Stories

As of July 5th, 2011, DVDs are $40 plus shipping while supplies last! Email Irwin aka 'Supes' for more details and to order your DVD today. ... Original post: For all of you who won't witness the final 70s Night Club Reunion, where Hawaiian R&B/disco/funk bands like Aura, Phase VII, Power Point and Greenwood will perform, here's your chance to see them live! Check it out: all of the live performances from Hawaii's hottest acts (from the 70s, that is) are being recorded to high definition DVD! Plus, the audio will be directly recorded from the mixer for the best...

I'm sorry for saying this, but if you weren't at the Hawaii Convention Center Ballroom to see Kalapana perform live at the 2011 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, you'll never know the feeling of hearing the band play "Naturally" that night. In front of an audience who lauded (they were awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award) yet mourned for the band and its loss of an irreplaceable lead singer and composer, Mackey Feary, Kalapana was fullly spirited in laughter and love. Kenji Sato and Malani Bilyeu at the 2011 Na Hoku awairds, 'Mourn' isn't the right word. Rejoiced, these people were celebrating...

Here's a quick overview of what I took away from the 2011 Na Hoku Hanohano awards festival. Kalapana performing "Naturally" live as the recipients of a Lifetime Achievement Award (just magnificent!). Touch of Gold. A Hawaiian Philly Motown Soul-style vocal group with a touch of, well, gold. Resonating quotes from presenters and award-winners Photos, photos, photos Bob Dylan, Slack Key and ... Tender Leaf? Ernie Cruz Jr. live and direct via Na Hoku workshops These are some of the ideas floating around in my head after spending the past two days experience the Hokus and its new Mele Mei month...

I'm always humbled whenever I engage with the Hawaiian music scene. It's a tight knit family of friends and relatives. People smile, hug, laugh. Everyone is warm and inviting. Everyone respects one another. It's a beautiful thing to be a part of.     No egos, no pride, just love and aloha. I was lucky enough to attend some of the 2011 Na Hoku Hanohano Festival Workshops. There were a lot of workshops held over a few days, featuring popular Hawaiian artists and mainland musicians. (Ernie Cruz Jr., Ray Parker Jr., Kimo Kahoano, Patrice Rushen to name just a few.)...

Covered by the Fabulous Krush but eternalized by its original composer on the AOR album of the same name, "Blame It On The Night" is one of the most laid-back tunes ever. But it wasn't written by a Hawaiian musician, yet it's worth mentioning on this Hawaiian music blog! The late Robert Byrne, a resident of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, wrote an album called "Blame It On the Night" in 1979, packed with ten near-perfect (okay, absolutely perfect) songs that push, pull and tear at the heart. In a word, Byrne's music is superb. His songwriting skills awarded him an induction...