environment in Hawaii. It underscores a theme throughout the conversation: humans are not in control, but subject to nature’s forces, fostering respect and humility.
- [11:09] 🌪️ Mother Nature as Supreme Force: The dialogue about storms devastating areas like Kapalua and Eow Park illustrates the ongoing vulnerability of human settlements to natural disasters. Davo’s acknowledgment that “Mother Nature is in charge” reinforces a worldview that emphasizes environmental respect and acceptance of forces beyond human control.
- [17:16] 👽 UFO Sighting and Extraterrestrial Hope: Davo’s detailed account of seeing an orange orb and interpreting it as a possible intervention by extraterrestrial beings signals a hopeful, if speculative, belief that advanced civilizations might prevent humanity’s self-destruction, particularly nuclear annihilation. This insight reveals a blending of personal experience with broader existential concerns.
- [25:13] 🥊 Art as Social and Political Commentary: Davo’s paintings honoring figures like Muhammad Ali, who opposed war despite personal cost, illustrate how art serves both as cultural documentation and as a platform for political statements. His work connects celebrity influence with deeper societal issues.
- [27:46] 🎨 Innovation in Artistic Technique: The distinction Davo makes between traditional pop art and his own neo-pop art, characterized by glow-in-the-dark paint that remains visible without light, demonstrates a commitment to evolving artistic expression. This innovation enhances viewer engagement and adds dimensionality to his works, marking a unique niche in contemporary art.
- [32:05] 🎤 Bob Dylan’s Enduring Cultural Impact: The story of Bob Dylan’s rare, lengthy speech at an industry event, introduced by a former U.S. president, exemplifies how artists can wield profound influence over cultural memory. Dylan’s emotional tribute to Jimi Hendrix, and the reverence it inspired in attendees, highlights the power of music and art to shape collective consciousness even amid personal vulnerability and criticism.
Additional Contextual Analysis
Davo’s narrative is deeply rooted in countercultural history—from his draft evasion to his bohemian lifestyle in Hawaii—mirroring the broader social shifts of the 1960s and 1970s. His integration into Maui’s community life, including interaction with local artists and contributions to cultural preservation, reflects a lifelong commitment to art as a communal and spiritual practice. The dialogue also reveals an ongoing tension between political cynicism—especially regarding contemporary American politics—and a hopeful spirituality, grounded in faith and belief in higher powers, whether divine or extraterrestrial.
The conversation’s frequent references to Hawaiian culture, local climate, and environment emphasize the island’s influence on Davo’s worldview. His respect for the land and its spiritual significance is evident, as well as his embrace of Hawaiian traditions, such as church participation and cultural gatherings. This local grounding balances the global and cosmic themes he touches on, from nuclear war to UFOs.
Moreover, Davo’s reflections on celebrity encounters, including with Muhammad Ali, David Bowie, and Bob Dylan, offer a glimpse into the intersection of popular culture and personal artistry. These stories serve as both personal milestones and commentary on the role of fame, artistry, and social responsibility.
Finally, the emphasis on community engagement—whether through art galleries, local radio shows, or charitable donations—highlights the importance Davo places on giving back and fostering connections, suggesting that art is not just for individual expression but a vehicle for social good.
Conclusion
This wide-ranging conversation presents Davo as a multifaceted artist and thinker whose life and work are deeply intertwined with historical, cultural, and spiritual currents. His stories provide insight into the transformative power of art, the influence of environment and history on identity, and the enduring hope for a better world despite political and natural challenges. The transcript offers a rich tapestry of reflections that inspire respect for creativity, resilience, and community.
Highlights
- [04:17] 🌿 Davo’s Hawaii refuge during the Vietnam War, living naked in Kalalau’s jungle as a form of resistance and survival.
- [06:29] 🌊 Dangerous, surreal experience on a shark-infested beach while under the influence, illustrating human vulnerability to nature.
- [11:09] 🌪️ Recognition that Mother Nature controls outcomes far beyond human power, especially in the face of devastating storms on Maui.
- [17:16] 👽 Personal sighting of a UFO in Kanaio and hope for extraterrestrial intervention to prevent nuclear catastrophe.
- [25:13] 🥊 Artistic homage to Muhammad Ali, emphasizing art’s role in political and social commentary.
- [27:46] 🎨 Explanation of neo-pop art and Davo’s innovation of glow-in-the-dark paintings that transcend traditional pop art.
- [32:05] 🎤 Recollection of Bob Dylan’s rare public speech, underscoring his cultural significance and emotional impact.
Key Insights
- [04:17] 🌿 Vietnam War’s Impact on Life Choices: Davo’s evasion of the draft and retreat into Hawaii’s wilderness shaped his artistic voice and personal philosophy, illustrating how historical trauma can fuel creative and lifestyle decisions.
- [06:29] 🌊 Human-Nature Relationship: The near-fatal beach incident reveals the precarious balance humans maintain with nature and serves as a metaphor for the unpredictability of life and the importance of respecting natural forces.
- [11:09] 🌪️ Environmental Humility: Davo’s reflections on storms and natural disasters highlight the need for humility and adaptation in the face of Earth’s uncontrollable powers, a vital message for communities facing climate change.
- [17:16] 👽 Extraterrestrial Intervention as Hope: The UFO sighting symbolizes a yearning for external guardianship or cosmic justice amid global threats, blending personal experience with larger existential anxiety.
- [25:13] 🥊 Art as a Vehicle for Protest and Legacy: Davo’s work honoring figures like Muhammad Ali shows how art documents cultural resistance and preserves the legacies of those who challenge injustice.
- [27:46] 🎨 Pioneering Artistic Techniques: By incorporating glow-in-the-dark elements into his art, Davo pushes boundaries, creating works that engage viewers in new ways and redefine the pop art genre.
