The Henry Kaleialoha Allen Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival will take place at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel in West Maui from Friday, June 26 through Sunday June 28, 2009. Friday Activities will include three steel guitar workshops and a sunset kanikapila and hula show featuring Alan Akaka and the Islanders. There will be workshops all day Saturday followed by an evening screening of the documentary film "Legends of Hawaiian Music", followed by the festival's highlight event, a concert featuring Henry Kaleialoha Allen, Alan Akaka and the Islanders, the Colin John Blues Band, and special guest Senator Brickwood Galuteria. Sunday morning there will be a champagne brunch featuring live music by Alan Akaka and the Islanders. For more information about the event see:| Sunday, May 24, 2009 |
Nominees for the 2009 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards
Here is a list of all of the albums and artists nominated by the Hawaiian Academy of Recording Arts (HARA) for the best Hawaii music industry recordings released in 2008. The winners in each category will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel on Tuesday, June 9, 2009. The general public is invited to attend, tickets are $125 and $200, and they can be ordered by calling HARA at 808-593-9424. The ticket price might seem high but this is one of the best, if not THE best Hawaiian music event of the year. Take a look at the huge lineup of top name performers from the past and present:
Performers at the 2009 Na Hoku Hanohano Award Show
Nominees for the 2009 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards
Here is a list of all of the albums and artists nominated by the Hawaiian Academy of Recording Arts (HARA) for the best Hawaii music industry recordings released in 2008. The winners in each category will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel on Tuesday, June 9, 2009. The general public is invited to attend, tickets are $125 and $200, and they can be ordered by calling HARA at 808-593-9424. The ticket price might seem high but this is one of the best, if not THE best Hawaiian music event of the year. Take a look at the huge lineup of top name performers from the past and present:| Wednesday, March 25, 2009 |
Hawaii Singer Mike Keale Has a New Web Site
Mike Keale is perhaps most well-known for being a cousin of world renown singer Israel Kamakawiwoole and a nephew of award winning vocalist Moe Keale, but he is an important Hawaiian music performer in his own right. Mike has kept his family's Hawaiian music legacy alive by performing regularly at prestigious Waikiki venues such as the historic Royal Hawaiian and Moana Hotels, the Prince Kuhio Hotel, the Marriott Waikiki's Moana Terrace Lounge and others. For more information about Mike, including a bio, recordings, tour dates, live performance schedule and more see: Mike Keale's Official Web Site at Mikeale.com
Mike Keale is perhaps most well-known for being a cousin of world renown singer Israel Kamakawiwoole and a nephew of award winning vocalist Moe Keale, but he is an important Hawaiian music performer in his own right. Mike has kept his family's Hawaiian music legacy alive by performing regularly at prestigious Waikiki venues such as the historic Royal Hawaiian and Moana Hotels, the Prince Kuhio Hotel, the Marriott Waikiki's Moana Terrace Lounge and others. For more information about Mike, including a bio, recordings, tour dates, live performance schedule and more see: | Sunday, February 8, 2009 |
Congratulations Tia Carrera and Daniel Ho
The winner of the 2009 Grammy Award issued by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for the best Hawaiian music album released between October 1, 2007 and September 30, 2008 was the "Ikena" album featuring Tia Carrera and Daniel Ho. Some people feel the Hawaiian Music Grammy Award is not as important as Hawaii's local music awards because the people selecting the Grammy winners are not as familiar as they might be with the genre. Be that as it may, it is always an honor, and a high point in any entertainer's career to receive a Grammy Award. Congratulations Tia and Daniel for your achievement!
Read More About the 2009 Hawaiian Music Grammy
The winner of the 2009 Grammy Award issued by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for the best Hawaiian music album released between October 1, 2007 and September 30, 2008 was the "Ikena" album featuring Tia Carrera and Daniel Ho. Some people feel the Hawaiian Music Grammy Award is not as important as Hawaii's local music awards because the people selecting the Grammy winners are not as familiar as they might be with the genre. Be that as it may, it is always an honor, and a high point in any entertainer's career to receive a Grammy Award. Congratulations Tia and Daniel for your achievement!
