June 15, 2009

Aloha kakou!
In today’s newsletter:

• Some Father’s Day events in Hawai’i
• This week on Pakele Live! with Tony Solis – Jeff Teves CD Release Party
• Kenneth Makuakane – Recording and Copyrighting class - Kaua’i
• Ohana Dance Group Ho’ike and Concert – Sacramento, CA
• Andy Bumatai – San Francisco
• Lokahi Nation Online Store
• A note about Little Fox Theater – Redwood City, CA
• Eric Lee video
• KGMB9 programming
• Natalie Ai Kamauu
• Kalei Gamiao
• Bolo and Walt Keale tour

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A sampling of some concerts going on in Hawai’i this Father’s Day weekend:

Friday (June 19) – HAPA Concert under the Stars, Kahala Resort & Hotel, Honolulu, 8 pm (Seating starts at 5:30pm) Tix and info: (808) 739-8888

Saturday (June 20) – Makaha Sons, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel (Kona), 7:30 pm Tix $35 (808) 882-5707

Saturday (June 20) – Ku’uipo Kumukahi at the Summer Concert Series, Pilila’au Army Rec. Ctr, Waianae (Oahu) – 7:00 p.m. – FREE


Sunday (June 21) – 1st Annual Father’s Day Hawaiian Music Festival, featuring Kalapana, Kapena, Beach 5, hula, food, more. Sea Life Park meadow (O’ahu), 3pm-8pm. Tix $20-$30, ages 7-12 $10-$20, 6 and under FREE. Info.



Sunday (June 21) – Willie K, Father’s Day Brunch, Ka’anapali Beach Hotel (Maui), 10:00 am. Call hotel at for reservations! (800) 262-8450
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This week on Pakele Live! with Tony Solis we’re celebrating the release of “Lovely Sapphire of the Tropics,” the new CD by Jeffrey Teves, and described by him as some of his all-time favorite “Hawaiian and Hapa Haole music of yesteryear, revisited.” In addition to the Jeff Teves Quartet, special guests will include Puamana, Kealoha Kalama, the Leo Nahenahe Singers, Kapono Naili'ili, and possibly another special guest (unconfirmed as of press time, but if it happens, you'll love it!).

Under the name Kuliaikanu'u, Jeff (with Tote Conching and Henry Barrett), has been a mainstay in Waikiki for over 35 years. He has also played at the Sheraton Waikiki's lu’au with Myra English, and at the Surf Room with Kahauanu Lake, and more recently you can find him sitting in with Chino Montero, David Kamakahi, Jeff Peterson and more at Thai Sweet Basil in Manoa on Monday nights. In addition to Tote Conching, Henry Barrett, and Jeff Au Hoy, Brandon and Keoni Souza and Paul Kim all play with Jeff at various times as the Jeff Teves Quartet.

Please join us this Thursday, June 18 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 are available for purchase, but as I’ve mentioned previously, the hotel is no longer serving food. (Hint: “Super Fresh” will deliver food to the hotel. The valets and others who work there often order from them. Their prices are quite reasonable, and the service is fast! I’ve had the garlic chicken, and oh my… SOOO ono! Their number is 398-5901.)

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 you’re watching – and from what part of the world!)
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In celebration of the "Year of Hawaiian Music," Kenneth Makuakane, producer, musician, singer-songwriter, and winner of numerous Na Hoku Hanohano awards, will conduct a workshop on “How to Record and Copyright Music” on Saturday, June 27, from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm at the Hilton Kauai Beach Resort. Admission is $20; advance registration is recommended. This workshop is a must for all new or aspiring musicians! For information contact Nathan Kalama at (808) 822-2166 or kmfkauai@hawaii.rr.com

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The Ohana Dance Group (halau) of Sacramento, CA is holding their annual ho`ike and a concert featuring Hawai’i Music Award winner Faith Ako on Saturday, Sept. 12th (2 pm, Sacramento Buddhist Church). Tickets go on sale July 1. For info: poster that I am attaching.

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Comedian, television host and internet show host Andy Bumatai will take his standup routine to the Hotel Kabuki in San Francisco on August 8 as part of the “Friends Reunited” 2nd Annual Benefit Show and Dance for the Asian Women’s Shelter. Tickets are $30 advance, $35 door. For tickets, contact June at AWSDANCE@yahoo.com. Don't miss the opportunity to see Andy perform live and kokua a worthy organization at the same time!

Long-time readers of this newsletter know that one of my favorite all-time Andy bits is “Neighbor Island Directions” from his “Brain Child” album. Those of you on Twitter can now “follow” Andy (@AndyBumatai) and be treated to little doses of comedy every day, for even though “tweets” are limited to 140 characters, his wry observations, sarcastic one-liners, and answers to tweets posted by others are forever making me laugh out loud.
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The Lokahi Nation online store is now open for business! Some time ago I mentioned that my dear friend Timmy Kukiamekekahiau Hunt (along with his business partner Brandon) was coming out with a line of clothing called “Lokahi Nation” (LOW-KA-HEE: Unity, to become one with harmony. To show much Love and Aloha!). Timmy recently contacted me to let me know the online store is now up and running.