- [32:05] 🎤 The Power of Artistic Voice: Bob Dylan’s speech, especially his homage to Jimi Hendrix, underscores the enduring influence of artists in shaping public discourse and collective memory, especially during turbulent times.
00:01I’m here with Davo I remember when the Oscars were on It was just last night Yeah, I watched it
00:28
And I remember when Davo was there and there were pieces of art going to all these stars and you were there. I was only at the Oscars once, 15 times to the Grammys. Oh, was that right? I was more of a Grammys guy than a… That’s where I remember Neil Portnow, right? Oh, yeah. He was involved with the care stuff.
00:52
No, Neil was the whole Academy. I remember him as a producer way back when I was there. Really? Wow, he was a great guy. I was working with David Campbell. We were in RCA Studios, and he was producing Lucy Simon, Carly Simon’s sister. And David was doing the string tracks, and I was contracting, and that’s where I met him. So, you know, I remember that time really vividly.
01:20
Because that was when I was, you know, hands-on in the music business. Yes. Where are you now? You’re here in Maui all these years. I bet you’re happy to be out of Hollywood. I don’t want to go back. Hollywood, but she’s not going back either. I call it, instead of L.A., I call it hell-ay. But, you know…
01:44
I had a good childhood there. I had a wonderful childhood. But, you know, I don’t even want to go back to the mainland. I want to go to Bali and Bangkok. I’m going that way. Go west, young man. They didn’t tell you when to stop. That’s correct. Well, you’ve been here a while. I’ve been here 37. You’ve been here longer than me. Over 50. I don’t know exactly how many. I came in 72. You do the math. I’m not good at math. Well, there’s 25 and 25 is…02:14
From 75 to 0 and to 25, and we’re on both sides of each of those. Holy mackerel, I didn’t know you were that old.
02:23
You’re a young man. You’re still keeping in good shape. You’ve been an artist. When I got here in 1988, and I remember going through the town and seeing art, and then I remember going to a Bob Dylan concert. Yeah, that was cool. Oh, man, I was so bombed. I was so bombed. Why? Because you remember that. I barely remember you in line.
02:51
But you did remember me in line. Oh, I did remember you in line. That’s who we met. And to me, that was the highlight of that whole day, was meeting you. You were colorful and a local artist. And bombed. Well, I didn’t measure. I didn’t have my scale out.
03:10
But if you didn’t remember, you were up somewhere in the heavens. This has been the problem of a lot of my past. It’s like meeting people bombed. I’ll never forget sitting next to George Benson in Lahaina and talking to him for over an hour. And when he left, the bartender goes, God, how long have you known George Benson?
03:32
And I didn’t even know it was George Benson. And then on top of it, I was so bummed. I don’t remember. But he thought it was interesting. You are interesting. Thank you. Now, do you think it’s important for our audience to know how you got to Maui? Sure. It’s very important. And how you developed into…
03:55
I want to say character. You are always a character and you’re always yourself, but your color comes from the world going, what do they say, going left when they should have gone right. You and I were both similar age when there was a war on the horizon and I was getting to that age. That’s what brought me here.
04:17
The Vietnam War is what brought me to Hawaii. How’s that? Very simple. I was in Carmel. I knew they were close on my tail. They were after me. My mom warned me.
04:29
I told the girlfriend I was with, do you want to come to Hawaii? She goes, no. I said, okay, bye. Yeah, because I hid in the jungles of Kalalau until the war was over. I didn’t even go to Taylor Camp. I mean, I saw it, but I lived deep in the pot. I loved Kalalau. I loved Kalalau. It was awesome.
04:56
I ran around naked all day. I never put clothes on. Never. I don’t think they allowed clothes there. No, that’s right. It was against the hippie law. I walked in, and I forgot what year it was. We used to take John’s over, Kachina. Kachina was my roommate before Ariel. It was a short period. So it was probably 1994.
05:18
Took the Kalalau Trail, but my walking partner didn’t make it, so I walked alone. And you made it? But a couple of times, it’s like, okay, where do I go? Go out this way or go toward the cliffs? I went toward the cliffs, and it was a dead end. Actually, toward the mountain. So now the third time, I know, okay, I don’t go toward the mountain. I go toward the cliffs.
05:42
I ended up 800 foot on a goat trail over one of those windy bluffs. Yeah. Had to climb over moving rock. And if you fall in, if you fall in, it’s shark infested water. Let me tell you something. I would have been dead on the way down. I lived in Kalalau mostly, but I finally decided Hanakapiai, which is much closer. Yeah, yeah. So I literally found a new girlfriend in Hanakapiai, but…
06:06
One night, I was so bombed on mushrooms, magic mushrooms, that I had a torch. And I walked out in the ocean naked with this torch high. And then the wave came. Everybody applauded because the wave came, hit the torch, caught me, rolled me onto the sand very softly.
06:29
And then I found out later that that’s one of the most dangerous beaches on earth. It just grabs people, takes them out, and the sharks eat them.
06:42
Oh, I didn’t know that one. Oh, yeah. Look it up. Right at the top of the list. Well, you know, anyone that knows that area knows you go to Princeville and you make your little further way out and there’s the trail. Do you know the story about my first night in Hawaii? No. I get off the plane in California.
07:08
Lihue. Thank you. Lihue. Put out my thumb, and a beautiful local girl goes, where are you going? I go, where are you going? She goes, well, I’m going to Hanalei. I said, I’ll go there. So I hop in, and we drive all the way to Hanalei. She drops me off. And my first night laying my head down to go to sleep in Hawaii was Hanalei Bay. Where Puff was. Puff the Magic Dragon.