Watch the Hawaiian Grammy Ceremony Live on the Web
The non-televised portion of the Grammy Awards Ceremony, which includes the award for best Hawaiian music album produced in 2008, can be viewed live on the Internet by connecting to Grammy Awards Live Video Feed. Now we can all watch together! The awards will be broadcast live today, February 8, 2009. Here is the schedule in time zones from West to East:
Japan Standard Time (JST): 6:00 am
Hawaii-Aleution Time (HST): 11:00 am
Alaskan Standard Time (AST): 12:00 noon
Pacific Standard Time (PST): 1:00 pm
Mountain Standard Time (MST): 2:00 pm
Central Standard Time (CST): 3:00 pm
Eastern Standard Time (EST): 4:00 pm
Broadcast Schedule in Other Time Zones
View the Grammy Award Live Video Feed Now
| Sunday, January 25, 2009 |
Photos of Ukulele Bill Tapia's 101st Birthday Party
The legendary Bill "Tappy" Tapia was born in Honolulu in 1908 and he started his career as a musician at age 10, playing his own arrangement of "Stars and Stripes Forever" on the ukulele for World War I troups. Bill worked Hawaii's vaudville circuit as a young teen in the 1920's and in 1927 he played at the grand opening of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. He played a gig in Waikiki the night before Pearl Harbor was bombed and throughout World War II he and his band played at Hawaii nightclubs and military bases, sometimes in the pitch dark during wartime blackouts. At age 101 Bill Tapia is teaching ukulele to a new generation of musicians and still performing on stage, singing and playing ukulele, banjo, and jazz guitar. My ukulele teacher, the amazing Bill Tapia, turned 101 on January 1, 2009. Here are some photos of his 101st birthday party, during which he performed to a packed house of fellow musicians, students, family and friends. Photos of Bill Tapia's 101st Birthday Party
The legendary Bill "Tappy" Tapia was born in Honolulu in 1908 and he started his career as a musician at age 10, playing his own arrangement of "Stars and Stripes Forever" on the ukulele for World War I troups. Bill worked Hawaii's vaudville circuit as a young teen in the 1920's and in 1927 he played at the grand opening of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. He played a gig in Waikiki the night before Pearl Harbor was bombed and throughout World War II he and his band played at Hawaii nightclubs and military bases, sometimes in the pitch dark during wartime blackouts. At age 101 Bill Tapia is teaching ukulele to a new generation of musicians and still performing on stage, singing and playing ukulele, banjo, and jazz guitar. My ukulele teacher, the amazing Bill Tapia, turned 101 on January 1, 2009. Here are some photos of his 101st birthday party, during which he performed to a packed house of fellow musicians, students, family and friends. | Tuesday, December 30, 2008 |
2009 Southern California Slack Key Festival
The 2nd Annual Southern California Slack Key Guitar Festival will take place on January 18, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Boulevard in Redondo Beach, Southern California. The fantastic lineup of performers will include Bobby Moderow, Jr., Bruce Spencer, and Kahi Kaonohi of Maunalua, Barry Flanagan of Hapa, Cyril Pahinui, Sonny Lim, Peter Moon, Jr., Jeff Peterson, Kunia Galdeira, Jon Keawe, and Jim Kimo West.
The 2nd Annual Southern California Slack Key Guitar Festival will take place on January 18, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Boulevard in Redondo Beach, Southern California. The fantastic lineup of performers will include Bobby Moderow, Jr., Bruce Spencer, and Kahi Kaonohi of Maunalua, Barry Flanagan of Hapa, Cyril Pahinui, Sonny Lim, Peter Moon, Jr., Jeff Peterson, Kunia Galdeira, Jon Keawe, and Jim Kimo West.
| Wednesday, December 17, 2008 |
Farewell to Clyde "Kindy" Sproat (1930-2008)
Hawaii's national treasure, falsetto singer, musician, and storyteller Clyde Halemaumau "Kindy" Sproat passed away at age 78 on Monday, December 15, 2008. In September of this year Kindy appeared at an event named in his honor, the 17th Annual Clyde Kindy Sproat Falsetto Singing and Storytelling Contest on Hawaii Island.
