June 3, 2009

Aloha kakou!
In today’s newsletter:

• This week on Pakele Live! with Tony Solis – Hulili
• Hawaiian Style Grill Summer Kick-off Concert (Sacramento, CA area)
• Lomilomi Massage Classes by Kapua Ching (Nevada City/Grass Valley, CA)
• Special Performance at 2009 ‘Ukulele Festival (Waikiki)
• Ka Waikahe Lani Malie – Special 10th Anniversary Ho’ike (Davis, CA)
• Moonlight Mele on the Lawn (Honolulu)
• First Annual MELE Songwriters Workshop (Honolulu)
• Beat of Hawaii – great travel deals, and warning about the Kauai Marriott
• Wildest Show in Town series (Honolulu)
• Lunalilo Home Benefit/Ho’olaule’a (Honolulu)

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This week’s guest on Pakele Live! with Tony Solis is the band Hulili. Those familiar with the club scene in Hawaii today will recognize the name. The band plays a variety of genres - it’s not unusual for Hulili to play a traditional Hawaiian classic to today’s island reggae sound, some “good ‘ol days” 60’s tunes, and then a current top 40 hit. They’ll be releasing a new CD soon, and we’re told to expect some great original compositions. If you’re a fan of baby lu'aus, graduation parties, night clubs and back yard kanikapilas, you’ll enjoy Hulili!

Please join us Thursday June 4 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.

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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Hawaiian Style Grill in Elk Grove, CA (south of Sacramento at 8259 Laguna Blvd.) is holding a summer kick-off event June 13 from 5-10 p.m. In addition to Bruddah Alex and Bruddah Ray’s always-ono grindz, there will be music, hula, and vendors!

Musical performances by:
Jakalaka (w/guest performance by Na Aikane Ukulele)
Ho'okahi
Tokai
HSG Kanikapila
Open Mic

Halau performances by:
Halau 'o Keikiali'i
Ohana Dance Group
Ka Waikahe Lani Malie ame Kahulaliwai
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Kapua Ching will be teaching classes in the art of Lomilomi massage June 26-28 and Sept 11-13 in the Nevada City/Grass Valley (CA) area. For information contact Kapua at (530) 263-3170 or kapua.ching@gmail.com
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Those attending the 2009 ‘Ukulele Festival in Kapiolani Park (July 19) are in for a treat! The band Palolo (Chino Montero, Nathan Nahinu, and Troy Fernandez) is temporarily reuniting to play the festival! Cheee hoooo! :)
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Kumu Hula Juni Kalahikiola Romuar and her halau Ka Waikahe Lani Malie of Sacramento will be celebrating their 10th anniversary with a special ho'ike (performance) at the Mondavi Arts Center in Davis, CA on Saturday, August 29. Here are some details:

TIME: 7:00 pm performance (lobby doors open at 6:00 pm)
LOCATION: Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, Davis, CA
TICKETS: $25 - general admission (or call ticket office at 530-754-2787 or toll free 866-754-2787)
INFORMATION: Juni Kalahikiola Romuar at 916-457-2733 or email kalahikiola001@yahoo.com)

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The Moonlight Mele on the Lawn series at the Bishop Museum (O’ahu) begins this month with a concert on June 25 by Sean Na’auao. The concert will also feature Lopaka Kanaka‘ole and Hula Hālau o Kamuela.

Darren Benitez and Hōkū Zuttermeister will perform July 30, and Raiatea Helm will be there on August 27.

Go the museum's website for details and ticket information. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The First Annual MELE SONGWRITERS WORKSHOP takes place July 10-12 at Honolulu Community College. Presenters include: Leah Bernstein, president of The Mountain Apple Company; Manu Boyd, leader of Ho'okena, a kumu hula with his own school, Halau o ke 'A'ali'i Ku Makani, a recognized Hawaiian language and cultural resource, composer, arranger, chanter, choreographer, producer and writer, and the cultural director at Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki; composer and performer Brother Noland; Jon de Mello, founder and CEO of The Mountain Apple Company; Dan Keen, ASCAP Vice President, and award-winning publisher, songwriter and recording artist; musician Eric Lagrimas, who is also an instructor of Music Business in the MELE program at Honolulu Community College; ASCAP, Golden Globe, Grammy and Academy Award nominee/winner Dennis Matkosky, a songwriter/producer whose work can be found in almost every genre of music and film; Puakea Nogelmeier, Keali'i Reichel’s composer; singer/songwriter/producer Kristal "Tytewriter" Oliver; the songwriting/production team of Adam Watts and Andy Dodd (Disney Music Publishing), whose work has been featured on albums that have sold over 40 million copies worldwide, including those by Kelly Clarkson, Switchfoot, Jesse McCartney, Jeremy Camp, High School Musical 1, 2, and 3, Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus 1 and 2, and more; and country music songwriter Craig Wiseman, named ASCAP Songwriter of the Year in 2003, 2005 and 2007, winner of the 2005 Grammy for Best Country Song for Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying," and winner of the 2005 Country Music Award (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Song of the Year awards for "Live Like You Were Dying" and in 2006 for Brooks and Dunn' s "Believe."

The workshop will feature a wide variety of topics from which to choose. See their website for more information, including how to register.
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If you still haven’t subscribed to the Beat of Hawaii newsletter (or you don’t follow them on Twitter: @beatofhawaii), you could be missing out on some great savings – or important information.

Comments on their Twitter feed yesterday gave information about the Kauai Marriott, which is undergoing a $50 million renovation to the guest rooms and public areas. Discounted rates are available during the renovation, BUT the authors, who live on Kaua’i, said they would not suggest staying at Kauai Marriott until the renovation is complete, no matter how good the deal. Apparently most of the employees have been laid off, and the restaurants are closed – and the grounds, etc. “will be a mess! (but great afterwards).” Staff can't return until most of the rooms and services reopen in fall/winter. They said it should be beautiful when done, but until then.... The scheduled completion date is 10/31/09.

More tidbits yesterday: “Fall airfare sales to Hawaii could start at any point, but typically not for another 6+ weeks. PDX, SEA and SFO still have good summer fares to Hawaii. Will we see more sales this week?”
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An ‘ukulele will be given away to a child each week during this summer's Wildest Show in Town series at the Honolulu Zoo. The Wednesday evening series begins June 10. Gates open at 4:35 p.m. with performances running from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. A $3 donation is requested at the door.

Here's the performance schedule:
• June 10 — Simplicity
• June 17 — Maunalua
• June 24 — John Cruz
• July 1 — Roy Sakuma & Friends
• July 8 — The Hot Club of Hulaville
• July 15 — Manoa DNA
• July 22 — Rolando Sanchez & Salsa Hawaii
• July 29 — Jake Shimabukuro
• Aug. 5 — Natalie Ai Kamauu
• Aug. 12 — Jimmy Borges & His All-Star Jazz Band
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Mark your calendars for Sept. 12! I received advance word about a benefit ho'olaule'a for the Lunalilo home scheduled for that date, with an all-star lineup of musical guests, including Holunape, Dennis and David Kamakahi, Natalie Ai Kamauu, Kenneth Makuakane, Chino Montero, Cyril Pahinui, and Hoku Zuttermeister (more artists may be added later). Admission is FREE – there will be raffle prizes, a silent auction, and more to raise needed funds. I’ll provide more details as the date approaches…
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Pau for now… e malama pono a hui hou!