March 24, 2010

Aloha mai kakou!
In today’s newsletter:

• Pakele Live! with Tony Solis – Jon Osorio and Uluwehi Guerrero
• Final Aloha Friday Concerts at Gordon Biersch
• This Weekend in California - George and Keoki Kahumoku, Dennis and David Kamakahi, John Cruz, and HAPA
• Na Palapalai and Keli’i Kaneali’i – Maui
• Prince Kūhiō Celebrations – Live Stream of Ledward Kaapana/Mike Kaawa concert from Kaua’i
• Mike Keale – Waikiki
• Patrick Landeza CD Release Concerts – More Information
• Nā Hōkū O Hawai’i Festival Promotional Video
• John Keawe – Kahuku (O’ahu)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This week on Pakele Live! with Tony Solis marks the first appearance by Jon Osorio (6pm), and the return of Uluwehi Guerrero (7pm), in a bid to raise awareness, garner donations and publicize the fundraising concert being held on Saturday March 27 to aid Laua’e Beamer, a young mother who was diagnosed with breast cancer in January of this year, when she was eight months pregnant.

Jon Kamakawiwo’ole Osorio (with his musical partner Randy Borden) gained widespread popularity in the 1970s, during the cultural and political renaissance for Native Hawaiians. Their 1981 hit "Hawaiian Eyes" (the title track from their second album) won a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for song of the year. “Hawaiian Soul,” another song on the Hawaiian Eyes album, was one of the first songs written in honor of George Helm.

Director of the University of Hawai'i-Manoa's Kamakakuokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies, Jon is a political activist and respected author, historian and speaker on such topics as indigenous rights, Native Hawaiian values, traditions and beliefs, the effects of political Westernization on Hawaiian identity, and 19th and 20th century law and politics in Hawai'i.


Uluwehi Guerrero - Kumu Hula, multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner, and the most recent recipient of the Hawai’i Music Award in the Traditional Hawaiian category for his 3rd album Uluwehi Sings Na Mele Hula Aloha.

Uluwehi has won top honors at several falsetto competitions throughout the state of Hawai’i. He also teaches ’ukulele; has a large and talented Hawaiian choir; has judged many hula competitions in Hawai´i, the mainland, and Guam; has given popular hula workshops throughout Hawai´i, North America, the Pacific basin, and Japan; contributes his time and talents through concert performances to help numerous local organizations in their fund-raising efforts; is a choreographer and designer of hula attire; has performed for different halau at the annual Merrie Monarch Festival; and has lent his time and incredible musical and vocal arrangements to other recording artists, such as Keali´i Reichel and Lei´ohu Ryder of Maui.

Join Tony Solis for Pakele Live! on Thursday, March 25, from 6-8 p.m. HST in the Pakele Lounge at the Ala Moana Hotel (410 Atkinson Dr., Honolulu). There is no cover or minimum, although your purchase of two drinks or soft drinks helps ensure the continuation of the Pakele Live! concert series. (Note: Pakele Lounge has once again stopped serving food.) All ages are welcome, and free parking is available next door at Ala Moana Shopping Center.

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

(Please email the show at pakele@lava.net and let us know you’re watching! Mention your name and where you’re located - city, state – or country, if outside the U.S.!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is the final week (March 26) for the Aloha Friday concerts at Gordon Biersch in CA! Here are the performers and locations:

San Francisco (2 Harrison St., 415-243-8246)
Mailani Makainai (6-8pm)

Palo Alto (640 Emerson St., 650-323-7723)
Brittni Paiva (6-8pm)

San Jose (33 E. San Fernando St., 408-294-6785)
Ka Ehu Kai (5-7pm) Raiatea Helm (7:30-9:30pm) Raiatea will be joined by a great group of musicians: Bryan Tolentino, Sonny Kalua and Kimo Artis!

