There IS a light at the end of the tunnel! After two years and many thousands of miles traveled for multiple recording session trips between California (where he now lives) and Oʻahu (where he was born and raised), Steven Espaniola is preparing to release his anxiously-awaited sophomore album, “Ho'omaopopo” (“to understand”).

Steven’s debut album (“Hoʻomaka”) was released in 2006 to rave reviews from both the media and well-known and loved Hawaiian artists alike, including this one from long-time music reviewer Wayne Harada: 

"If you like Ledward Ka'apana, Raiatea Helm, Keali'i Reichel, Genoa Keawe and Gabby Pahinui, you'll like Espaniola. He'll find a place in their league" Wayne Harada, The Honolulu Advertiser

Steven received the Hawaiʻi Music Awards’ “New Artist of the Year” honor for “Hoʻomaka", and fans have been clamoring for more ever since. Their patience will pay off come June, the planned release month for “Ho'omaopopo”.

As with his first album, Steven recorded “Ho'omaopopo” with award-winning producer/engineer Dave Tucciarone at his Seventh Wave Productions studio on Oʻahu. The album contains ten tracks, including two originals co-written by Steven and Puni Patrick (“Ka Wahine Helekahi”), and Steven and Keola Donaghy (“Ku'u Lio”). 

Below is a short video produced in preparation for the album’s release. The song playing in the background is “Meleana E”...

(Stay tuned for information regarding “Ho'omaopopoʻs” official release date and where to purchase the album, plus details for release parties and concerts to be held both on the mainland and in Hawaiʻi!)

Musicians are frequently asked to donate their time to charitable causes, and most are happy to do so. However, it can reach a point where the requests become so numerous (and sometimes for less than “charitable” causes – birthday parties, mom and dad’s anniversary celebration, grad parties...), that they become overwhelming and unmanageable. After all, musicians, like the rest of us, have rent or mortgages to pay, families to feed – and they need to put gas in the cars they use to transport themselves and their instruments to those charity gigs they’re not being paid for...

Kuana Torres Kahele is one such musician. Co-founder of the well-known, highly popular, and multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning group Nā Palapalai, he was used to receiving requests to donate the group’s performance at various events. But upon releasing his first solo album (“Kaunaloa”) and receiving numerous awards for it at the 2012 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, those requests literally skyrocketed...

Heavily booked throughout 2012 for concert appearances, his school in Japan, the recording of another Nā Palapalai album as well as a solo Christmas album, and in 2013 for more concert appearances, work with his Japan school and the recording of another solo album (“KAHELE” – due out July 30), Kuana came up with a well thought-out solution to the dilemma of which charitable causes to support, and how to squeeze the time out of an already packed schedule. He recently posted the following in his fan newsletter:

“A NEW APPROACH TO FUNDRAISING IN 2013

“I am excited to announce a partnership with six organizations that I will direct 100% of my charitable efforts toward this year. They focus on two issues I am passionate about: our island keiki and the perpetuation of hula.

“As a local musician, I am bombarded all year with donation and free performance requests.  This year, I have directly approached organizations I admire, and created fundraising events in six cities; Hilo, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Kona and Lihu'e.  Through donation of my performance fees along with Box Office and Concession revenue, we will raise over $150,000 for these very worthy organizations allowing them to continuing doing what they do best.  I am honored to partner with the following groups this year:

Aloha United Way

KAPA Keiki Food Truck

Halau Ka Ua Kani Lehua (Kumu Johnny Lum Ho)

Halau Na Lei Hulu Ka Wekiu (Kumu Patrick Makuakane)

Halau Keali'i O Nalani (Kumu Keali'i Ceballos)

Halau Na Mamo 'O Pu'uanahulu (Kumu Sonny Ching)

Halau Ka Lei Mokihana 'O Leina'ala (Kumu Leina'ala Jardin)”

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

This creative idea will allow Kuana to continue to donate his time and talent and give back, while supporting those causes he is most passionate about – and in a very big way.

The fundraising events will be combined with his upcoming tour in support of his new album. “KAHELE” (which means to take a lei with you when you travel, but loosely translated for the CD to mean, "Take a Lei With You Wherever You Go") contains 14 original songs, all written by Kuana. Promotions for the CD will involve flower and shell lei.

