In today's newsletter:
- This week on Pakele Live! with Tony Solis - Kona
- This week on Pakele Live! with Tony Solis (TV) - Jerry Santos and Hoku Zuttermeister
- New Hoku website
- Hawai'i Book and Music Festival
- Papakolea 75th Anniversary
- Hawaiian music at Borders Sacramento
- Aloha Expo in Santa Fe Springs, CA
This week’s guest on Pakele Live! with Tony Solis is Kona, who is celebrating the recent release of his second album, “Acousti-me.”Born and raised in Waimanalo, Kona grew up in a family that was always surrounded by music. With the influence of friends and family (including cousins Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and Mel Amina) joining the frequent kanikapila, it’s no wonder he began to play music at an early age.
Kona’s music career began at age 13 when he became the drummer for the successful group “Tropical Knights,” which recorded 3 albums and performed not only throughout Hawai’i, but also on the mainland and in Guam. While with Tropical Knights, Kona discovered a passion for other instruments – and has since become an accomplished guitar, ‘ukulele, keyboard and bass player, as well as a singer-songwriter, producer and engineer. (He’s also the on-air radio personality known as "Island Boy" on Power 104.3 FM, Mon-Sun 12pm-7pm).
Described by Wayne Harada as James Taylor or John Mayer with a local spin, Kona not only wrote all the songs on “Acousti-me” (both lyrics and music), he played all the instruments and produced, engineered, mixed and mastered it. (Believe me, if you love singer-songwriters and acoustic albums, you’ll love this CD! Click here to hear samples of the CD or to purchase it.)
To hear Kona and his band live and in concert (and pick up a CD and get it autographed!), please join us Thursday May 14 from 6-8 p.m. HST at the Pakele Lounge in the Ala Moana Hotel (410 Atkinson Dr., Honolulu). It’s free, and free parking is available next door at Ala Moana shopping center. (Drinks and pupus are available for purchase.)
You may also watch live online.
Those in Japan can watch online here.
(If you watch online, don’t forget to email the show at pakele@lava.net to say hi to Kona and let him know what part of the world you’re watching from!)
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Jerry Santos and Hoku Zuttermeister are the guests on this weeks’ Pakele Live! with Tony Solis on channel OC 16. If you missed it the first time, be sure not to miss this repeat episode! As always, each week’s new show begins on Wednesday at 7 pm HST (unless pre-empted by local sports programming), and is repeated a number of times throughout the week. You can also watch online at the OC 16 website. (You can also check there for additional air days and times).
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Speaking of Hoku Zuttermeister, the amazing and talented Kawikanui Kahele unveiled Hoku's new website on Mother's Day. Kawikz is the genius behind the design of other websites (and photos!) as well, including those of Na Kama, Eric Lee, Pilioha, and more. Be sure to visit the videos page, where you'll find two videos of my all-time favorite Hoku song, "Ola'a Beauty" - one from last year's Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (with pal Ioane Burns on bass and Robert Cazimero and Keao Costa joining in on vocals) and another that was taken at Chai's Island Bistro, with Barry Kimokeo on guitar.
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The 4th Annual Hawai’i Book and Music Festival takes place on O’ahu this weekend on the grounds of Honolulu Hale. (Sat and Sun, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) It’s free, and parking is free, too! With dozens of activities for young and old alike, there’s sure to be something to please everyone. Click here for details and click here for the schedule.
In addition to the book swap, I understand there will also be a CD swap this year – take in any Hawaiian music CD and trade it for another!
If you’re there on Sunday afternoon be sure not to miss Kamaka Fernandez (3 p.m., main stage), a former winner of the Maui Falsetto contest. What an amazing voice!!!
(Note: There’s conflicting info on some of the musical performers who will appear. Some that are listed in one place aren’t listed in another, even within the festival’s own website…)
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Also this weekend on O’ahu (Saturday May 16, 9-5, Stevenson Middle School baseball field), the Papakolea 75th Anniversary, featuring performances by the Makaha Sons, Natalie Ai Kamauu, Kamaka Fernandez (and more), with a variety of guest hosts from many radio stations: Billy V, Lina Girl, Frank B Shaner, etc.! Admission is free, and there will be food, games, and craft booths – all to benefit the Papakolea Community Association.
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In the last newsletter I mentioned the imminent return of Hawaiian music concerts at Tom Hedtke’s Sacramento Borders store. Here are a few of the upcoming events:
May 23rd at 7 pm - Faith Ako (and band).
June 15th at 7 pm - Jennifer Perri (Some of you may remember Jennifer from the CD release party we held for her on Pakele Live – with Herb Ohta, Jr., who produced and played on her new album “He Mele Aloha,” and Jon Yamasato, David Kamakahi, Darin Leong, and Casey Olsen, all of whom play as her “back-up band” when she performs here on O’ahu. Perhaps one or more of them will join her in Sacramento…?)
And in July, JOHN CRUZ! (“On the island, we do it island style…”) The final date hasn’t been set yet, but he’ll be there, and I’ll let you know when I know…
On August 20th (7 pm) Tom will present a book discussion and signing by Stuart Holmes Coleman. Stuart is known for his last book "Eddie Would Go," which came out a few years ago. Tom said Stuart was there at Borders for the release of "Eddie," and loved it so much he wanted to come back for his new book entitled "Fierce Heart" - a biography of Makaha (the small town on the western side of O’ahu). Stuart's an entertaining guy so put this on your calendar! (I have the “Eddie” book – it’s excellent.)
As is always the case with the Hawaiian events at Tom’s Borders, GET THERE EARLY to get a good seat!
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Several months ago, I mentioned this year's Aloha Festival in Santa Fe Springs, CA. It's happening this weekend (May 16-17) at Heritage Park, and admission and parking are FREE. With a culutral marketplace, ono island grinds, hula and music, it's the place to be! The lineup wasn't yet in place when I last wrote about it, but now it is - and among the musicians who will be performing is Na Hoku and Grammy Award winner Jeff Peterson. Click here for details and a schedule.
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Pau for now…. E malama pono a hui hou!
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