(Note: instructions for those going to the San Jose show are identical to the ones for the shows where Chino Montero recently played with Keli’i Kaneali’i and Amy Hanaiali’i, only this time it’s Bryan Tolentino you should be nagging, er, asking - about when his second solo album will be out. :))
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CA peeps – lots of other great Hawaiian music coming your way over the next few days, too! In addition to the Gordon Biersch Aloha Friday concerts above, the Hawai’i Generations Tour with George and Keoki Kahumoku and Dennis and David Kamakahi will be at Yoshi’s in Oakland on Thursday (3/25), Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz on Friday, and Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts in Cerritos on Saturday; John Cruz will be at the Acoustic Barn in Newcastle on Saturday and Saint Rock in Hermosa Beach Sunday; and HAPA will be at Montalvo Center in Saratoga on Friday, Speckles Center in Rohnert Park Saturday, and Yoshi’s San Francisco on Sunday.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Na Palapalai and Keli’i Kaneali’i are among those scheduled to perform on Maui Saturday at Ho'omau 2010, the annual day-long benefit for Punana Leo O Maui Hawaiian Language Immersion preschool. There will also be performances by other musicians and hālau; ono food; vendors; and activities and fun for the entire family. Tickets are $10, and are available online.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Events continue during this week of celebrations commemorating the birth Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana'ole Pi'ikoi, including a Friday (3/26) concert by Ledward Kaapana and Mike Kaawa at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa that will be streamed live at 8pm HST (11pm PST) and on demand after that. The lei draping ceremony on Prince Kūhiō’s statue at Kuhio Beach (O’ahu) will also take place on Friday, from 7-8am. Also on O’ahu all on Saturday (3/27): Arts & Crafts vendors at Kapiolani Park (11am to 8pm), a parade at 4 pm, and a Moonlight Concert from 6 to 9pm in Kapiolani Park.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mike Keale recently moved back home to O’ahu, and has been playing a few concerts around town. You can catch him Monday, March 29 at the Moana Terrace in the Waikiki Marriott, 6-9pm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



In the last newsletter I mentioned Patrick Landeza’s series of concerts celebrating the release of his new CD, taking place next month in Sacramento, Berkeley and Felton (with Herb Ohta, Jr. as the special guest). I’ve since received word that Asa Young, Jeff Au Hoy and Bobby Santos will join them for all three concerts, not just the Berkeley CD Release party!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The folks at Nā Hōkū O Hawai’i Festival just released a beautiful promotional video composed by Kealoha, and featuring Keali’i Reichel, Kaumakaiwa Kanaka`ole, Anuhea, Mailani, Natalie Ai Kamauu, Amy Hanaiali’i, Jake Shimabukuro, Henry Kapono, Kealoha and John Cruz. Background music is by Kenneth Makuakane.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

O'ahu peeps, MARK YOUR CALENDARS for Tuesday, April 27 at 6:30pm! There will be a FREE slack key concert by Nā Hōkū Hanohano & Grammy® Award winner John Keawe at the Kahuku Public Library (on the Kahuku High School campus). Call (808) 293-8935 or register in person. (Registration is not mandatory – the library would just like to know how many to expect. As of yesterday, I was the ONLY one registered.) John, who lives on the Big Island, doesn't play on O’ahu very often – so don’t miss this chance to see him in concert for free!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pau for now – e malama pono a hui hou!

March 17, 2010

Aloha mai kakou!
In today’s newsletter:

• Pakele Live! with Tony Solis – Keahi Conjugacion and Alika Nako’oka
• ‘Ukulele classes – O’ahu
• Kani Ka Pila - O’ahu
• Free Merrie Monarch Side Trips book – Big Island
• Kaukahi – Fallbrook, CA
• Cindy Combs – Kaua’i
• Patrick Landeza and Friends – Sacramento, Berkeley, Felton
• John and Hope Keawe – Berkeley, Felton
• Aloha Friday Concerts – Palo Alto, San Francisco, San Jose
• Herb Ohta, Jr. - Berkeley

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This week’s guests on Pakele Live! with Tony Solis are Keahi Conjugacion and Alika Nako’oka.

Keahi is Grammy®-nominated international jazz recording artist, and a member of the well-known Conjugacion family (Tony C and Brother Noland). Growing up, her home was filled with music and dance, and at a young age Keahi fell in love with the sounds of Dinah Washington and other great jazz vocalists like Sarah Vaughn, Billy Holiday, Carmen McRae, Etta James, and Phyllis Hyman.

