Aloha kakou!
In today’s newsletter:

• Pakele Live! with Tony Solis - Ernie Cruz, Jr.
• Pineapple Tree – Honolulu
• Cyril Pahinui – Felton, San Francisco
• A Selection of Christmas Concerts – Hawai’i
• Waipuna - Honolulu
• 2010 on the mainland

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This week on Pakele Live! with Tony Solis our guest is Ernie Cruz, Jr. !

Ernie might be best known as one of the Kaʻau Crater Boys, a wildly popular duo that performed contemporary Hawaiian music with a bit of a traditional sound in the 1990s. The group (Ernie and Troy Fernandez) released four very well-received albums that won three Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards.

After the Kaʻau Crater Boys disbanded in the late 1990s, Ernie, who plays ‘ukulele and guitar, went on to perform with brother John Cruz and cousin Amy Hanaiali’i, among others, and he recorded several solo albums. His 2001 solo release, “Portraits,” which consisted of original songs delivered in his soulful vocal style, won the 2002 Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards for Male Vocalist and Island Contemporary Album.


Ernie has continued to play with a variety of musicians, including Hawai’i’s own Jack Johnson, and Eddie Vedder (of Pearl Jam) at the 2007 Kokua Music Festival. He frequently performs with Adj Larioza (Kapala, Ho’omalie and more), and Todd Adamski, a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning artist with the group Nightwing. Both Adj and Todd will join Ernie on the Pakele Live! stage.

Join host Tony Solis for Pakele Live! this Thursday, December 10, from 6-8 p.m. HST in the Pakele Lounge at the Ala Moana Hotel (410 Atkinson Dr., Honolulu). Although admission is free, your purchase of two drinks or soft drinks will help ensure the continuation of the Pakele Live! concert series. All ages are welcome, and free parking is available next door at Ala Moana Shopping Center.

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

You may email the show at pakele@lava.net – mention your name and where you’re located - city, state – or country, if outside the U.S.!

PLEASE NOTE: This will be our last show for 2009. Join us when we return on January 14, 2010 with a CD release party for Brittni Paiva!
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Jon Yamasato (Pure Heart), David Kamakahi and Darin Leong have formed a new group called Pineapple Tree. They’ll be playing this Friday (Dec. 11) from 6:30 – 9:30 on the lanai at Good to Grill in the Kapahulu Safeway shopping center. (Note: BYOB, or you can purchase drinks from Safeway.)


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Cyril Pahinui will start 2010 with two quick concert appearances in Northern California.

On January 1 he’ll be at Don Quixote’s in Felton (Santa Cruz area). Tickets are $14 advance/$16 door. Show time is 8:00 pm. (The concert will also include singer/songwriter Shakeh and percussionist Dwain Roque.)

On January 3 he will be at Yoshi’s San Francisco, with special guest Faith Ako. Tickets are $18 advance/$22 door. Showtime is 7 pm.
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A number of Hawaiian artists are holding Christmas concerts throughout the islands. Here’s a sampling:

Amy Hanaiali’i – Friends and Family Christmas
12/11 Kahilu Theater, Waimea (w/John Cruz, Eric Gilliom and Sean Na’auao). Tickets $30-$50. Call (808) 885-6868

12/12 Royal Hawaiian Theater, Waikiki (w/Eric Gilliom, Henry Kapono and Sean Na`auao). Tickets $30-$50. Call (808) 550-8457 or buy online.

12/18 Performing Arts Center, Kauai Community College, Puhi (w/Eric Gilliom, Kaumakaiwa Kanaka`ole and Sean Na`auao). Tickets $30-$50 at Scotty's Music, Borders Books, Kaua`i Music & Sound, Princeville Center music kiosk.

Leilani Rivera Bond, Larry Rivera and Michael Ruff
12/20 Kaua`i War Memorial Convention Hall, Lihue. 7pm. Call (808) 651-0682 or (808) 651-0864.

Na Leo
12/20, 12/22, 12/23 Hale Koa Hotel Lu`au Gardens, Waikiki. 7:30pm. Tickets $40-$100
call (808) 262-6300 or buy online.

Hapa
12/23 Kahala Hotel & Resort, Honolulu. Reservations required 808-739-8888
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Join Waipuna (Kale Hannahs and Matt Sproat) as they celebrate the release of their debut album "Mana'o Pili" on Saturday December 12 at Halau Haumea (Center for Hawaiian Studies building) on the University of Hawaii Manoa campus. Special guests include Holunape, Kupaoa, Mailani Makainai, and Maunalua. The event is free, but parking is $4. Light pupus will be served.

(Pakele Live is hosting another CD release party for Waipuna on January 21st!)


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2010 will see a number of musicians from Hawai’i traveling to the mainland. Watch for appearances by Amy Hanaiali’i, Hapa, Willie K, Ledward Kaapana, Kupaoa, Herb Ohta, Jr., Jeff Peterson, Keali’i Reichel, Makaha Sons, and more!
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Pau for now – e malama pono a hui hou!