Kuana will kick off a 37 city tour of Japan on June 18, followed by the Hawaiʻi and continental U.S. portion of the tour beginning August 3 in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. As part of the tour, Kuana has organized six concerts where he’ll be donating his performance fee, the box office receipts and all concession revenue to a specific charity or hula hālau (school). The six venues all contain a minimum of 1,000 seats, thus guaranteeing each beneficiary organization a substantial donation. Hālau will be given the music in advance and will debut Kuana’s original music and hula at the shows. The concert in Kona (and possibly another on Maui, although that is unconfirmed as of this writing) will raise money for the Aloha United Way and the Keiki Food Truck, which delivers meals to low income kids during the summer and school breaks.

Ho’omaika’i (congratulations), Kuana - and mahalo nui loa for finding a way to continue the generosity for which you are known.

Note: There will be a CD release concert on Lana'i August 10th at the Four Seasons Lodge at Ko'ele, with additional concerts possible for Molokai, Las Vegas, and other locations. More information will be released about the tour as it becomes available. "Like" Kuanaʻs Facebook page and subscribe to his YouTube videos!

Planning for the 2013 Sacramento Aloha Festival is under way! Thousands have attended in years past, so don’t miss your chance to be there for this year’s festival, scheduled for October 5 at Cal Expo (10am to 6pm). Admission is free, parking is $10.

The festival features something for everyone – not only Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Entertainment, but merchandise and food vendors; a cultural village; a keiki (children’s) corner with arts & crafts and educational information; health and community awareness exhibits; workshops; and more.

If you’re interested in participating as a vendor or entertainer, or becoming a sponsor or  volunteer, please contact the following festival staff for more information: 

For vendor information contact Leslie at vendors.sacalohafest@gmail.com 

To purchase ad space in the program book contact Evelyn at marketing.sacalohafest@gmail.com 

If you would like to perform at the festival contact Lahapa at entertainment.sacalohafest@gmail.com 

For general information contact Palikea at chair.sacalohafest@gmail.com

Oʻahu peeps! Mark your calendars for THIS SATURDAY (3/23), when Natalie Ai Kamauu & Iolani Kamauu (& Rhett Ai???) are the featured performers at the FREE monthly concert series in Kailua!

Sponsored by the Castle Foundation and hosted by Kawika Kahiapo, these concerts take place on the 3rd (sometimes 4th) Saturday each month (except December), from 4-5:30pm on the 1st floor of the parking garage in Kailua Town Center (near Long’s). GREAT acoustics there, and with Nat’s beautiful, powerful voice...wowee! I’ve been looking forward to this one for months! (Lots of chairs are provided, but it’s always safest to bring a mat or chair of your own, just in case...)

The preliminary ballot for the 2013 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards (Hawaiʻi’s Grammy® Awards) has been mailed to all voting members of the Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts (HARA). The awards are for music and music videos released in the 2012 calendar year. The ballots must be returned (postmarked) no later than March 22, 2013.

Once the preliminary ballots are tabulated, HARA will mail the final ballot to all voting members. Winners will be announced at the 36th Annual Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards ceremony to be held Saturday May 25 at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center. The awards will be televised (I haven’t yet heard if they’ll be live streamed as well). ***For a limited time only, non-HARA members who are nominees may purchase a 10-person table at the Awards ceremony for $1,250. This is the per ticket price usually extended ONLY to HARA members. Credit card orders can be called into the HARA office at (808) 593-9424.***

Nominees may take advantage of e-mail blast and mail-out services provided by HARA to contact voting members (there are fees involved). The CDs and postcards in the photo above are examples of those who have used the mail-out service – they all arrived in my mailbox today, along with the ballot. (And yes - I do listen to every CD I receive, if I donʻt already have it. If I havenʻt heard any of the entries in a category, I donʻt vote in that category.) 


ARTISTS: you do not need to be a HARA member to take advantage of these services. Contact the HARA office at (808) 593-9424 or send email to info@nahokuhanohano.org for more information.  (And for future reference, you do not need to be a HARA member to submit your CD, EP, or music video for consideration in the awards!)

Whether or not an artist takes advantage of the e-mail blast or mail-out services, I encourage all nominees to let people know your work is on the preliminary ballot, and in which categories. Use your websites, your social media sites, and your YouTube site – let the world know! I will certainly be doing that for all of my clients...

Not a HARA voting member? There’s still time to become a member and be eligible to vote on the final ballot for 2013 if you act quickly! Here are the eligibility requirements, and here is the application.

The general public will again have the opportunity to vote for Favorite Entertainer of the Year, however HARA has not yet announced where and how, so stay tuned!