She started her singing career at the age of 17, singing with local Top 40 and R&B bands and recording as a background vocalist. In an effort to expand her musical horizons, she moved to Seattle, where she began appearing, recording as a jazz artist, and performing with some of the Northwest's finest jazz musicians. She returned to Hawai’i for a time, but in 2003, Keahi was asked to be a part of “Hawai'i's Legends” and to perform in New York City's Carnegie Hall. During her visit to New York she also performed in some of Harlem's legendary clubs. Inspired by the response of the audiences there, she moved to New York in 2004 and lived there for one year, performing in many of the clubs in Harlem and the West Village.

Keahi has a distinct musical personality: a true jazz singer's spontaneity and freedom mixed with a reverence for the music of Hawai`i and the bluesy stylings of the classic singers she loves so much. Her love for Hawaiian music can be heard in the way she sings a lyric and in her sensitivity to the nuances of the Hawaiian language.


Alika Nako’oka was born and raised on the island of Maui during a time when contemporary Hawaiian music dominated the air waves. He was brought up on the music of Cecilio & Kapono (C & K), the Brothers Cazimero, Kapena, Olomana, Gabby Pahinui, and Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. He comes from a long line of Hawaii entertainers, including his father, Alika Nako’oka Sr., and his two uncles, “Smiley” and Jesse Nako’oka, who hosted the long-running lu’au show at the Maui Lu Resort and who also recorded and produced a number of island favorites, including “54 Bridges To Hana Town” and “Maui Waltz.” At age 6, Alika began singing and performing with his family at the Maui Lu’s lu’au, as well as at other Hawaiian & Polynesian events throughout the islands and Pacific Northwest. He later moved to the mainland with his mother, and was immediately influenced by the unique styles of Marvin Gaye, Simon Lebon, George Michael, and Michael Jackson. But his heart never left the islands - years of performing and writing eventually led him to write the song “Moanalua” with his cousin Miles, which won “Best Song” in a 1991 Hawaiian songwriting competition in Honolulu.

As a young adult, Alika played venues in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Las Vegas, and shared the stage with performers such as Ray Charles, Bill Medley, and Chubby Checker. Performing with these great musicians influenced his musical style, and led him to produce the unique sounds that are now his trademark. Although he now resides in the Pacific Northwest, Alika uses the time he spends at home in Maui to inspire his creativity and write new songs, saying that Maui helps him “feel the heart of Hawai’i in the soul.”

Alika performs regularly on the mainland, including at large venues such as the Kingdome, Safeco Field, and Qwest Field. In 2009 he opened for Keahi Conjugacion and the Makaha Sons at the annual Kalama Heritage Festival in Kalama, WA. His latest CD, “Promise Me This,” honors his roots, the people of Hawai’i, and the Nako’oka family.

Tony is still on vacation, but join our guest host Ben Gutierrez (from KGMB/Hawai’i News Now) for Pakele Live! on Thursday, March 18, from 6-8 p.m. HST in the Pakele Lounge at the Ala Moana Hotel (410 Atkinson Dr., Honolulu). There is no cover or minimum, although your purchase of two drinks, soft drinks, or food 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 the show live online at: http://www.pakelelive.com/

(Please email the show at pakele@lava.net and let us know you’re watching! Mention your name and where you’re located - city, state – or country, if outside the U.S.!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For those on O’ahu, Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner Weldon Kekauoha teaches a ‘ukulele class every Friday morning from 9-11am at the Waikiki Community Center. Sign-ups for next session begin soon. As Weldon recently said, “Call Jeff Apaka for info at 808-923-1802! Tell'm I sent you, and they give you regular price! Hahahaha!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The monthly kani ka pila at Waimea Valley on O’ahu takes place this Sunday, March 21, from 1-4 pm in the Pikake Pavilion. (The Pavilion is quite large, and it’s covered – so no worries if it’s raining!) A kani ka pila is a Hawaiian “jam session” – people of all ages and skill levels (from all over the world!) bring their instruments and/or voices and enjoy an afternoon of playing music. For those who aren’t musicians (like me), it’s fun to just go and listen!