Hawaii's national treasure, falsetto singer, musician, and storyteller Clyde Halemaumau "Kindy" Sproat passed away at age 78 on Monday, December 15, 2008. In September of this year Kindy appeared at an event named in his honor, the 17th Annual Clyde Kindy Sproat Falsetto Singing and Storytelling Contest on Hawaii Island.
| Wednesday, December 3, 2008 |
Nominees for the 2009 Hawaiian Music Grammy Award
The five albums nominated for the 2009 Grammy Award for the best Hawaiian music recording released between October 1, 2007 and September 30, 2008 were announced during a Grammy Nominee Concert on December 3, 2008. The winning album will be announced at a televised awards ceremony at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles on February 8, 2009.
Nominees for the 2009 Hawaiian Music Grammy
All Hawaiian Music Award Winners Since 1978
The five albums nominated for the 2009 Grammy Award for the best Hawaiian music recording released between October 1, 2007 and September 30, 2008 were announced during a Grammy Nominee Concert on December 3, 2008. The winning album will be announced at a televised awards ceremony at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles on February 8, 2009.
All-Star Christmas Concert in Waikiki
Na Leo's annual Holiday Music Spectacular Concert will take place on December 15-21, 2008 at the Waikiki Nei Theatre at the Royal Hawaiian Center. The award winning lineup of performers will include Na Leo, Kealii Reichel, Kaukahi, Kaumakaiwa Kanakaole, and Hoku Zuttermeister, who totally swept the 2008 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards by winning male vocalist of the year, most promising artist, entertainer of the year, and three other awards. This is going to be a great concert!
Na Leo's annual Holiday Music Spectacular Concert will take place on December 15-21, 2008 at the Waikiki Nei Theatre at the Royal Hawaiian Center. The award winning lineup of performers will include Na Leo, Kealii Reichel, Kaukahi, Kaumakaiwa Kanakaole, and Hoku Zuttermeister, who totally swept the 2008 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards by winning male vocalist of the year, most promising artist, entertainer of the year, and three other awards. This is going to be a great concert!
| Saturday, November 29, 2008 |
Lahaina News Profile of George Kahumoku, Jr.
From the Lahaina News: "Doing many of the things Hawaiians have traditionally done, including fish, farm and play music, three-time Grammy Award winner George Kahumoku Jr. has had a life full of choices..." [Read Full Article]
| Saturday, November 22, 2008 |
Date Announced for 2009 Kapiolani Park Ukulele Festival
A date has been announced for the 2009 Ukulele Festival of Hawaii. The festival will take place in July of 2009 at the bandstand in Kapiolani Park, on the Diamond Head End of Waikiki. The Ukulele Festival of Hawaii has been produced by Honolulu ukulele school owner Roy Sakuma every year since the first event took place in 1971. The festival is free, and it is always a special treat, featuring world class ukulele musicians and a 700+ player ukulele band. I wouldn't miss it!
2009 Event Announcement and Pictures from 2008
A date has been announced for the 2009 Ukulele Festival of Hawaii. The festival will take place in July of 2009 at the bandstand in Kapiolani Park, on the Diamond Head End of Waikiki. The Ukulele Festival of Hawaii has been produced by Honolulu ukulele school owner Roy Sakuma every year since the first event took place in 1971. The festival is free, and it is always a special treat, featuring world class ukulele musicians and a 700+ player ukulele band. I wouldn't miss it!| Wednesday, November 19, 2008 |
Ancient Hawaiian Musical Instruments
This recent discussion in our forum has pictures of a man playing a Hawaiian nose flute and pictures of a dog's tooth ankle rattle and a couple of different types of dancing rattles. Wasn't there some kind of one-stringed musical instrument in Hawaii before the westerners and easterners arrived? [Read More In Our Forum]
West Maui Slack Key Guitar Concert Series
Here is the schedule for the Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Concert Series for the remainder of 2008. The concerts in this series take place every week at the Napili Kai Beach Resort on the west coast of Maui Island.
| Saturday, July 12, 2008 |
Hula Festivals and Contests in Hawaii, California, Japan
Hawaiian Music News Archive
June 2008
July 2008
November 2008
December 2008
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
May 2009
June 2009
Information about the Merrie Monarch Festival on Hawaii Island, the Prince Lot Hula Festival on Oahu Island, the George Naope Kane Hula Festival featuring only male dancers, the E Huloa Mau competition in Southern California, the King Kamehameha Hula Competiton in Honolulu and Tokyo, and other hula festivals and competitions around the world.
July 2008
November 2008
December 2008
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
May 2009
June 2009
