Special Event to Raise Funds for Grammy® Winner Recently Diagnosed with Stage Four Lung Cancer

Some of the top names in Hawaiian music will join together on the evening of Monday, March 31 in Honolulu to perform at an event to benefit the legendary slack key musician Rev. Dennis Kamakahi, who was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer earlier this month. The fundraiser will be held at the Willows Restaurant in Mō‘ili‘ili to help defray medical costs. 

Kamakahi is one of Hawaiian music’s most celebrated musicians and songwriters. He has penned some of the most well-known and famed modern Hawaiian music compositions, including “Wahine ‘Ilikea,” “Kōke’e,” and “Pua Hone.”   

The author of over 500 songs, many of which have become standards in Hawaiian music, Kamakahi has won numerous awards and recognitions for his work, including a number of Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards and three Grammy® awards. Formerly a member of The Sons of Hawaiʻi, Kamakahi has also won a Hawaiʻi Music Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award, and induction into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame. In 2013, Kamakahi became the first modern Hawaiian music composer to have his slack key guitar, albums, sheet music, and personal photographs accepted into the Smithsonian National Museum of American History’s permanent collection. 

His music has also been featured in numerous feature films, including Disney’s Lilo & Stitch 2 and the Oscar-nominated soundtrack from The Descendants.   

Friends and family are hosting a benefit concert, dinner, and silent auction on Kamakahi’s birthday, March 31st at 5:30-9pm at the Willows Restaurant (901 Hausten St.) during a special edition of Pakele Live! Admission to the event is free. The performance will be broadcast live online at:  http://new.livestream.com/pakele/events/2851731

“Our dad is a man of tremendous faith. We continue to pray for his full recovery and ask others to do the same. We are daily witnesses to how the kindness and concern of friends, family and fans give him strength in his battle,” said son David in a statement. “We are humbled and endlessly grateful by the outpouring of support from fans around the world. Our family looks forward to sharing dad’s birthday with everyone at this very special event.” 

Artists scheduled to perform include: Waipuna (the award-winning Hawaiian music trio featuring Kamakahi’s son David); Kahulanui; Mark Yamanaka; Ledward Kaapana and Mike Kaawa; the Keawe ‘Ohana; Maunalua; Herb Ohta, Jr.; Stephen Inglis; Brother Noland; Danny Carvalho; Kūpaoa; Nā Hoa; Raiatea Helm and Bryan Tolentino; and Nathan Aweau. Ben Gutierrez of Hawaiʻi News Now and Billy V and Mele Apana of Hawaiian 105 KINE will emcee.

The Willows is generously donating 20% of the price of each buffet meal sold during the event to the benefit fund. A silent auction will take place during the concert and will feature items donated by the Corner Kitchen, East Honolulu Clothing Company, KoAloha ʻUkulele, and the Willows, as well as rare collectibles from Kamakahi’s personal music collection. Organizers are still seeking donations for the silent auction.  Anyone looking to contribute items can contact event organizers at: [email protected] .  Online viewers will be able to submit silent auction bids during the show via the same email address. A final list of silent auction items will be available for viewing on the official website.

NOTE: In order to assure a seat, those planning to attend the benefit should reserve a table as soon as possible by calling the Willows at (808) 952-9200.

The family has set up an official website where family, friends and fans can receive information and make monetary gifts:  http://www.teamdenniskamakahi.com/

In addition, a special account has been created at the Bank of Hawaiʻi. Those wishing to make contributions can make a monetary gift to “The Rev. Dennis Kamakahi Fund” at any Bank of Hawai‘i branch. 

Donations may also be made by mailing a check payable to “The     Rev. Dennis Kamakahi Fund” to: 
 
                                             Bank of Hawaii
                                             PO Box 2900
                                             Honolulu, HI  96846 

                                                     #   #   #

Kapono Nāʻiliʻili, known for his beautiful vocals as well as his mastery of a multitude of instruments, released Ala Iki, his long-anticipated debut solo album, on February 27, 2014. Containing a blend of classics (“Sanoe,” by Queen Liliʻuokalani), favorites (“Beautiful Kauaʻi” by Rudolph "Randy" Haleakala Farden) and songs by beloved composers such as Johnny Almeida, Kainani Kahaunaele, Charles E. King, and Lena Machado, listeners will be enchanted by both Nāʻiliʻiliʻs fresh interpretation and his masterful delivery. His performance on lead vocals as well as lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, and percussion demonstrate the reason he’s in high demand by other musicians to perform with them live and to contribute his skills to their recording projects.

His extensive experience in both the Hawaiian and Contemporary music scenes contributed to Nāʻiliʻiliʻs desire to create music that reflects himself and his influences. A graduate of the University of Hawaii with a B.A. in Hawaiian Language, he uses those language skills on most of the album’s vocals, and also gives listeners several glimpses into the reason he won Maui’s 2007 Falsetto Contest. However, equally as comfortable playing R&B, Jazz, Soul, Gospel, and Pop as he is with traditional and contemporary Hawaiian, listeners will also find his arrangements influenced by his love of those genres.

Nāʻiliʻiliʻs musical background includes a stint as the lead guitarist in the quintet for the “Hawaii Calls” concert at the Hawaii Theatre in 2008; formation of a band called The K.N. Orchestra, specializing in R&B, Soul, Jazz, and Top 40 that same year; and in 2009 the formation of a four-piece band called “Ke Kauoha the Jazz Project” with Halehaku Seabury of Nā Hoa, Ioane Burns of Nā Palapalai, and Ikaika Tecson. The band specializes in traditional Hawaiian songs set to Jazz arrangements. He is also the lead vocalist for the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning band “Pali”.

Ala Iki contains 12 tracks and was produced by Nāʻiliʻili and the multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winning Dave Tucciarone (who also engineered the album). It was recorded primarily at Tucciarone’s Seventh Wave Productions studio (two tracks were recorded by Matthew Honda at Matt Honda Studio). Guest musicians include Rockford Holmes (clarinet); Kamakoa Lindsey-Asing (ʻukulele and upright bass); Casey Olsen (steel guitar); and Bryan Tolentino (ʻukulele). Zachary Lum sings backup vocals.

The CD is available on Naʻiliʻili’s website and at Me Ke Aloha. It will be available in digital format on iTunes, Amazon, and CD Baby. Listen to clips from a few songs below!