Sound check begins around noon, but musicians are welcome to come at any time – just bring your instrument(s) and cable(s) and plug in! Food and drinks are available for purchase – the Valley kindly requests that no outside food or beverages (water is okay) be brought in. There is no admission fee.

Note: for those who are visiting O’ahu on vacation, The Bus stops right outside the entrance to Waimea Valley, which is across Kamehameha Highway from Waimea Bay. It’s a bit of a hike in, but the ground is level and paved.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Big Island On The Cheap has announced the availability of its FREE e-book, entitled “Merrie Monarch Side Trips.” It includes coupons and discounts from Big Island retailers and other businesses, and is now available for download. The book is a guide with half- and full-day excursions for people who will be visiting the Big Island for the annual Merrie Monarch (hula) Festival April 4-10 in Hilo, and want some ideas of what else there is to see and do. It offers commentary, history, photos and directions to such popular destinations as Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Hilo’s museums, and Akaka Falls, and even offers a little background on the “Merrie Monarch” (King David Kalākaua) himself.

It’s a great resource, not only for people visiting the island for Merrie Monarch, but also for residents with friends or family staying with them during the festival – or for anybody who’d like a round-up of interesting things to do around Hilo. You don’t have to be attending Merrie Monarch to take advantage of the coupons or side trips.

To receive the free e-book, simply email BigIslandOnTheCheap@gmail.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Don’t miss the beautiful harmonies of multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winners Kaukahi at 8pm Friday, April 30 at the Hukilau Restaurant at Fallbrook Golf Club (2757 Gird Rd, Fallbrook, CA). Tickets are on sale now: $25 general admission, $35 dinner and concert. Call (951) 972-0783.

In addition to the concert, Kaukahi group member and Grammy® nominee Kawika Kahiapo will teach a slack key guitar workshop on Sunday, May 2. Call the number above for details!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


“Slack Key Lady” Cindy Combs will perform in concert this Sunday, March 21, from 2-4pm at the National Tropical Botanical Garden, Kauai, Southshore Visitor's Center. Joining her is
harpist Anela Lauren (the two perform together as Lilia) as well as Phil Watts on flute and sax, Bill Dick on violin, and Rodger Jacobs on bass. The concert is outdoors and 'under da tree' – so bring a mat or chair. Coolers are fine, too! Admission: $10
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tickets are on sale now for Patrick Landeza’s series of concerts celebrating the release of his new album, Ku`u Honua Mele. He will perform on April 16 in Sacramento, April 17 in Berkeley, and April 18 in Felton. Here are the details:

April 16 – with ‘ukulele master Herb Ohta, Jr. at Curtis Hall in Sacramento (Sierra 2 Center, 2791 24th St). Hawaiian plate dinners will be available for sale. Doors open for food at 6:30pm, show is at 8pm. Tickets are $20 – call (510) 452-4266.

April 17 – with Herb Ohta, Jr. and steel guitarist Jeff Au Hoy (both of whom will fly in from Hawai’i), and Hawaiian guitarist Asa Young (formerly of the Side Order Band, with Del Beazley, Chris Kamaka and Bryan Tolentino), who will fly on from North Carolina! At Freight and Salvage in Berkeley. Show time is 8 pm, doors open at 7. Tickets are $20.50 advance/$21.50 door and are available online.

April 18 – with Herb Ohta, Jr. at Don Quixote’s in Felton (6275 Highway 9). Ticket are $12 adv. & door. (Note: this is an early concert – it starts at 2pm.) For tickets & reservations, call
(831) 603-2294.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner John Keawe and his beautiful wife Hope will play at Don Quixote’s in Felton on June 10 and Freight and Salvage in Berkeley on June 11. Tickets are on sale now!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This week’s performers at the free Bay Area Gordon Biersch Aloha Friday concerts are:

Cyril Pahinui (Palo Alto, 6 pm)

Kawika Alfiche (5pm) Amy Hanaiali’i (7:30) (San Jose) Note: for those who can’t get enough of Chino Montero after seeing him last week as he toured with Keli’i Kaneali’i, you can catch him playing this show with Amy!)

