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.!)
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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!”
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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.
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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.
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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!
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“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
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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.
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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!
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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)
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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.
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Pau for now – e malama pono a hui hou!
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