Aloha mai kakou!
In today’s newsletter:

• Pakele Live! with Tony Solis - Kenneth Makuakane CD release party
• “Hawaii at the Grove” – Los Angeles
• ‘Ukulele Picnic and ‘Ukulele Legends Concert – O’ahu
• “Island to Island” Haiti benefit – Waikiki
• Willie K – Fallbrook, CA
• Kamehameha Schools Ho’olaule’a – O’ahu
• Keli’i Kāneali’i – California tour
• Kumu Hula Keala Ching workshops – Modesto, CA
• Aloha Friday Concerts – San Francisco, Palo Alto, San Jose
• Pakele Live! with Tony Solis (TV version) - Aunty May Kamai

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This week Pakele Live! with Tony Solis is hosting a CD release party for Kenneth Makuakane, with special guests Jeff Rasmussen, O’Brian Eselu, Pandanus Club and Hapa.

Kenneth is celebrating the release of his latest album, The Dash. Why “The Dash?” In his words, “The Dash is our lives. It’s that line between your birth date and the date you leave this earthly plane. It is our life’s journey.”

The recipient of twelve Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, Kenneth is a prolific composer and producer, credited with producing over 100 albums by artists such as Na Leo, Hapa, Amy Hānaiali‘i, Raiatea Helm, O’Brian Eselu and Jeff Rasmussen. He also produced a track on Kenny Loggins’ CD More Songs from Pooh Corner. His compositions have been recorded by a variety of artists, including the Brothers Cazimero, Na Leo, Kapena, Amy Hānaiali‘i, Loyal Garner and Gary Haleamau, as well as by artists from Japan (Yuri Chika, Yuki Miyamae, etc.), and his songs are performed frequently at the annual Merrie Monarch Hula Festival. His music has also appeared on major motion picture soundtracks, like "Honeymoon in Las Vegas" and "Parent Trap in Paradise."


In addition to the many awards he’s won as a producer, his hit composition, “I Miss You, My Hawai‘i” (made famous by Na Leo Pilimehana) won Song of the Year honors. He has been recognized in the National Registry of Who's Who, and in 2006 he was inducted into the Kamehameha Schools Alumni Gallery Hall of Fame. He performs with the multi-award winning group The Pandanus Club, composing, engineering and producing each of their albums.

Join host Tony Solis for Pakele Live! on Thursday, February 4, 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.

Note to HARA members: Don’t forget to bring the special postcard you received in the mail!

You may also watch live online at: http://www.pakelelive.com/

(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.!)
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The Grove shopping center in Los Angeles (Fairfax district, 189 The Grove Drive) is hosting a month’s worth of “Hawaii at the Grove” Saturdays featuring Hawaiian music, hula lessons and performances, flower lei demonstrations and other cultural activities. (You might even win free trips to Kauai and Maui!) A different Hawaiian Island will be highlighted each Saturday in February.

Here is the schedule:

Feb. 6 (Kauai): Hawaiian music by Nick Castillo and a hula performance by Kauai’s Miss Island Mokihana Noelani Kaui. Samplings of Kauai Coffee and Kauai Made products. Barnes & Noble will feature storytelling with Kauai artist and illustrator Joanna Carolan, owner of Banana Patch Studio art gallery on Kauai.

Feb. 13 (Maui): A Hawaiian-style vow renewal ceremony conducted by a kahu (Hawaiian priest).

Feb. 20 (Big Island): Big Island growers Tony and Deb Alvarez will teach you how to care for tropical flowers. They will also host a tropical flower arrangement demonstration.

Feb. 27 (Oahu): Feather lei-making demonstrations, storytelling sessions featuring Hawaiian children’s stories, an ‘ukulele performance and lessons by Bruce Shimabukuro.
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The second annual ‘Ukulele Picnic takes place at Kaka’ako Park on February 13, from 11 am to sunset. This free concert features performers from both Hawai’i and Japan, including:
Bill Tapia, Ohta-san, Herb Ohta Jr., Pali, Holunape, Natalie Ai Kamauu, Manoa DNA, Joy, Wave Trio (Kunia Galdeira, Sonny Lim, Kevin Kealoha), Kalei Gamiao, Jody Kamisato & Chris Salvador, and the Roy Sakuma Ukulele School Super Keiki (Hawai’i) and Iwao, Kiyoshi Kobayashi & the Ukulele Orchestra of Japan, Sekiguchi Band featuring Kimiko Wakiyama, and Kimiko Wakiyama (Japan).

The Ukulele Picnic in Hawaii is an offshoot of one that has taken place in Tokyo for the past 10 years and draws crowds of over 30,000 people. Kazuyuki Sekiguchi, the bass player for the Japanese mega-group Southern All Stars, has been the driving force behind both the Tokyo event and the Hawai’i event, and is working toward realizing his dream of having a permanent ‘Ukulele Museum here in Hawaii.

In addition to the music, there will be food vendors and vendors with ‘ukulele-related merchandise. Parking is available (it filled up fast last year!) and a free shuttle service will be provided from Waikiki. There will be inflatables for the kids and all are encouraged to bring beach mats for lawn seating.

In addition to the Picnic, the sponsors will be putting on an ‘Ukulele Legends concert from 6:30pm to 9 pm on February 10 at the Waterfront at Aloha Tower Marketplace. Performing will be Bill Tapia (102 years old), Eddie Kamae (82 years old) and the Sons of Hawaii, and Herb “Ohta-san” Ohta (75 years old). Together they possess 200+ years of ‘ukulele experience. Tickets are $30 general admission and $65 for the front section with bento, available at the Honolulu Box Office.

