May 20, 2009

Aloha kakou!
Just a few quick things for today’s newsletter:

• This week on Pakele Live! with Tony Solis – Na Hoku nominees Doug Fitch and Jeff Rasmussen


• This week on Pakele Live! with Tony Solis (TV) - Ku'uipo Kumukahi and the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame Serenaders


• Hokulea


• New Cell Phone Law for O’ahu


• Monthly Kanikapila!

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This week on Pakele Live! with Tony Solis is the first of two shows where we’ll be featuring nominees for the 2009 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (Hawai’i’s version of the Grammy Awards). Our guests on Thursday, May 21 will be Doug Fitch, nominated in the Slack key Album of the Year category for his “Paradise on the Ocean” CD, and Jeff Rasmussen, nominated in the Contemporary Album of the Year category for his “Another Rainbow” CD.


A performing musician beginning at age 8, Doug was raised in a rural mountain area in a family of accomplished professional and amateur folk musicians. "I was brought up on acoustic music and spending time outdoors. Hawaiian music speaks to me because it’s an acoustic tradition that reflects its people and their natural surroundings. It paints a beautiful sonic picture that relies on heart and soul for interpretation. I’ve been very fortunate to be a student of several of the best slack-key players and I feel strongly that those styles should be preserved. Yet, as a singer/songwriter, I draw from my own experiences and that also seems to resonate with others."

Sports fans may remember Doug from his days as a professional bicycle racer, when he became the first bicyclist to appear on the Wheaties cereal box in 1988. He was a member of the U.S. National Cycling Team during the 1980s, and became the U.S. National Champion in 1986.

(Doug in his Wheaties shirt!)

He has been a featured songwriter, singer, and musician on several albums, as well a performer at the Na Mele Nei Concert Series. He performs regularly at major resorts in Waikiki, and at weddings, private parties and corporate functions.


Jeff is an award-winning singer-songwriter and producer who began his career playing with the Pandanus Club. (Actually, it’s probably more accurate to say he began it as a member of the prestigious Honolulu Boy Choir when he was younger.) Featured on a number of recordings with Pandanus Club and others, Jeff embarked on a solo career beginning in 1990, and since then has remained one of Hawai‘i’s preeminent musicians.

He produced at least four solo albums, including 1990’s “Without You,” which won the Na Hoku Award for Most Promising Artist, and 1992’s “Rainbow’s End,” which featured the hit songs “Kipahulu” (written by his late brother, Carl “Hoku” Rasmussen), and a cover of Stevie Nicks’ song “Leather and Lace,” which he performed as a duet with Robi Kahakalau (a.k.a. Sistah Robi). After a nine-year hiatus from recording, during which time he produced albums for other artists, Jeff released “Another Rainbow” - and finds himself nominated for yet another Na Hoku Hanohano Award.

In addition to producing albums for others, Jeff continues to perform with Robi Kahakalau and Kimo Bell every Sunday evening at Chai’s Island Bistro in the Aloha Tower Marketplace in Honolulu.

Please join us Thursday May 21 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. (Please note - drinks are available for purchase, but the hotel has stopped serving food.)

You may also watch live online at: http://www.pakelelive.com/
Those in Japan can watch at: http://www.j-wave.co.jp/

(If you watch online, don’t forget to email the show at pakele@lava.net to say hi and let us know what part of the world you’re watching from!)
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Ku'uipo Kumukahi and the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame Serenaders are the guests on this weeks’ Pakele Live! with Tony Solis on channel OC 16. This is a show that held special appeal for the kupuna who attended, as it featured a number of songs they grew up with. 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. (Check there for additional air days and times).
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The Hokule’a recently returned to Hawai’i after a training voyage to Palmyra Atoll. You can learn about the world wide voyage they’ll soon embark on, follow the journey, see photos, watch videos, read the crew’s blogs, and make donations on their at website. Take a moment or two to check it out!
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For those who live on or who will be visiting the island of O’ahu – beware the new law that bans the use of cell phones (except for hands free) and other electronic devices while driving. The law takes effect July 1, and also prohibits text messaging, the use of laptop computers, e-mailing and electronic game-playing while driving. (Any type of cell phone handling while driving, including dialing, is prohibited under the new law.) The measure doesn’t prohibit the use of the vehicle’s radio, CD player or navigational equipment, or video entertainment to passengers in rear seats. (There are exemptions for certain workers, such as emergency responders.)

The ban stemmed from a video taken by a passenger on a city bus… of the driver… who was playing video games on his phone while driving. *sigh* Violators face fines of $15 to $100.
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The monthly kanikapila on the patio area at Pizza Bob’s in Haleiwa (North Shore, O’ahu) takes place Saturday May 23, beginning at 2 pm. It’s open to all ages and skill levels, so bring your instruments and/or your voices and come join in the fun - or just come watch! We always have a great time at these, and you never know who’s going to show up! Pizza Bob's is located in the shopping center at 66-145 Kamehameha Hwy, and there's plenty of free parking around back.

(Some of those who participated in last month's kanikapila, including, from left to right: Derek Higa; Uncle Braddah; Timi, Emily and Quinn Abrigo; Doug Fitch; and Kalei Gamiao.)

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Pau for now... e malama pono a hui hou!