Aloha mai kakou!
In today’s newsletter:

• Pakele Live! with Tony Solis - Kiyoshi Kobayashi & the ‘Ukulele Orchestra of Japan, Iwao, and the Sekiguchi Band
• Outrigger Hotels One Million Hawaiian Miles sweepstakes
• Mike Keale – Santa Cruz
• Aloha Friday luncheon show – Waikiki
• Great Aloha Run – Honolulu
• Willie K, Keli’i Kaneali’i, John Cruz, and Kaukahi – Fallbrook, CA
• Waimea Heritage Days – Kaua’i
• Eric Gilliom, Barry Flanagan, Amy Hanaiali’i – Maui
• Herb Ohta, Jr. and Patrick Landeza – Olympia, WA
• Pakele Live TV schedule

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This week Pakele Live! with Tony Solis features three of the acts that will perform at Saturday's 'Ukulele Picnic in Kaka’ako Park: Kiyoshi Kobayashi & the ‘Ukulele Orchestra of Japan, Iwao, and the Sekiguchi Band.

The ‘Ukulele Orchestra consists of 26 players led by Kiyoshi Kobayashi, who began studying classical guitar in 1968 at the age of 13. He went on to play (and teach) jazz guitar, toured Europe as part of the "Tokyo Hot Club Band," established an ‘ukulele band, and more. In addition to supervising the ‘Ukulele Orchestra of Japan, he now leads the ‘ukulele teachers at Kiwaya Ukulele School and writes ‘ukulele instructional books.

Singer-songwriter Iwao is widely considered to be one of the best ‘ukulele players in Japan. After his start playing guitar, he was introduced to the ‘ukulele and was inspired by Ohta-San (Herb Ohta, Sr.) With 8 - 9 albums to his credit, he frequently plays with recording artists who travel to Japan from Hawai’i, including Ohta-San, Herb Ohta, Jr. and Jake Shimabukuro.

Kazuyuki Sekiguchi is the bass player for the Japanese mega-group the Southern All Stars, who released their first album in 1978. The band is the Japanese equivalent of the Rolling Stones or U2, with Kazuyuki himself having the status of Mick Jagger or Bono. After meeting Ohta-San in 1991, Kazuyuki added ‘ukulele to his repertoire. His passion for the instrument and his desire to share it with others ultimately led to his creation of the ‘Ukulele Picnic in Japan ten years ago. (Japan’s picnic draws over 30,000 people annually.) Last year he partnered with sumotori Konishiki to bring the picnic to Hawai’i, as a means to provide a bridge between Japan and Hawai’i.

Join host Tony Solis for Pakele Live! on Thursday, February 11, 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.

(Good news - the Pakele Lounge is again serving food! You can purchase a number of items, from calamari rings to sweet chili soy beans, burgers to pizza, shrimp and veggie spring rolls, fruit or veggie platters, pizzas and more!)

You may also watch the show 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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Outrigger Hotels just announced a One Million Hawaiian Miles sweepstakes! Go to their
website and enter for a chance to win 1,000,000 Hawaiian Miles (Grand Prize) or 5 nights at an Outrigger resort in Waikiki (2nd prize – 3 prize winners). You must be a Hawaiian Miles member, but it’s free to join. See the official rules.
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I previously mentioned a farewell concert by Mike Keale, who is returning home to Hawai’i, to be held Friday Feb. 12 at Bocci’s Cellar in Santa Cruz. There will also be a bake sale to help offset Mike’s moving expenses, as well as a calabash for donations. Joining Mike for this farewell concert is Timmy Kukia Hunt, as well as Vern and Vince Fernandez, Patti Maxine, and Stan Meidinger. Tickets are $10 (cash at door only), and dinner is available for purchase at a cost of $8.


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Hawaiian 105 KINE’s Aloha Friday luncheon show takes place Friday February 12 from 11am to 1 pm at the Kani Ka Pila Grille in the Outrigger Reef Hotel (Waikiki). Performers include Manu Boyd (Ho’okena), Amy Hanaiali’i, Eric Gilliom, Jeff Peterson, and more. Call (808) 924-4992 for reservations.

For those who can’t make it, a portion of the show will be broadcast live on the radio and online from noon until 1 pm on Hawaiian 105’s sister station – AM 940.
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Over the past twenty-five-years, the Great Aloha Run - one of Hawaii’s largest participatory races - has raised over $8.1 million to benefit more than 150 non-profit health and human service organizations and community groups throughout Hawai’i.

This year’s run takes place on Monday, February 15. The 8.15 mile course starts at Aloha Tower in Downtown Honolulu, winds its way along the historic Honolulu Harbor, down Nimitz Highway, Kamehameha Highway and into Aloha Stadium. There are categories for almost everyone, from walkers, baby strollers, wheelchairs, etc, to elite runners who come from all over the world. Over 20,000 participants are expected. (Note: a number of road closures will affect traffic downtown. Click here for traffic advisories and road closure information.)


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Jim and Reba at Mehe’ula Music Productions in Temecula, CA have been busy, busy, busy! Next up they’re bringing Willie K (February 24), followed by Keli’i Kaneali’i (March 9), John Cruz (March 27), and Kaukahi (April 16 and 17). They’ll also be bringing Hawaiian music to several locations in Colorado this summer!

All California concerts take place at Hukilau Restaurant in the Fallbrook Golf Club (Fallbrook, CA). Check out Mehe’ula’s new website for details.

NOTE! Dinner tickets for Willie K’s show are almost gone, although there are some general admission seats still available. Call (951) 972-0783 today to reserve your seats!
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Waimea Heritage Days takes place at the Waimea Theater on Kaua’i February 15 – 18, with a film festival, a concert by Keale, hula, and more! For info, see the Waimea Theater website.

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Maui peeps: Eric Gilliom and Barry Flanagan have been booked for more shows at Stella Blues in Kihei. They’ll be there every Saturday this month, plus Friday the 19th. Next month, Eric’s sister Amy Hanaiali’i (and a full band) will join him for a series of brother/sister shows: March 6, 26 & 27. Reservations are highly recommended – call (808) 874-3779.
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Herb Ohta, Jr. and Patrick Landeza will be in concert at the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts at South Puget Sound Community College (2011 Mottman Rd, Olympia WA) on March 13. The two will also be doing workshops on March 14 at the same location (only in Room 21-252) – Herb’s will be an ‘ukulele workshop, and Patrick’s will be a slack key guitar workshop. Stay tuned for more details!

Herb and Patrick will also be in concert in California in April. Currently scheduled is April 17 at Freight and Salvage, in Berkeley.
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Here is the TV schedule for the next few weeks for Pakele Live! with Tony Solis. The show’s premier night is now Monday (9:30 pm HST) on OC16 TV or online. Each show is repeated a number of times throughout the week. The schedule is currently: Monday (5:30am & 9:30pm), Tuesday (3:30am & 1:30pm), Thursday (11:30pm), Friday (5:30am) and Sunday (11:30pm). There are also a number of shows available on demand on channel 15 for Oceanic cable customers in Hawai’i, or on the “shows” page on the OC16 website.

Week beginning:
Feb. 8 – Jeff Teves
Feb. 15 – Leilani Rivera Bond
Feb. 22 – Waipuna
Mar. 1 – Jeff Rasmussen
Mar. 8 – Keale & Kawika Kahiapo
Mar. 15 - Keale & Kawika Kahiapo, pt. 2
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Pau for now – Hau’oli Lā o Lono-i-ke-aweawe-aloha (Happy Valentine’s Day) everyone! (Literally translated that means “the day of the god of love and mercy.”)