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There will be a special “Island to Island” Haiti benefit at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki on Friday, February 12 from 5-8 pm (with fireworks at 8pm). Performers include
Cecilio & Kapono, Amy Hanaiali‘i, Raiatea Helm, Jimmy Borges, Ledward Kaapana, Afatia Thompson, and Taimane Gardener, with Polynesian music and dance performances by Tihati Productions.

Tickets are $20 and are for sale at the door or pre-sale at the luau desk located in the lobby of Hilton Hawaiian Village. Food and drinks may be purchased by ticket for $3 per ticket. Validated self-parking is available for $5* at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and Hale Koa Hotel parking garages (Ilikai Hotel, $5 valet parking only).
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So Cal peeps! As a follow-up to their very successful debut concert (featuring Jeff Peterson and Amy Hanaiali’i) Mehe'ula Music Productions is bringing Willie K to town on February 24. The concert will again be at the Hukilau Restaurant (Fallbrook Golf Club). Details are coming soon, but you can email meheulamusic@aol.com now to be put on the list for priority seating! (Note: this will be Willie K, not the Lima Vela tour with Joe Cano and Avi Ronen.)
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The Kamehameha Schools 80th Annual Ho'olaule'a will be held on Saturday, February 27th, from 8:30 am – 4:00 pm at the school's Kapalama campus. This is a fun (and very popular!) family event, with music by Ka'ala Boys, Kupaoa, Hoku Zuttermeister, Weldon Kekauoha, and Leahi. There is always plenty of ono food, and there’s a silent auction, keiki and teen activities, health and education booths, and the Ho'olaule'a Blood Drive. Admission is FREE! Shuttle service is provided to and from parking throughout the duration of Ho'olaule'a. Free shuttles will be provided at the KS bus terminal (corner of School & Kapalama streets); Kapalama Elementary; Damien Memorial High School; and designated on-campus parking.
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Keli’i Kāneali’i, one of the founding members of the group HAPA, will be touring California in March in support of his solo album Kaua’i. Dates include Gordon Biersch in San Francisco (with Steven Espaniola) opening March 5, Don Quixote’s in Santa Cruz on March 10, a free in-store concert at Borders Sacramento on March 13, and a date to be determined in Fallbrook. There may be more – I’ll let you know once I receive the information.


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The Makanaaloha Group and the George Na’ope Kane Hula Festival & Keiki Hula Competition are sponsoring workshops by Kumu Hula Keala Ching March 20–21 in Modesto, CA. The workshops will include a Hawaiian language experience that will be connected with chanting, as well as a hula kahiko workshop focusing on Kumu Keala’s inspirational chants as a series of learning to focus on hula, forest, and dressing protocol. In 2009, Kumu was inspired to compose chants for the Hula Goddess, Laka, and he plans to bring these chants to the workshop. The chants are focused on honoring the Hula Goddess in her natural environment, the waolani (forest of the Gods).

Workshop Times are as follows:
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Hawaiian Language with chant
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon Hula Kahiko (Sat 1st hula kahiko) (Sun 3rd hula kahiko)
12:00 noon – 2:00 p.m. Lunch Break
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Hula Kahiko (Sat 2nd hula kahiko) (Sun 4th hula kahiko)
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Hula Discussion

Workshop fees are:
$200 for the entire weekend
$150 for each day (Saturday, March 20 OR Sunday, March 21)
$50 for each class

Workshop Book: Laka by Kumu Keala ($25.00 each book)

For information, contact Rick Makanaaloha Kia`imeaokekanaka San Nicolas
at (209) 918-4010.

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As I mentioned in my last newsletter, the Hawai’i Visitors and Convention Bureau is again bringing Hawaiian music to the San Francisco Bay area for a month-long series of Aloha Fridays in March. Called “Perfect Moments in the Islands of Hawai‘i,” the concerts are free and will take place at Gordon Biersch in San Francisco, Palo Alto and San Jose.

Here’s the schedule (subject to change):

San Francisco (2 Harrison St., 415-243-8246)
March 5: Cyril Pahinui (6-8pm)
March 12 Nick and Noe (5-6pm) Keli’i Kāneali’i (6-8pm)
March 19: Raiatea Helm (6-8pm)
March 26: Mailani Makainai (6-8pm)


Palo Alto (640 Emerson St., 650-323-7723)
March 5: Taimane Gardner (6-8pm)
March 12: Mailani Makainai (6-8pm)
March 19: Cyril Pahinui (6-8pm)
March 26: Brittni Paiva (6-8pm)

San Jose (33 E. San Fernando St., 408-294-6785)
March 5: Steven Espaniola (5-7pm) Keli’i Kāneali’i (7:30-9:30pm)
March 12: Kawika Alfiche (5-7pm) Brother Noland (7:30-9:30pm)
March 19: Kawika Alfiche (5-7pm) Amy Hanaiali’i (7:30-9:30pm)
March 26: Ka Ehu Kai (5-7pm) Raiatea Helm (7:30-9:30pm)
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The new season of Pakele Live! with Tony Solis has started on OC16 TV. The show has been moved to Monday nights at 9:30pm, but it still airs multiple times over the course of a week. This week’s show features Aunty May Kamai. Those who live outside of Hawai’i may watch online. For those living in Hawai’i, the show is also available on demand on channel OC15.

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Pau for now - e malama pono a hui hou!