The shirts are inscribed with sayings such as “Aloha, Lokahi Nation,” “One Love” and my favorite: “Without Love We Perish” (which is taken from a tattoo Timmy has). Various designs also include graphics of Hawaii, a Hawaiian flag, an 'ukulele, and more. Here are a few examples - watch for more designs to be added in the future:





Although now living in Santa Cruz, CA, Timmy is a Maui boy, born and raised. A talented slack key guitarist and singer/songwriter, he has done much to support, promote and bring Hawaiian music of all types to the mainland, and is the co-owner of THE local place for ono plate lunch and island style grindz - Aloha Island Grille (1700 Portola Dr. Santa Cruz). Timmy has a huge heart, and no matter what venture he takes on, he does it with love. Lokahi Nation is no different, and I think you’ll find a design you like, must have, can't live without! Please visit the Lokahi store (where you can order online, and items will be shipped anywhere in the world!). You can also visit the Lokahi myspace page to see photos, etc.
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A note about the Little Fox Theater in Redwood City, CA: Many musicians from Hawai’i play the Little Fox, and have for a number of years. I’ve noticed recently that all concerts have a “21 and over” age limitation. I don’t know if this is a new policy – perhaps I just never noticed before? – but please keep that in mind when purchasing tickets for that venue!
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KGMB9, our local CBS affiliate, is running a series of live Friday concerts on their “Sunrise” show. Last week’s show featured Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner Eric Lee (of Na Kama) performing songs from his recent solo release “Crossroads”. Here are several videos from the show.

By the way, Ho’omaika’i (Congratulations!) to Eric, Danny Naipo, and Brian Mersberg (Na Kama) on their recent Na Hoku win for “E Ola Ke Ali’i, the Na Kama Christmas Collection, Vol. 1” - their first Christmas album!

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In addition to the live Friday morning concerts, KGMB9 has been airing some additional local programming that is extremely well done. Due to the demand after the original show was aired, last week they rebroadcast the “Life in These Islands” special. I recently spoke with KGMB9’s Jared Kuroiwa, who told me that talks are continuing regarding making a DVD of the show available (distribution is still being discussed, but we should hear something very soon), and there’s even some discussion about making it into a series – although the latter is still just talk at this point. I will let you know when the DVD is available.

Last week KGMB9 also presented the exclusive television debut of "Kūkahi” Keali`i Reichel Live in Concert, a 90-minute broadcast that showcased a rare, personal look at one of Hawaii's living musical icons in a concert of both traditional and contemporary song and dance. Halau Ke‘alaokamaile was featured. The DVD (which runs over two hours and includes subtitles in both English and Hawaiian), also includes appearances by Ben Vega (“Pua Nani”) and Kumu Hula Keali’i Ceballos. You can order a DVD copy of "Kūkahi” from mele.com.
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Fresh from her second Best Female Vocalist win at the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, Natalie Ai Kamauu, husband Iolani, and brother Chad Ai dropped by the studios of KUNV FM before a concert performance in Las Vegas Saturday. Here's a fun video compilation of her visit (if you watched live online Saturday, you'll note that the interview has been edited somewhat), as well as her chicken-skin performance of "Pili Aloha".
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Those who are regular viewers of Pakele Live! have probably seen the talented young ‘ukulele player Kalei Gamiao. His debut album "Kalei Gamiao - Contemporary Ukulele Instrumental," nominated for a 2009 Na Hoku Hanohano Award, is in pretty much constant rotation in my CD changer. But nothing quite matches hearing him live…

I was recently at a large outdoor event with lots of music, people talking and laughing, etc. As is often the case at these types of events, many people weren’t paying attention to the music. However, when Kalei began playing, you could hear a kind of hush go through the audience as people began listening to this amazing young artist (who many had never heard before). It was a chicken skin moment!

In spite of his extraordinary talent and growing success, Kalei remains exceedingly humble. It's an honor and a pleasure for me to have gotten to know him and his family a bit, and I hope you will take a moment to listen to his music, support him by sending a friend request on myspace (you can listen to songs and see videos there), joining his Facebook , purchasing his album, and going to see him when he performs live.

I can only imagine what the future holds for this talented young man!
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And finally, I regret to announce that the west coast tour featuring Bolo and Walt Keale has been cancelled due to illness in Bolo’s family. The tour will be rescheduled sometime in the future, but as yet we have no idea when that might be. Bolo has asked me to extend his sincere apologies for the cancellation – it’s been a number of years since he was there and he was looking forward to performing for the appreciative audiences he met all up and down the west coast. However, we all know that ohana – family – always comes first, so please join me in keeping both Bolo and his father in your thoughts and prayers.
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Pau for now - e malama pono a hui hou!