07:37
And wild cattle. I’m not saying they were wild. Somebody owned them. But they used to walk on the beach. And so here I am, and I heard the bull go. And I’m from L.A., so I go, this is it. I’m trampled on my first night in Hawaii. But, you know, they never touched me. And I hear that they’re very sensitive, and they all just walked over me. Very sensitive.
08:04
cautious yeah they don’t want to disturb your beauty i know and then we turn around and eat them it’s just not fair i’m with you i must say i gotta stop doing that i don’t eat beef much good at all really and you know can’t eat pork well you mean the jewish kid hello
08:26
I know a whole sect of Jews that eat pork. I don’t know if it’s a sect. When you’re around other Jews, they become a sect. They’re kind of like Jack Mormons. They’re Jack Jews. Jack Jews. What’s a Jack Mormon? Jack Mormon is one that drinks and smokes. But he’s Mormon.
08:47
I never heard that expression. I waited on Mr. Marriott, the old man, the one who started Marriott, and talk about a Mormon, wouldn’t even drink a Coke, and he owned the place.
09:01
Wow, really? When was it? At the Marriott, when it opened, he was there. And then he died and his son took over. And, of course, the Marriotts were very fair to their employees, the people that lasted. They got a really good retirement, you know, from what I understand. But anyway, he said, you want a union? No problem. Get yourself a union. The hotel’s closed.
09:30
Yeah, oh yeah. Go ahead, get a union. The hotel’s closed. And everybody goes, no, we don’t want a union. We want the hotel. And that was the end of that. The union guys ran away. That’s quite a tactic. I thought it was brilliant. But it was the truth. He says, you can work here, but if you’re a union, bye. I close.
09:57
He owned it. He could do it. And it worked. So you’ve got to hand it to him. Right? And what’s it now? Is it a new union now? I imagine it probably is. I hear that the… State laws. I hear that Montage might go Marriott.
10:14
You know, first it was Kapalua. I was there when it opened, and incidentally, the year it opened, we had a huge Kona storm that bashed it up. Worse than the one we’ve got now? Comparable, though. Well, at first I thought so, but now when I see what’s going on, I’m thinking this may definitely be… I think it may be the one. I really do. And when those folks’ house…
10:41
Went into the river in Eow. I went, ooh. I saw that picture. I was like, holy mackerel. First it was the front of the house, and then finally the garage went over. Remember when the park went the other time? No, I don’t remember that. Oh, Eow Park on the other side. Oh, yeah. Yeah, so I wouldn’t be surprised. Not where the stuff was. Where the pavilions and things were. Well, but it lost part of the parking lot. Yeah. And it was right there, that whole little section.
11:09
Well, don’t we all agree that we think we’re in charge, but we’re not in charge? Huh? Yeah. Mother Nature is in charge. We don’t even know that, but someone’s in charge, and it sure isn’t us. Amen. By the way, what I just said is really interesting, because I said it sort of in jest, but Mother Nature may be in charge, but…
11:36
There may be beings from other things. Oh, I’m glad you brought that up. Oh, thank you, thank you. I have a hardcover one. Good, I highly recommend that. This is Scott. If you guys haven’t yet, we had a show a little while back. This is good. Davo, Pop Art, it’s going to be on the screen, so I’m not holding it up.
11:59
Pop Art and Neopop Art. Yeah. If you’re on Radiator. We’re at KAKU 88.5 FM. The Voice of Maui. We’re simulcast on Akaku Maui Community Media Channel 55. But mauineutralzone.com has full transcript of every show. Yeah. A summary of every show. Yeah. And…
12:21
Because we have so many shows, we’re like the voice of the community. So when you see someone on here and you don’t like something or don’t like, make comments. Those comments become part of a search engine. Incidentally, Jason, I called Cheryl Renee, the singer, the wonderful. Oh, yeah. Yeah. And I said, Cheryl Renee, I’m going to be on. Get on over here. I wanted her to be on. I know. And I said, it’s from 11 to 12. Well.
12:45
I said, you can walk in at 1130 and you are the diva. You take the stage. That’s how it is. I had actually asked her to be here, but I know she’s gotten busy. She’s been busy recently. She has been busy. She has a business of, I want to call it staging. People in real estate know what that means. It means you want to sell your place. You need someone to come in and say, ah.
13:09
Nope, the couch needs to be over here. No, that shade doesn’t really fit. Mary, it fits, Mary, but for the buyers. And she recommends a Davo here. Oh, and a Davo. You must have a Davo because I can get one for you from Davo. Yeah, well, you probably worked with realtors all these years. No, never, never.
13:31
Well, then, you can work with me. I can work with anybody, except you-know-who, and we won’t mention his name. I don’t even remember, but that’s good. By the way, you made me feel really good when you said the name Kenneth Knees. Uncle Captain. Uncle Captain. Captain Kenny. Marvelous man. Bob…
13:57
Cartwright. Yes. And Tess Cartwright. Yes. When I first met them, somehow we were talking about something, and we mentioned this piece. And she lit up, and Bob showed me in their house. Well, look at her work. Look at her work. And look at his work. They go so well together. Well, you know, he was really a gifted, fun… He was our Picasso.
14:22
he was Art Picasso you can’t put him down because what he did was original hand done he never wanted to do he did his own thing one guy wanted to make reproductions and he said no he told them no Captain Niesman was the whole package take it or leave it I love getting a piece of his art I wish I had one
14:51
I have one. It’s over my bed. How much? I sent the picture to you. How much? Ask Bob Cartwright. I’m going to be rich. Bob Cartwright has them framed even. Oh, Bob and Tess. I love Tess’s work. I just love it. Love it. Love it. Tess Cartwright did these. Well, he took a whisk.
15:12
Bottle of soap. And an old container of Drano. And a coffee mug. And turned it into a live art whole experience. You know what you call that? Transformation of waste.
