In the summer, the aquarium hosts Ke Kani O Ke Kai, The Sound of the Ocean, a series of five Hawaiian music concerts. You tour some exhibits, nosh on a selected menu of dinner entrees from local restaurants, and about the time the sun sets, you take your place on the grassy lawn and settle in for the evening performance. 

Every now and then, you read a book or catch a live musical performance, and you think, “This author/musician/singer is going some place.” That’s what happened to me when I heard Mailani perform at the Hawaii Book & Music Festival a couple months ago. She was having so much fun on stage that she captivated me. She drew me in. I literally moved closer to the stage for a better seat.

In Hawaii, most musicians play for the enjoyment of it. They hold full-time jobs and may play for a hula halau or pick up a side gig here and there. That’s true of many Na Hoku Hanohano Award winners. Only a select few musicians in Hawaii—like anywhere—break out. Two are Daniel Ho and Makana.

Showering in the outdoors is standard in Hawaii. Most state and county beach parks provide, at the least, a pipe with some semblance of shower fixture at head level. Others include a concrete pad with three or four showerheads radiating out of the top and the same number of foot showers about 12-inches off the ground. 

Last night, one of my favorite Hawaiian musicians--slack key guitarist Makana--entertained a few hundred people at a concert hosted by the Garden Island Arts Council themed, “Alice Meets Makana in EKK Wonderland.” The event culminated the three-month-long Hawaiian music concert series on Kauai—E Kanikapila Kakou. Guests were encouraged to come in costume. (I borrowed some wings and a halo from my friend’s two-year-old daughter and played an angel for a few hours.) 

Tomorrow, the annual Prince Kuhio Celebration of the Arts commences.  The week-long event uses the example of Prince Kuhio to remind us of the importance of serving our communities and showcases many of the arts and cultural practices of our host community, including hula, canoe racing, salt making, music and, of course, food. 

In 2006, the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii named Carol Yotsuda a “Living Treasure” for her efforts in preserving the culture of Hawaii. Carol is the executive director of the Garden Island Arts Council, a volunteer position she’s held since 1998. She is also a retired teacher, active artist, and she produces E Kanikapila Kakou, a Hawaiian music program held on Monday evenings through March on Kauai. The gatherings are conducted in the style of backyard musical jam sessions for which Hawaii is known. This year’s EKK theme is “The Stories behind the Songs.” Here, Carol recaps three recent performances by Kaumakaiwa Kanaka'ole and Sean Na'auao, Cody Pueo Pata, and Aaron Sala and Snowbird Bento.

Guest blogger Carol Yotsuda recaps the third performance of E Kanikapila Kakou on Kauai. In its 27th year, the Hawaiian music program is held Monday evenings through March. The gatherings are conducted in the style of backyard musical jam sessions for which Hawaii is known, with many bringing their own ukulele to strum along and hula dancers stepping up to share their gifts. This year’s theme is “The Stories behind the Songs.” The February 1st event featured award-winning composer and Hawaiian language specialist Puakea Nogelmeier. He was accompanied by Lolena Niau Nicholas and Hau'oli Akaka. 

What this all boils down to is that we experienced an avalanche of music fans for one of Hawaii’s favorite sons – Eddie Kamae of the Sons of Hawaii, a true cultural icon who has mentored countless musicians over his lifetime, and father and son Kamakahi, about whom Eddie says, “I am so proud of Dennis Kamakahi and his son David who are carrying on the tradition of music.” 

George’s introduction to playing music at age 11 is his famous story about cleaning cars for Lippy Espinda at ten cents a car and playing a three-minute gig for Kui Lee at Forbidden City that scored him $27.10 from the appreciative audience of construction workers and stevedores. 

On October 21, 2009, the first official whale sighting was reported off West Maui. (Those 45-foot, 45-ton behemoths sure like Maui.) So, I thought I'd share this footage of a whale filmed by NOAA. It's beautiful, especially because the slack key composition you hear playing was inspired by this footage. 

Last night, the contemporary slack key guitarist Makana played solo at the Tahitian Lanai Bar & Grill at the Waipouli Beach Resort on Kaua'i.  The Tahitian Lanai Bar & Grill is a small restaurant--open air with an ocean view.  Few knew about the restaurant on Kaua'i's east side.  That is, until Makana performed there last night.  He packed the house.