Beginning Thursday July 18 at 9pm PST, a very special episode of “Live at the Ford” (Ford Amphitheater in Los Angeles) entitled “Alohafest! Kanikapila!”  will air on KCET TV in Southern & Central California – AND online.  

The show features Maori warrior traditions of New Zealand with poi balls, haka and more; an appearance by Hālau Hula a Kawika Lāua 'o Leinani performing hula kahiko (ancient) and hula auana (modern); and the Kalama Brothers (Ryan and Kai)!

The show will air on multiple days and times over the coming weeks, but it will also be archived on the station’s website for you to view any time – so donʻt miss it!

Below is a clip from the show to enjoy now...

 Following the overwhelmingly positive response to their performance of Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water at the 2013 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards (Hawaii’s Grammy® Awards), nominees Sunway and Kamakakehau Fernandez have combined their voices once again to release a single of the song – with 100% of the proceeds going to charity.

Asked to perform together during the televised broadcast of the Awards show, Sunway (nominated for “Female Vocalist” and “Contemporary Album” of the year) and Kamakakehau (nominated for “Most Promising Artist” and “Hawaiian Language Performance,” and winner of “EP of the Year”), chose Bridge Over Troubled Water for its inspirational lyrics and universal message of brotherly love. At the time they chose the song, they had no idea how much it would touch viewers... While in rehearsals for the Awards show, deadly tornadoes struck Oklahoma, which prompted the duo to dedicate their performance to the thousands who had been affected.

Audience response to their emotional performance was such that the decision was made to record the song, make it available for purchase, and donate 100% of the proceeds to a local charity as a way of demonstrating their Aloha to those who may be suffering, regardless of the cause. To that end, they have chosen Aloha United Way as the recipient.

Performed in both English (Sunway) and Hawaiian (Kamakakehau), Bridge Over Troubled Water was produced by multi-platinum, award-winning composer Joerg Alfter, and features Bryan Kessler and Dave Watanabe on guitar, Harry Ladera on bass, and  Stacey Tangonan on percussion. It was recorded at Studio Ala Moana (Michael Grande, Engineer). Everyone involved with the project donated their time.

The single is being released as a digital download only. It is now available on iTunes, and will be available on July 15 on CD Baby and Sunway’s website, followed by wider release on Amazon and Google Play at a later date.

Do yourself a favor and purchase this beautiful rendition of a classic song - and support these two artists in their quest to spread some aloha using their considerable talents and very generous hearts. 

Music manager/programmer extraordinaire Brandon Apeles has organized a new “Music of Hawaiʻi” concert series that will be taking place on the third Wednesday of each month at the Doris Duke Theatre (Honolulu Museum of Art). 

The series features a mix of music genres from contemporary through traditional Hawaiian, and those scheduled to appear through January are all 2013 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winners (Hawaiʻi’s Grammy® Award).

The series begins August 21 at 7:30pm with Weldon Kekauoha. Here is the rest of schedule:

September 18: Nathan Aweau
October 16: Shawn Livingston Moseley
November 20: Dennis Kamakahi
December 18: Mike Love & Paula Fuga
January 15: Kamakakehau Fernandez

Ticket prices are $45 for VIP reserved seating ($40 for museum members), and $25 ($20 for members) for open seating. Tickets may be purchased at the museum's Visitor Information Center Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 4pm or online.  

The museum is located at 900 S. Beretania St. – the entrance to the theater is on Kinau Street.