15:31
She transforms waste into art. And some people go, that’s art? Yes, it is. I remember Ira Ono. Oh, sure. Art for trash. He’s on the Big Island. That’s what I hear, yeah. Continued on the trash art thing. So many people moved to the Big Island. Yeah, I don’t… The Big Island didn’t have that same feeling. I don’t know why. Well, Madame Pele…
15:59
You’re living on Madam Pele, whether you get used to it. Well, this one’s dormant, but if Madam Pele goes big… This one will activate. Yeah. I think so, too. And, you know, I used to live on Hualalai Ranch, which is over a corner side. Oh, you did? Yeah. And the scientists would come up in their Jeep, and I’d talk to them, and they said, you know, this is one of the spots on Earth…
16:28
that can directly connect to the center. And when that happens, when it comes out, the viscosity of the lava is more like liquid gas. And it can go 200 miles per hour. There’s no way of escaping it, and you’re vaporized. And I heard that from a scientist.
16:53
Well, that’s interesting. I want to be around for that. Now, are we going to talk about the UFOs? Oh, the UFOs. Unfunctional Fairy Orbs. Oh, let me come over there and punch you. Okay, folks, listen. Unidentified. What do you want to call them? I’m out in Kanaio on my Hanai family’s land.
17:16
And you can look out and see Koholavi. And one night, I’m reading a book, and I see what I think is a shooting star coming down. And it’s a ball, an orange ball, which I found out is the typical, that’s one type. It comes down, and it starts going between me and Koholavi. And then all of a sudden, it goes once, twice, three, and shoots. And that was right after I asked,
17:45
Are you looking at me? So you… It said Y-E-F.
17:53
This is silent. Before the recognition of an observation, you saw it. No, there’s no doubt in my mind I saw it. And my brother was sleeping next to me. He missed it because it was so fast. And back in those days, they were still bombing Caho’olabi. So they might, you know, I really think they’re interested in our violence.
18:19
I think they want to intervene. Like, for example, my theory is if we do shoot off thermonuclear missiles, I’m hoping and praying that they, with their technology, will just turn them off and they’ll drop like dummies.
18:35
What an amazing projection of both scenarios. I am praying that nobody hits a nuclear trigger, but we got too many hotheads. They don’t care about anything other than their little mortal existence right now. How do you say Donald Trump? You don’t say it much.
19:01
Now, I’ve watched your art grow into… It’s always been a statement, by the way, but here in political times now, you started with Vietnam. Yes, I did it back in those days. And then you hit out and expressed yourself in a different way. Well, I met a lot of celebrities, and I made money. I mean, my art was a way of making a living, but I also loved doing it.
19:27
But whenever something happened… I love your art. Go ahead. Thank you. Whenever something happened, like the Mishigash, which is Yiddish, or maybe it’s Hebrew. Mishigash is Yiddish. Yiddish, and it just means turmoil and chaos and everything. That’s what we have, Mishigash. Usually Mishigash is about conversation, but we’ll stretch it. We’ll stretch it on a bigger level. Thank you. Craziness. Craziness.
19:53
He’s my authority. He’s my authority. My mom was Jewish, but she didn’t want to be Jewish. She wanted to be Christian. I didn’t find out. She wanted to be Christian? Why? She wanted me to be Christian. My dad was Christian. Sometimes Jewish people have a Christmas tree and a yarmulke and all that. I like to celebrate everything. My mom, it was pure Christmas.
20:22
I see. But I think she believed in Jesus. I really do. Then she’s a Christian. Yeah. Jews believe in Jesus, too. There are Jews that do, and there are others that don’t want to hear about it. You go to Israel, and the real Orthodox ones, they spit on Christians. No, I would hope that you know that the world has evolved. I hope that the…
20:48
I’ve met many people here that are Orthodox and are very, very religious as per the books of the Bible. But they’re not that way. That seems to be a character. I want to say a characteristic of, you know, that thing about is it environment or is it your nature kind of stuff. The environment over there is hot and heavy. And if you live…
21:14
My old partner, Jack Feingold, his father and his uncle started the Israeli Air Force. When we were in Santa Fe Springs out there in California, and he found out that a new guy that moved in was Arab, he would scream. He had fences around everybody’s place. Well, when you consider what’s been done,
21:41
Okay? Like when they showed up at the festival. The music festival and slaughtered people. Babies. Just babies. Okay? Dismembered them. Tore them apart. Tore the breasts off of women. I’m sorry. I’m not going to… The thing is…
21:58
There is violence in the world, and what we all have to do is not okay it. All of us. Including now. That’s very hard to stop. It’s very hard to stop. A moving thing. But, you know, there are certain ones of NATO that don’t want to get as involved as we are.
22:19
Not everybody’s going along with it. The threats from our, I was going to say fearless leader. The threats from Trump against the European countries if they don’t help. You know, have you ever heard of the word finesse? He has none. Never. Never. Okay. He’s just a con man. He’s a clown. A terrifying clown.
22:49
Evil clown. That’s what I think. I’m sorry. I look at him. I can’t see how a Christian who believes in Jesus can okay this dude. I just don’t see it. Maybe it’s because they make money with the way he runs it. Look at how much money he’s made in the presidency. Look at the grits.
23:09
Look at the crypt. It’s astounding. How can you look a blind eye? They said, look, he’s got to be arm’s length from his business, of course. How can people look a blind eye to all this mission? I have no idea.
23:25
I just can’t. I can’t see it. And if I find out that their mind is like that, I just get away. There’s no defending. There’s no debating. Because they drank the Kool-Aid. And I only know of one person who’s come back from that Trump Kool-Aid. One. Marjorie Taylor Greene? You got it. You got it. She’s the one.