Brittni Paiva (San Francisco, 7 pm)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Herb Ohta, Jr. will teach several ‘ukulele classes (on strumming and rhythm at 6 and 7:30 pm) and ('ukulele arpeggios and Hawaiian turn arounds at 8 and 9:30pm) at Freight and Salvage in Berkeley on April 19. Cost is $30 per class.

Herb’s classes are very popular, so reserve your space now! Click here for the strumming & rhythm class and here for the arpeggios/turn arounds class.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pau for now – e malama pono a hui hou!

March 10, 2010

Aloha mai kakou!

In today’s newsletter:

• Pakele Live! with Tony Solis – Greg Sardinha
• Herb Ohta, Jr. and Patrick Landeza – Olympia, WA
• Victor Ohana Hawaiian Band – Davenport, CA
• John Cruz tour
• Brittni Paiva – California
• Hawaii Book & Music Tour – California
• Makaha Sons – Whittier College
• Keali’i Reichel – near Seattle
• Arizona Aloha Festival – Tempe
• Kimo’s Hawaiian Grille – Chico, CA
• Honolulu Festival

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


This week’s guest on Pakele Live! with Tony Solis is steel guitar master Greg Sardinha. Born and raised on O’ahu, Greg first learned to play electric organ (a la the Doors) in the late 60’s. Rather than sell cookies or any of the other traditional methods of raising funds to support their baseball team, he and his team mates sold tickets to dance concerts where the team itself provided the musical entertainment. Among his team mates? Ben Vegas, Mike Kaawa and the late Mackey Feary.

Greg later became interested in the Hawaiian steel guitar, after befriending the son of the late Hawaiian steel guitarist, Barney Isaacs, Jr. He often attempted to play the steel guitars that were in the family’s home, so Barney gave him a few tips which inspired him to study the instrument formally. He enrolled in lessons sponsored by the Hawaiian Music Foundation and received a music scholarship to take private lessons from the late great Master of Steel Guitar, Jerry Byrd.

In addition to steel guitar, Greg also learned to play regular guitar and ‘ukulele, and is accomplished in all. He has contributed to numerous recording projects with a variety of artists and genres, including traditional and contemporary Hawaiian, reggae, country, folk and jazz. He has recorded with local artists such as Ku’uipo Kumukahi, Sean Na’auao, Cyril Pahinui, Kalapana, Na Leo, Darrin Benitez, Karen Keawehawaii , Cecilio and Kapono, and others, as well as mainland/international artists such as Tim Coffman, Jim Messina, Renn Loa (of the Netherlands), and more.

Greg released his first solo album in 2006, entitled HAWAIIAN STEEL VOL 4 – Artistry of Greg Sardinha, on which he plays ‘ukulele, guitar and Hawaiian steel guitar. He now has six HAWAIIAN STEEL CDs to his credit involving recording artists Alan Akaka, Casey Olsen, Bobby Ingano, Paul Kim, Duke Ching and others. He also has a recording studio called “sma`Kine Recordings” and owns Keala Records.

Tony is on vacation for a few weeks, but join our guest host Amber Stone for Pakele Live! on Thursday, March 10, from 6-8 p.m. HST in the Pakele Lounge at the Ala Moana Hotel (410 Atkinson Dr., Honolulu). There is no cover or minimum, although your purchase of two drinks, soft drinks, or food 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 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.!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An update about the Herb Ohta, Jr./Patrick Landeza concert and workshops in the Puget Sound area (Olympia/Tacoma/etc...): there is very limited space remaining for Herb’s ‘ukulele workshop on Sunday (March 14). Herb is a gifted teacher and an ‘ukulele virtuoso, so don’t delay if you’d like to enroll!

Earlier today I was informed that it might be necessary to cancel Patrick’s slack key guitar workshop, originally scheduled for the same date. Contact Kim at admin@oluevents.com for more information.

