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catheglass
Lokahi
USA
312 Posts |
 Posted - 06/11/2007 : 12:28:43 PM
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Aloha kakou:
Chatting with you from the Big Island, where I've been for the last week. don't have instant computer access, but I'll try and give you some news when I find cyber access.
Local events aren't like Oahu and Fran's marvelous travelogue, but boy am I having fun.
Monday nights, John Kaewe plays at the Bora Bora Lounge (a misnomer, it's outside and glorious) at the Kona Village Resort. You drive right up to the gate and tell them you want to listen, and off you go. It's an outdoor stage, surrounded by tables and lots of space, overlooking the water. You can order from the bar and sometimes they even have pupus available. John plays from about 6:00pm to about 9:00pm. I strolled in as he was playing "Kona Sunset" to glorious pink and orange skies. He played several of his standards, and also "Hawai'i's Hope" from his new CD, "My Beautiful Hula Dancer". Thy star spangled sky was lightened by an almost full moon rising from behind the stage. Ohtere tuens included "Mama's Music Box" and "Auntie's Rose Garden" and shoots, I can't remember them all. Auntie's fading memory.
On Wednesday night, there's a kanikapila that Konabob has mentioned, in Holualoa behind the Old Post Office. Everyone is welcome, and there were viritors from Ohio who didn't play, just wanted to listen. About 20 folks were there, including Gene, an incredible falsetto singer. Shirley accompanied Bob and played some lovely pa'ani for some tunes. Jack provided a strong lead for those who were hesitant. Didn't get a chance to meet eveyone by name, but there was auntie hula and some wonderful local playing.
Friday morning at 10:00am, at the Keahou Shopping Center near the KTA, Uncle Willie conducts an 'ukulele class whiwch is great fun. Both new pieces to learn and some solo perfomances, a particularly lovely "Kaiwaihae" from Cheryl Ramos. At 11:00am, Uncle Willie conducts a beginner class, and KonaBob holds a steel class nearby. He says Geri is his star pupil. Go Geri!
Day I attended there were few steel players, so KonaBob held an impromtu kani, and we were blessed with an Auntie who danced two hula, one of them "Ulupalakua" for us. Eight string 'ukulele player with the unusual name of Gengis Khan absolutely blew it away, escepially with a song he wrote about coming home to Kona. Maybe the name was "Goodbye Hilo", I'm not sure.
Sunday one needed to be in two places at once; Bruddah Smitty at Daniel Thiebold's Restaurant in Waimea, and Don Kauli'a in Kailua Kona at Huggo's on the Rocks. Found that Bruddah Smitty was up for a Thursday, whew. His playing and aloha were just amazing. Don't ask me for name of what he played, I foorgot in the stupor of the experience.
Don plays with L.C. Smooth (Leon) and they just rock the place, especially later in the evening. Earlier on there was terrific slack key with electric guitar pa'ani (!) and hula dancing. They played "Pua Olena", and "Wahine 'Ilikea" and "Over the Rainbow" and "In This Life" and "Hiilawe" and more.
Don has his new CD available, and it's terrific. Title is "Slack Key...In the Key of Aloha". There are duets with cello, on "Kealakekua Bay" and "Tears...Aloha9Eleven Victims" and the voices of the instruments are haunting. He also plays Holo Holo Ka'a and Opihimoemoe plus my favorite, an original "Napo'opo'o". You can just hear the road going from mauka into the kai.
Whew! There's more, but gotta go to class. ou hui hou, Cathe
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2007 : 12:37:36 PM
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Aloha e Cathe. Sounds like you are having a swell time. I would love to see Bruddah Smitty. What a beautiful singing voice and lovely guitar playing. His aloha comes through in Eddie Kamae's film about the Sons of Hawai'i. It is definite chicken skin time when he talks about the little blind girl following the sound of his music and telling him that it was beautiful. He said it gave him chicken skin...it almost make waimaka for me.
Enjoy yourself -- enjoy the scenery, the sunsets, sunrises and the kaukau. Oh, and don't forget da musics. Please keep us updated as you can.
Mahalo. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2007 : 12:59:26 PM
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Jack is also sitting in with Bruddah Smitty (playing ukulele) on Sundays at Thiebold's in Waimea (Kamuela) -- ask anyone in Waimea for directions. We all had our ukuleles with us a few weeks ago on Sunday and were able to play along in the back of the restaurant. I saw some of the sweetest hula to his songs there.
John Keawe also plays at the Kona Brewing Company, in the old commercial section of Kailua-Kona on Sunday night. We were able to listen to Bruddah Smitty Sunday afternoon, then take the "high road" down to Kailua, and catch John * KBC in one evening!! John's best venue is at the Bamboo Restaurant in Hawi every other Friday (or so -- call them to make sure he is there). |
E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
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Tonya
Lokahi
USA
177 Posts |
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