23:52
I wonder what’s going to happen here. It’s all… Who knows? I mean, she was hard to take. Oh, I didn’t like her at all. But now she’s like, wait a minute, this guy’s a phony baloney. Oh, yeah. Putting it up his butt. I use butt as a casual bridge word. How interesting.
24:15
Jason, ask me about a painting. Ask me about a painting. Do you have anything new that I can look at, too? Out in the car. Do you want me to go get it? I want to start. Most people that have seen Davo know him over the last 30 years. God, my goodness gracious. 40 years in Lahaina.
24:36
Well, I’m saying, that’s what I meant. Four years in line. And they knew me on my scooter because I scootered around behind Ali. How about Muhammad Ali? I’m going to turn this over. Okay, that’s a good one. Would you show it to everybody? You guys will have to… Okay, now if you see this one…
24:50
that’s actually gold gold leaf this one here he sent me a photo he sent me a photograph that he autographed and i also had gloves that he autographed because i donated so much to parkinson’s so from that photograph and signature i made these paintings with his signature on it and people loved them
25:13
Well, you know, they do love them. Well, Muhammad Ali, talk about a guy who’s against the war.
25:21
It almost ruined his career. They wanted to, you know, that’s the thing. David Bowie. Ask me about David. David Bowie. Please show him, David. Show him. You know where he even knows where it is. Yeah, yeah. You had it. I did have it. No, turn this page. I can’t see, Don. I know. You guys don’t know that. You’re on radio. Here he is, Tony Bennett. Hey, look at him. Look at that, Tony Bennett. Oh, that’s the one. Yeah.
25:49
I pushed the microphone. Did you hear David Bowie? Bono here. David Bowie. Okay, folks. Okay, there we go. Okay, everybody, listen to this. David Bowie, I’m in Bali, and I turn on the news in the morning, and it says David Bowie died. About 10 days later, something like that,
26:12
As I’m getting on my plane to come back to Hawaii, the captain says, you know that plane that just landed? It has David Bowie’s ashes on it. He wanted his ashes scattered right where I was. How do you like that?
26:28
He was dead. He was, at that point, ashes. So you heard he was dead. Yeah. But I was thinking he was going to walk off the plane and say, the word of my demise is a little premature. Right. No, unfortunately. He wanted to go to Bali. I love Bali. That’s where he wanted to be? Oh, no, he had a place on Bali. Oh, I see.
26:57
But where they scattered his ashes was kept very private.
27:04
It just kind of leaked out. Just like you just said, an event happened, and you memorialized that event. Like, I have one in my bedroom. Yes, yes. Of JFK Jr. doing a salute way back in 63. That was immortalized.
27:27
Because then you did the pop art and neo-pop art. It was a real interesting period of our life. But do you know the difference between pop art and neo-pop art? Help me, help me. Very easy. Andy Warhol did pop art. That’s who I learned from. I do neo-pop art.
27:46
And what makes it neo is if you have an Andy Warhol on the wall and you turn off the lights, it disappears. If you have a Davo on the wall and you turn off the lights, it’s still there. Right. I know. You’ve added that level of depth. I added that. And I’m the only artist on the planet that paints that way, that I know of. Well, I…
28:09
You can’t see it here, but that one didn’t have it. Yeah, that might have been pre. That was pre. Yeah, which makes it. I have one of the moon. Oh, yes. Thank you. I know that was a precious one to you. After the fire, it became even more precious. You know, we had a fire here, and I want to say the inventory, but your work. Oh, yeah.
28:38
Got decimated. Yeah. Unbelievably fortunate. And you know, I was depressed. And my gallery owner said, Davo, do you understand that all those paintings that you were trying to sell and that you had stored are sold? He just flipped it like that. And it’s true. Because when my…
29:04
When this lawsuit comes through, I get the money from all those canvases and more. Wow. I have a private collection that burned with the signatures of famous people, all documented in the book. Wow. And I was actually interviewed by the lawyers.
29:25
They actually brought cameras in, set up the lights in my place. Because it’s meaningful. They said they might want to make a mini documentary out of it. Wow. I said, go ahead, whatever. Can we put a loincloth on you when you go into the ocean? Only if I lose about 40 pounds. Back in the days when you’d go to Nude Beach,
29:52
at McKenna. And if you were 22 years old, you were proud to walk around naked. But then when the fat guy came, you go, oh, look at him. Well, I’m the fat guy now. Were you thinking you were going to live this long? No. If I thought I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself. That’s what we all say, right? But you know what? I don’t do drugs anymore. I barely drink alcohol. I quit smoking.
30:21
You’re in good shape. And I am getting it. I go to the pool one, two, three times a day. And I even got the lifeguards painting. Really? Yeah. As a matter of fact, there’s Kaipo, head lifeguard, Keeley, his sergeant, and, of course, Brooklyn. Oh, Brooklyn. Yeah.
30:45
As a woman or a man? She shivers my boulevard. Wait, I don’t have a boulevard. She does something else. She shivers something else in me. She’s gorgeous. Where’s George Carlin when you need him? I know. Did you know that when I first went in as a little guy, I was 20-something, I sat at Little David Records, and the guy on the couch next to me, he was going in to see, he signed with Little David Records. Oh. George Carlin. Oh, yeah.
31:13
When he was just a young, modest… He was… Boy, do we need him now? Yeah.
31:19
I mean, Bill Maher’s okay, but George Carlin would just… Bill Maher insults people. George Carlin insulted them by ignoring them with bigger, massive… He just had a style that nobody else ever attained. He really did. George Carlin’s one. Oh, let’s talk about Bob Dylan. Show them the Bob Dylan. So here we are.
