James Kawika Piimauna Reiplinger (July 16, 1950 – January 19, 1984) was a Hawaiian comedian, whose humor is an integral part of Hawaii today.

After attending Punahou School

Punahou School

Punahou School, once known as Oahu College, is a private, co-educational, college preparatory school located in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu in the U.S. State of Hawaii...

, he began performing professionally. In 1974 he helped create the comedy ensemble Booga Booga with James Grant Benton and Ed Ka'ahea. In 1982 he received an Emmy Award

Emmy Award

An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...

 and bronze medal from the International Film and Television Festival of New York for "Most Outstanding Television Production" for his TV special "Rap's Hawaii", which he wrote and starred in.

Reiplinger died in 1984 from cocaine-related causes at age 33.

Discography

• Poi Dog 1978
• Crab Dreams 1979 (Won a Na Hoku Hanohano award for Best Comedy Album in 1979.)
• Do I Dare Disturb the Universe 1979
• Rap's Hawaii (TV Special) 1982 Emmy Award (DVD 2003)
• Towed Away 1983 (Won a Na Hoku Hanohano award for Best Graphics in 1984.)
• Rap's Aloha (TV Special) 1984 Broadcasted posthumously.
• Poi Dog With Crabs 1992 (Poi Dog and Crab Dreams) Released posthumously.
• The Best of Rap 1993 Released posthumously.
• The Best of Rap, Too 1996 Released posthumously.