Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bambi your real name?
My mother and father had been living in Hawaii for a couple of years before I was born. They decided on “Bambi” around the time I was conceived. However, two days before my mom went into labor, she had a dream, and this was before she was a Christian, about naming me the Hawaiian name, “Noelani”. At the last minute, “Noelani” became my middle name.

How many siblings do you have?
I have one sister and two brothers. I am the baby, being the youngest of four.

I read that you are very spiritual. Can you expound on that?
I received Jesus Christ as my Savior when I was only four years old. God and I went through ups and downs in my teens through my early 20’s. Sometime shortly after, I had a life-changing experience and decided that I would not be a “luke-warm Christian” any longer by re-dedicating my life to Him.

What’s your favorite color?
I have so many! Blue, green, pink, black, red, purple! All colors!

Do you wear colored contacts?
No. My mother has yellow- green eyes and my father had aqua-marine blue. Thus, I have green-yellow eyes! But sometimes I’m told that they have orange in them, too!

What’s your favorite movie?
So many…depends on my mood. Gone with the Wind, Dumb and Dumber, Top Secret, Amadeus….

Who is your favorite singer?
Besides my mother? You have to realize, my mother would sing to me while I was in her womb! She just knew I’d be a singer! Besides my mother, it is Evie Karlsson. Her voice was the first voice I heard when I was two years old! Her voice still sounds like a bell!

How do you kick back?
I love to travel and see my family! But when travel is not an option, I like to attend belly dance classes and go to the movies!

Do you have any advice for aspiring opera singers?
The voice is a delicate band that needs to be properly trained, especially for opera. If you are willing to put in 10-12 years, then you have a shot, given that you have an instrument and the drive to develop.

Were you named after the deer, Bambi?
No. Contrary to popular belief, my parents named me not after the movie character Bambi, but a lawyer named Bambi Wilde. She lives in Hawaii. It was very strange growing up with a name that no one had. I only met one other girl named Bambi when we were both ten years old. I think she and I were the only kids on that island with those names!

What made you decide to pursue opera?
It’s in my genes! I discovered opera late, but the ability to sing operatically was in my blood, since both of my grandparents were opera singers. In fact, Grandma was Violetta and Grandpa was Germont in "La Traviata"! Thus, I sang before I ever uttered my first word!

How do you maintain your physique?
I grew up hula dancing and doing aerobics. But lately my focus has shifted onto belly dancing! It’s very good for opera singers because of the diaphragmatic stamina that’s required!

What’s your favorite food?
Persian...then Indian, French, and Italian. The only Hawaiian food I like besides papayas, bananas, and pineapples, is Asian-Hawaiian food such as chaki-mochi, shrimp chips, and the spam-nori-rice staples.