31:46
I go to a dinner. One camera is the front of the book. This is a painting. This is a photograph at the dinner. Where he’s holding the paper. Because when he walked up to the podium…
32:05
He had like 10 sheets of paper. I’m going, what is this all about? And he spoke to us for 35 minutes, which is, for Dylan, rare. And this audience is filled with industry people. I mean, the big shots are there. And as a matter of fact, who introduced him was Jimmy Carter.
32:27
He had a president introduce him. Wow. So I said, oh, this is now I know why those guys that look like Secret Service are Secret Service. OK. I said, I know Bob has security, but this is. Yeah. So anyway, Bob comes out and, you know, I was so shit face.
32:48
I really was. When you have a dash with it, it’s not the same word. Oh, yeah. I was plastered. And I had a $1,500 seat way in the back, but I went to the bathroom at the right time because I knew it was winding down. I was going to move to the front. So I come out of the bathroom. I run into Campbell. Who? Campbell. I forget his first name. Campbell.
33:17
Campbell? Glenn Campbell? Yeah, yeah. I ran into him. I said, hey, Glenn, how you doing? He goes, Davo, okay. Because he knew me. But anyway, the Texan that bought my Dillon at the auction for $10,000 or more, because it started at $10,000, so I don’t know what he ended up paying. He goes, hey, Davo, where are you sitting? I go, back in Lower Sublovia.
33:43
And he goes, come with me. Come with me, son. Table right next to the podium. Empty seat. He says, no, you’re sitting there. It was a $15,000 seat. Whoa. Now, if that’s not Forrest Gump-y, I don’t know what is. Isn’t it? It is. And I sit there, and first President Carter comes out. And I can’t remember what he said, except he did say… I remember him saying, people…
34:12
We’ll soon forget the words that I and other presidents have put. They won’t forget Bob Dylan’s. I thought that was beautiful. So anyway, Bob comes out and he’s complaining. He’s complaining about these critics and about his voice. And he said, you don’t talk about this guy and his voice. He was defensive. And it was kind of cute. And he was talking about old blues guys. Excuse me, black blues guys.
34:43
That I’ve never heard of him. And then he gets to Jimmy. And you know which Jimmy. J-I-M-I. Hendrix. And he said, Jimmy, this is the only human being, living or dead, that Bob Dylan said, Jimmy, I wish you were here tonight. And I broke out just bawling.
35:16
And you were in the front row. You couldn’t get any closer. And I took a picture of him, which is a no-no. And the lady at the table next to me still had her camera out. And the security guard took her camera away. And this is your picture? That’s my picture. Wow. That’s my picture. There he is. Nice. And you can’t see it, but he’s looking at me like…
35:46
You know when Hawaiians look at you mean? Who’s the other guy down here? That’s Jimmy Carter. Jimmy? That’s Carter. I was going to say, it looks a lot like the guy in the prison movie with… It wasn’t Denzel Washington. It was the other guy. Sign my book.
36:09
You love Bob. Sign it right on, Bob. Right on, Bob. Yes, please. Thank you. And incidentally, Governor Green, I’d love you to sign my book. I’ve got the mayor’s. Oh, good. Can you get me the governor to sign it? When he comes to town, if I see him, I’ll… Tell him I’ll bring the book over and I’ll have one for him and he can sign my book.
36:33
Okay. Okay. Governor Green, you heard that. Well, I hope that you hear it here first. Otherwise, I’m going to see you. I know a lot of people don’t like him. A lot of people don’t like our mayor. But you know what? You know why I really love our mayor? He’s Hawaiian.
36:51
That doesn’t automatically qualify him. For me, and he can play the ukulele and sing, and he’s got a great voice, and he’s a good-looking Hawaiian man, and he’s got my vote. Now, maybe I’m crazy or stupid or both, but you know what? Do you have your passport and your documents in order? I’m ready to go. I’m actually packed.
37:20
You know those wheelie things? Yeah.
37:23
I’ve got everything ready to go. Oh, you’re ready to go. I’m talking about in our country now, they’re telling that 10 million people who live here legitimately cannot put their hands on documentation to support that they’re Americans, even though they’re legitimate. And they may not be able to vote if they keep doing this stupid thing that they’re doing. You know, I have a real problem that I can’t get away from. It’s called jerry-rigging. Jerry-rigging. Jerry-mandering. Jerry-rigging.
37:52
Jerry rigging his cars, I think. Jerry mandering. That’s hot wiring. Jerry rig, Jerry. Jerry mandering votes. Yeah, and that side is very known for doing that when they’re in trouble, and they are in trouble. What did Bob Dylan say about Jimmy Carter? I want to hear now.
38:14
He never said anything about Jimmy Carter. When you said he got in there when he talked about Jimmy coming next? No, Jimmy Hendrix. Oh, he did talk about Jimmy Hendrix. Yeah, that’s who it was. That’s the Jimmy. And that was Jimmy. See, and I thought it was Tim Robbins who I thought this was. Yeah. Looked a lot like him, but really does look a lot like him here, but…
38:34
Carter, you know, one of the presidents that I think is underlooked. Of course. Just been an incredible human being was Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalind. And talk about a true Christian. Yeah. Okay. No phony baloney about him. He’s a true Christian.
38:54
Giving, loving, care. Houses for habitat, building houses. That’s Christian. I heard something the other day that, I don’t know if it’s in the Bible, but the man said, I’m just a hungry beggar telling others where I found the bread. Isn’t that fabulous? Who said that?
39:21
Well, it was my wound doctor. Oh, really? Yeah, who was taking care of my, who cured my foot. And he’s a world famous wound doctor. What’s his name? His name is Brett Boyle. And his wife’s name is Carrie Boyle. And they are probably my favorite couple. Well, I’m so happy that you got your foot healed. That was wonderful.