Tickets are still available for the concert on Saturday (March 13) at the Washington Center in Olympia. Don’t miss your chance to see one of Hawai’i’s most renowned ‘ukulele masters in action, and help him celebrate his 20th year in the recording industry! In addition, you can enjoy the slack key stylings of a native from the beautiful island of ... Berkeley! (Hint: Patrick’s new album will be out momentarily – be among the first to hear selections from it!)

(Pssst! California peeps! Watch for Patrick to hold several Bay Area CD release concerts next month... Herb may be a guest performer...)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Victor Ohana Hawaiian Band, with dancers from the Hula School of Santa Cruz will be performing in Davenport, CA at the Davenport Roadhouse (near Santa Cruz) on March 13 at 6pm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


John Cruz kicks off his latest tour with a stop at the Triple Door in Seattle on March 19. The tour then takes him to Oregon and California before he heads to Australia for several shows, followed by a stop at the Irish National Guitar Festival (north of Dublin). He then returns to the U.S. for a concert in Massachusetts, then travels north to Canada for three shows. For details on all of his tour stops, visit his website.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Brittni Paiva will be in California for three shows in March:

Friday, March 19 - Gordon Biersch (San Francisco), Aloha Friday Series, 6pm
Tuesday, March 23 - Borders Sacramento (2339 Fair Oaks Blvd), 7pm
Friday, March 26 - Gordon Biersch (Palo Alto), Aloha Friday Series, 6pm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Hawaii Book & Music Tour with founding HAPA member Keli’i Kaneali’i, slack key guitarist Ken Emerson, and a number of authors, continues on Saturday, March 13 with a stop at Borders Sacramento (4pm), followed by Borders Pleasant Hill on 3/14 (3pm), Stonestown Mall in San Francisco on 3/20 (1 pm), and Union Square on 3/21 (2pm).

Scheduled to appear at the Sacramento and Pleasant Hill Borders:

- Slack Key Guitarist Ken Emerson (in his Sacramento debut)
- Auntie Kealoha, an inspirational children's book author who is featured in the best-selling book Chicken Soup From the Soul of Hawaii
-Joanna Carolan and Keli’i Kaneali’i speaking and singing from one of Joanna’s husband’s (Dr. Carolan) children’s books – either Where Are My Slippers or A President From Hawaii
-Noted master dancer/chanter and songwriter Taupouri Tangaro will chant and discuss his book Lele Kawa Fire Rituals of Pele
-Author and award-winning canoe paddler Lurline McGregor will discuss the book Between The Deep Blue Sea and Me, a book about finding your identity as a Hawaiian in today's world.
-Lomi Lomi massage therapist Makana Risser Chai will present her books on Lomi Lomi.
-To conclude the program , founding member/lead singer of HAPA Keli`i Kaneali`i (with Garrett Santos and Chino Montero) will perform songs from his latest CD Kaua’i as well as hits from his years with HAPA.

Note: The Stonestown and Union Square Borders stores will host Ken Emerson, Joanna Carolan, Cheryl Tsutsumi, Deborah Turrell Atkinson, and Auntie Kealoha. The others listed above, including Keli’i Kaneali’i, will not be present at those locations.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whittier College has announced the new date for the Makaha Sons Concert – part of its popular Aloha Series that had to be rescheduled due to the recent health problems suffered by Sons member John Koko. The new date for the performances will be Saturday June 26 (3 pm and 8 pm). Tickets for the original dates will be honored on this date. (If you are unable to attend the new dates, please return your tickets to the box office for a refund.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Keali’i Reichel and Halau Ke'alaokamaile will be at the Snoqualmie Casino Ballroom (outside Seattle at 37500 North Bend Way Snoqualmie, WA) on March 18 at 8pm. Tickets are $29, $59, and $89 and are available through Ticketmaster. 21 and over only.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Up and coming Hawai’i singer Anuhea, as well as Chadwick Pang (Manoa Voices) and Kimo Hussey are among those who will be at the 16th Annual Arizona Aloha Festival March 13 & 14 at Tempe Town Lake Beach Park in Tempe. The free festival features arts and crafts and food vendors, canoe paddling, music, Tahitian and Maori dancers, and Fireball performers and more, from 10am to 5pm each day. Groups from Hawai’i, California, Arizona, Nevada, New Zealand and the Cook Islands will dance Kahiko (ancient) and Auana (modern) hula.

