Susan's Hawaiian Music Page - mid-September

The second is the project that I mentioned in my last letter. Keola Donaghy, who has made web pages for such fabulous Hawaiian entertainers as Keola Beamer, Keali'i Reichel, and Willie K, has come up with a searchable computerized gig and concert list. I am helping him stock it with information on Hawaiian music concerts. Check it out under the "Gig" section below!

A special note for you fans of Hawaiian steel guitar: this is your month! Check out both the recording and the concert listings. Also -- California fans have a rare opportunity to hear *Israel Kamakawiwo'ole* in concert in October! Get your tickets now - it should be a sell-out!

Note on obtaining CDs - I know that many of you are familiar with The Hawaiian Music Island, Auntie Maria's on-line CD store for Hawaiian CDs old and new, at

Auntie has asked me to let you know that she had a hard disk crash and lost her mailing list. If you have been on Auntie's list in the past, you may want to contact her at auntie@mele.com and give her your address again.

Recordings:

John Keawe, Mana'olana (Homestead Productions HPCD-1003). Hooray! Another ki ho'alu (slack key) release from John Keawe! John's previous CDs, Auhele and Ho'onanea, were exceptional releases (Auhele was nominated for a Hoku award and Ho'onanea won the award for best instrumental album of the year). Again John demonstrates the grace and spirit that are his hallmarks. The CD contains six original songs (for a smile, check out Kolealea) and a number of classics, including Opihi Moe Moe, Green Rose Hula, Pu'uanahulu, and Somewhere Over the Rainbow. An audio clip of Mana'olana (reprise) is included on this page -- just click and enjoy!
* Also note that John will be releasing a Christmas CD this year, entitled, "Christmas is...." Look for it in November!

Various artists, The Hawaiian Steel Guitar: Made in Hawai'i (SmaKine SKCD 1210). Classic steel guitar music from a medley of musicians, including Herbert Hanawahine, Casey Olsen, and Iaukea Bright. Songs include Moana Chimes, Hula Breeze, and Alvin Isaacs' Medley.

Something Special, Ku'u Home 'O Waipi'o (Punalu'u Productions 8801-2CD). This CD sounds like a backyard album -- only better! I particularly like the vocalist's full, robust voice. Songs in English and Hawaiian include the title track, Hi'ileinani, and Waimanu.

Various artists, Hawaii's Golden Groups (Paradise Records PCD 2050). If you enjoy contemporary Hawaiian musicfrom the seventies, this will bring back a loooot of memories! A wonderful selection, including Honolulu City Lights (Keola & Kapono Beamer), Highway in the Sun (C&K), Naturally (Kalapana) Pua Carnation (Hui Ohana), and Sea Breeze (Beamers).

Various artists, Pick a Hit Hawaii (Mountain Apple MACD 2029) Another collection of popular artists, including Live A Little (Hawaiian Style Band), Hi'ilawe (Gabby Pahinui), Kawika (Brothers Cazimero), Hawaii '78 (Iz), I'll Remember You (Don Ho), and Wanting Memories (Keali'i Reichel). Also includes the classic Room Service skit by Rap Reiplinger.

Concerts (all concerts are on O'ahu unless otherwise specified):

September 16- 21: Steel Guitar music featured at the Halekulani Hotel's House Without A Key. Residents artists play from 5 - 9, and special guest stars below play from 8 - 8:30.
Monday: Mariko Seki and the Islanders
Tuesday: Mariko Seki and the Islanders
Wednesday: Duke Ching and the Olsen Trio
Thursday: Dick Sanft and the Islanders
Friday: Duke Ching and the Olsen Trio
Saturday: Jerry Byrd and the Olsen Trio
Information: 923-2311.

September 17: Peter Moon at Centerstage, Ala Moana Center, 7 p.m. Free.

September 18: A Salute to Hawai'i, featuring the armed forces bands and Robi Kahakalau and Loyal Garner. 7 p.m.

September 20: Aloha Week Festivities in Honolulu. The Waikiki Ho'olaule'a runs from 7:00 to 10 on Kalakaua Avenue. Includes Na Leo Pilimehana and Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. Free.

September 20: Clyde "Kindy" Sproat and Raymond Kane at the Academy of Arts. $12.

September 21: The Hoopii Brothers and Led Kaapana. $12.

September 21: Hali'a Aloha - Treasured Memories - A Musical History of Hawai'i. With Auntie Genoa Keawe, Brother Noland, Uluwehi Guerrero, the Ho'opi'i Brothers, and the Makaha Sons.

September 21: Moe Keale at 11:30 and Dennis Pavao at noon at Centerstage, Ala Moana Center. Free.

September 21: George Kahumoku performs songs from two of his recent Ki ho 'alu album releases, "Ho'olina" and "E Lili'u". 9:00 p.m. at Border's Ward Center. Free.

September 25-28 (Joliet, Illinois): Annual Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association convention. Four days of music sessions and a lu'au to cap off the events. Alan Akaka and Ed Punua from Hawaii will be among the invited guests. For information, contact HSGA at P.O. Box 1619, Kailua, HI 96734, or call Don Weber at (815) 485-6765.

September 27: KCCN's Aloha Friday Show, featuring Na Leo Pilimehana, 64 lines more (68%). Pandanus Club, Moe Keale, and Kaleo o Kalani. Pacific Ballroom, Ilikai Hotel, from 11:30 - 1:30. $20 includes lunch. Show is simulcast on KCCN 1420AM. Info: 949-3811.

September 28 (Hilo): Na Leo Pilimehana at UH Hilo's Ho'olaule'a. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free.

October:

October 19 (San Francisco): The Pacific Islanders' Cultural Association (PICA) presents Israel Kamakawiwo`ole in concert at the Polynesian Cultural Center of Northern California, Pier 29, San Francisco.

Doors open at 5PM -- food and craft booths open. Concert starts at 7 p.m. Limited on-site parking $5. Tickets $35/reserved seating and $25/general.

Credit card charges call (415) 281-0221 or fax card #, name, expiration date, mailing address and number/type of tickets ordering to (408) 783-1996. If paying by check, mail to PICA, 450 Sutter Street #1112, San Francisco CA 94108

November:

November 21 (Austin, Texas) : Keola Beamer at the World Music Festival at the University of Texas. Info: Cynthia (512) 471-2787.

Gigs:Willie K:
9/19 The Pier Bar, Aloha Tower Marketplace, 9-1am
9/20 & 21 World Cafe, Lahaina Maui, 9:30-1am
9/22 Sugar Bar, Waialua, 8-10pm
9/26 The Pier Bar, Aloha Tower Marketplace, 9-1am
9/27 Sand Island R&B, 9:30-1am
9/28 Cassanova's, Makawao, Maui, 9:45-12:45am
9/29 Sugar Bar, Waialua, 8-10pm

Wow! A searchable online database of Hawaiian music gigs and concerts! Keola and I had been chatting a number of months ago about how great it would be to have a place on the Net for gig info, and he turns around and produces a site that does everything but make coffee! You can search by artist, date, day, type of performance, city, and more! Keola is a musician, Hawaiian language student, and computer expert at Hale Kuamo'o, the support agency for the Hawaiian immersion preschools. All this and he's got time to make an on-line, searchable music database too! A wonderful addition to the Hawaiian music resources on the Net. Click here to view the entire database:

Mahalo nui e Keola Donaghy!

That's all for this month -- see you in early October! A hui hou--

--Susan susanj@lava.net Like Hawaiian music? Find out the latest concerts and releases on Susan's Hawaiian Music Page, at: http://www.nahenahe.net/susanmusic/

Music Pages read since 9/20/96.