39:46
Me too, because I couldn’t even go in the ocean, you know, because you know what you can get going in there. No. You can get everything under the sun. You can. And knowing me, I would. So I got all healed, and now I can go in the ocean. But I prefer the pool right now. I’m not quite in the shape that I want to be forever.
40:13
For the ocean. You know, because of cuts, I’ve been out of the ocean a very long time. Smart. Because there are things out there that…
40:24
You know, I don’t even, I’ve never had the problem, but I’ve watched problems. I’ve had staff. I know a friend who almost lost his foot having staff. And I’ve tried to get him to go to my church, which incidentally is Kahanadora Faith, which Reverend Kavika Kapaku is my kahu. And he’s…
40:52
Awesome. The last sermon he gave was, I said, why do you keep getting better, better, and better? And he’s really, he can do jokes, he can do this, but the way he throws in the Bible, you just go, yeah, yeah, I like it this way. And then they get up and play the ukuleles, and it’s a local church. I mean, it’s a Hawaiian church. It’s awesome. It’s beautiful.
41:22
You got to come sometime. Okay. It’s worth the drive. I would love to. And then you can have lunch. We’ll do a barbecue at my place. We’ll go down to the fish market, get some fish, put it on the barbie. Sounds good. How much time do we have left? Oh, we have like 14. Really? God, I don’t know if I can make it. Well, you don’t have to. You could just sit here silently. But you don’t have to because I happen to have this…
41:50
See, I let people sign anywhere they want. I see, but it’s really interesting where people sign. People sign on the… My dad loves Jimmy. Yep.
42:01
David Furnish and Elton John. And their baby, their first baby. Did I tell you about the time I laid Elton John? Then people go, you know, I go, no, with flowers, for God’s sakes. But I’m at the Grammys. Right. And we’re at a dinner. And he and his boyfriend, now his husband, were there. Yeah. And I said, Elton, would you mind laying me? He says, oh, I’d just love it.
42:24
So I put the lay on, and David took the picture, and it’s a great picture. I still have that. It might be in the book. I don’t know. Cliff has done really a great job of putting stuff together. Cliff and… And Bill? And how about Lynn Shue? Well, Lynn Shue is an amazing woman. Lynn discovered me under the banyan tree. Village Gallery? Do they call it Village Gallery now? Still, yeah. What is it called now?
42:51
Village Gallery. Not Village Gallery by the sea? No, no, no. Just Village Gallery. And they’re in that, I want to call it an outbuilding. You haven’t been there yet? Behind the Canterham Mall outbuilding. It’s the end of the highway coming down, right? There’s going to be a new Safeway gas station. I don’t know what’s taking them so long. I know what’s taking them, yeah. But let me tell you something. Lynn found me under the banyan tree and said, I’m opening a new gallery. Do you want to come?
43:20
And I go, oh, yes. And so because she was so good to me over the years, one time I took her to the Grammys.
43:29
And we’re standing out there waiting for the valet to bring my mom’s Buick. So there’s all these limousines, and here comes this old Buick. And the valet, I give him $10, and I say, do you know how much it cost me to make this Rolls Royce look like a Buick? And he’d look at me like, you’re crazy, right? Give it a $10, buddy. But here comes the…
43:59
CEO, Mr. Grammys, Michael Green, I think it was. And he comes across the road, right up to Lin Shu, takes her hand, and he says, did you enjoy the night? And then said, yes. And then he walked away. I said, Lin, do you know, that’s it. He’s the guy. And then goes, oh. Ha, ha, ha, ha.
44:27
Lynn loved it. She slept in my mom’s bed because my mom wasn’t going to let her sleep on the couch. And I wasn’t going to let her sleep in my room. So she said, you sleep on my bed. My mom slept on the couch. And there’s Lynn in the morning with my mom’s stuffed animals all around her. I wish I had a picture of that. Now, Lynn’s shoe is the cream of the crop.
44:54
Yeah, she’s really been, what do they say? She was the scout that found you, huh? Absolutely. Under the banyan tree, which is still here. Thank you, God. Thank you, God. Thank you, God. And do you see how green everything is right now? I said, thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. This is the old Maui now we’re seeing.
45:18
Yeah, I hope it holds the ground there next round. Well, the thing is, you’ve got to give to get.
45:25
Yeah, I get it. And everything’s God, so all this stuff is God. Hello. I firmly believe that. I have no fear of death because my shepherd is Jesus, and his father is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. I’m all into that. I see. I am.
45:50
Well, I myself figure, because I don’t know, I’m staying open. I can’t imagine a life in the same form. Have you been baptized? I was, actually. I was baptized in front of the Maui Sunset the first year I was here.
46:11
Good boy. By Heather Castellanos, who was going to a church that was run upcountry. Grace Church, I think it was. Rob Finberg, who was a Jewish guy who became Christian. See? There you go. Beautiful wife, Iranian wife. Beautiful lady. Do you know that when I went to Israel, I wanted to get bar mitzvahed?
46:37
I did. And they said, well, have you studied? And I go, no, and I’m only there for a week. So I said, is there anything else? And he says, well, you can get baptized. I said, okay. He says, well, you can get on this bus and it’ll take you to the Jordan River where John baptized Jesus. And that’s where I got baptized. Oh. How do you like that? Not a lot of people can say that. That’s right.
47:02
And I got baptized by a Jewish guy. And I baptized him. Okay. And it was just, it was, you know, I’m just so glad I did that then because Israel and everything was not like it is now. I mean, everything was peaceful. Well, you know…
47:25
The people that I know here, live here from Israel, I can see a real strong, hard core. But they’re such loving people. Oh, yeah. There’s a Chabad, Maui kosher farm I had here, Rabbi Mendel Zirkind. Is he here? He’s here. How old is he?