This is an extremely popular event, with over 150,000 people attending last year and even more expected this year. Click here for more details and a schedule of events.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Those of you in the Chico, CA area – have you been to Kimo’s Hawaiian Grille? (999 Marauder St., at the entrance to the Chico airport. 345-8200). Satisfy your craving for traditional plate lunch, loco moco and more, prepared by chef/owner Kimo, who spent 15 years in the restaurant business on O’ahu and Maui. Open weekdays 10 am-3 pm. Closed Saturdays, Sunday and major holidays.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The 16th Annual Honolulu Festival takes place March 13-14. The free festival features music performed by people from countries throughout the Pacific Rim, and a wide variety of cultural performances and exhibits by more than 120 groups over two days at four locations: Hawaii Convention Center, Ala Moana Center, Waikiki Beach Walk, and Waikiki Shopping Plaza. Under the banner of “Pacific Harmony,” the festival’s theme is “Discovery Through Tradition.” Cultural exhibits and performing groups representing Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Canada, Alaska, and Hawaii will be featured.

The exhibits and performances take place Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm. The festival concludes on Sunday with the spectacular Grand Parade along Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki, music performed by people from countries throughout the Pacific Rim featuring music, cultural demonstrations and floats, including the popular Daijayama, or fire-breathing dragon. The parade takes place from 4:30 to 8pm.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pau for now – e malama pono a hui hou!

Pakele Live! To Hold Fundraiser for Family of Slain Mililani Grad, w/Kamaka Fernandez, B.E.T, “Champ” Kaneshiro & Kaleo Pilanca

Aloha mai kakou,
Just getting out a quick press release - please help spread the word! (I'll do a regular newsletter in a day or two.)

Pakele Live! with Tony Solis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2010

MEDIA CONTACT: Lynn Piccoli
(808) 292-0067
lynn@pakelelive.com

Pakele Live! with Tony Solis To Hold Fundraiser for Family of Slain Mililani Grad

HONOLULU — Kamakakehau Fernandez, B.E.T, and Comedians Blane “Champ” Kaneshiro and Kaleo Pilanca will perform in a March 4th benefit for the family of Patrick Shige Matsuda. Matsuda, 40, a Mililani High School graduate who was born and raised in Honolulu, was brutally beaten and stabbed in front of his home in Bakersfield, CA on February 7, 2010. Three men have been arrested and charged with murder in connection with his death.


Matsuda left Hawai’i in 1988 to attend CSU Bakersfield on a wrestling scholarship, and gained the distinction of becoming the only wrestler to qualify for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championships for two consecutive years. He graduated with a degree in Physical education in 1993. An avid body builder, he won the middleweight National Physique Committee (NPC) USA championship title in 2001. At the time of his death, he was a Health, Safety & Environmental field representative for Helmerich & Payne International Drilling Company.

Matsuda was a dedicated family man, devoted to his wife Annette, and actively involved in the lives of his four young children; Whitney, Madison, Ciara, and Patrick. Upon receiving the news of his death, Tony Solis, host of OC16 TV’s Pakele Live! concert series and a former classmate of Matsuda, began organizing the fundraiser with the help of other classmates, family members and friends. In addition to performances by award-winning falsetto singer Kamakakehau Fernandez, local hip-hop/reggae duo B.E.T., comedian, bodybuilder and local TV personality Blane “Champ” Kaneshiro, and comedian Kaleo Pilanca, morning host on 102.7 FM Da Bomb, there will be raffle prizes. All funds raised will benefit the Matsuda children.

The fundraiser will be held from 6-8 pm on Thursday, March 4 in the Pakele Lounge at the Ala Moana Hotel (140 Atkinson Drive, Honolulu). Admission is free, but donations to benefit the Matsuda children will be gladly accepted. The concert will also be broadcast live at http://www.pakelelive.com/

Organizers of the event are still accepting donations of prizes to be raffled. Anyone wishing to donate items may contact Kehau Hatico at (808) 330-7459 or eztyga007@hotmail.com, or Tony Solis at (808) 348-0234.

###