47:51
I’m going to say early 40s. How about Rabbi David?
47:57
Rabbi David. There’s a Rabbi David. Rabbi David Glickman is probably retired, but once a rabbi, always a rabbi. Is that right? See, if I really want to know something, I go to him, okay? You go to me? Yeah. I don’t know nothing. You know. Like Schultz. I know nothing. Yeah, right? And he was Jewish, the guy that played that. Just out of, yeah.
48:26
Hogan’s Heroes. Folks, you’ve got to see Sinners, the movie. Did it win the movie? No. One battle after another. I think best director. I was worried about Sinners because it said horror. Is it horror film? Yeah, but you know what?
48:46
No, don’t think horror. No? Don’t think horror. But there’s vampire elements to it. It’s a beautiful… The cinematography… No, forget it. Go with me. I’ll see it again. Okay. And you know, after the Oscars, they re-release them sometimes. Oh, yeah. And definitely see battle after battle. That was the movie of the year.
49:13
One battle after another. It was really good, huh? Fantastic. Talk about kind of… Gritty also, huh? Yeah, and you know who got the supporting actor? Sean Penn. And boy, did he… Did he get it? Yes, and he played an amazing military guy. Oh, just gross. And there’s a scene in there
49:38
Where they kill him and dispose of him? Of him. Because… You don’t have to tell me. No, I don’t want to tell you. But the movie, I’ve got to see it again. There was just too much going on. I’ve got to see it again. Okay. So, you want to go? Yeah.
49:58
Sinners and… Yeah, we’ll have a double feature. Also, Frankenstein was awesome. And Hamnet. Oh, I haven’t seen that yet. And she got Best Actress. I understand. I saw just a few minutes of it. It’s up there on Netflix or something. Is it really? I’ll go home and watch it today. Because I love Shakespeare. And I never knew about his son.
50:23
I never knew. Because people go, why do they call it Hamnet? And I go, that was his son’s name that died. Ten years old. Oh, see, I didn’t even get to that part of the movie. Oh, yeah, okay. Did you watch it? I was watching it at the beginning, and a lot of things happened at the same time. You, Meshuggah. You are a Meshuggah. Look that up, folks. His picture is right next to the definition.
50:54
Jason, you’re marvelous. I love you. Well, you know why? Because I take after you. You’re my hero. No, you’re my hero. Okay.
51:06
Okay, that’s it. Two Meshuggahs. Two Meshuggahs. From different mothers. Yeah. You know, when you talk about getting out of L.A., I left New York and spent 1973 to 1988 in L.A. Okay. And in there was my music business experience. Really, that was very fun and exciting. You can’t leave without it.
51:34
And, folks, just so you know, this is what the hardback looks like. It’s a really nice… And that will glow in the dark, of course. That makes it neopop. I meant to give you that. And here, this was supposed to be breakfast for you and Tony. I’m not kidding. I made it this morning. It’s scrambled eggs and toast. Tony, you are going to be eating. I know. And it’s good. I make good scrambled eggs.
52:04
Tony, you’re in for it. Oh, one last thing. What’s that? This is my glow-in-the-dark. I only give that to people like you. Will this stay fresh for a while? I would keep it in the refrigerator. Okay. And when you open it, stir it.
52:27
And then just whatever you brush it on, once it dries, it will be… You can do your fingernails, your toenails. Or like you don’t want to hit something in the dark. Yeah. Yeah. I do that. As a matter of fact, at Lynn’s Gallery, there’s a big love…
52:46
painting in her bathroom. And when people go in, and then as they’re leaving, they turn off the light, and they go, oh my god. And they look at it, and then they can’t find the light switch. So I put a glow in the dark dot on the light switch. There you go. That’s what it takes. What is that? Necessity is the mother of invention. That’s a good one.
53:11
Anyway, folks, I want you to get my book. And if you do, and you bring it to me, I will put an original drawing in there and dedicate it. So anybody who gets the book, you get it on Amazon. It’s being sold in like 50 countries.
53:29
Well, you can also… We’re putting it up on the website. You see, we’re building out the website to be a focus for commerce for Maui. Yes. And when we do it, you know we’re giving money back into… That’s my thing. Giving money back locally. Money is the teeth in this jungle, but…
53:52
You don’t have to be just always after it. I’m not. My brother Kalama, who passed away, and I’m glad I mentioned him. Kalama said, Dabo, you pull money out of the sky. Isn’t that beautiful? And I thought, Hawaiian, the way you say things. He was a wonderful man. He was a wonderful guy. I’m still not over it. Nope. I don’t know if I’ll ever be over it.
54:24
Well, but we are here to celebrate. I know. And we are here to celebrate a good life as we live it.
54:32
And thank you for coming. Thank you for bringing this book back. Right. Any of you artists out there, I know people love art. They’re going to love this book. We have less than a minute and ten seconds. 109. You know, whenever I’m here, I think to myself, we are laying the carpet for the world to come in this door and be in this neutral. Oh, look at this. This is from my church.
55:00
Thank you. Now you must come and wear that. I will for sure. Thank you. And do you know about Kukui nuts? No.
55:07
I don’t in 40 seconds. They’re the nut of enlightenment. They are? So when you wear them, they’ll make you smarter. Uh-oh. I don’t know if that could happen. I don’t know. How could you get any smarter? We only have a few seconds. Davo, you’re a wonderful guest and a wonderful friend. God bless you. God bless you. Blessings to you. Shalom. Shalom. Mazel tov. And Avital Zayn, good night. Take care, everyone. We’ll see you next week.
55:42
Thank you.
My family and I have some amazing pieces of his work: Jimi, The Beatles, Zeppelin…. cherish every single one of them. Always trying to find something up for sale post-fire.