Enjoy a day of free, “life-giving” music experiences—creation, performance and education—as Windward Community College hosts the 2nd Annual Kani Kūola: UH System Music Festival on Saturday, April 1. The festival runs 10 a.m.–5 p.m. with a scholarship benefit concert at 6 p.m. in Palikū Theatre. Workshops will be in-person in Hale ‘Ākoakoa with live streaming available.
Highlights include a panel discussion of the “Music of the Hawaiian Renaissance” with Jon Kamakawiwoʻole Osorio, Liko Martin and Jerry Santos.
Workshops include:
- Collaborative Composition and Music Making with Keola Donaghy and Ken Makuakane
- ‘Ukulele Theory and Arranging with Benny Chong and Byron Yasui
- Haku Mele: Hawaiian Music Composition with Kawaikapuokalani Hewett
- From Mele to Motion: The relationship of words to movement in Hula with Kawaikapuokalani Hewett
- Sustainable instrument making and Hawai‘i reforestation with Kanile‘a ‘Ukulele
- Hawaiian Comping on Piano with Aaron Sala
- Historical Hawaiian instruments with Shawn Yacavone and Kilin Reece
- Music transcription tips with Jon Magnussen
- From hula to Hendrix: Hawaiian music impact on World Music with Kilin Reece
- Open Mic, with tomorrow’s artists performing in public for the first time
Guests are welcome to bring their instruments and voices. Faculty from UH music programs statewide will host morning educational workshops, afternoon master classes and a panel with music industry professionals.
Visit this year’s Kani Kūola: UH System Music Festival website for up-to-date event information. Register online.
“The goal for this year’s festival is to allow our campuses to come together in one space and to share what we are doing on our campuses with our community,” said Kamuela Kimokeo, Windward CC music instructor and Hawai‘i Music Institute director. “This is a time to celebrate not only the talent of our instructors but of the music makers in our communities.”
Evening benefit concert honors Hawaiian Renaissance music
Kani Kūola culminates with Mele Ho‘omālamalama, an evening benefit concert from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Palikū Theatre featuring music of the Hawaiian Renaissance by Santos, Osorio and son Duncan Kamakana, Ledward Ka‘apana, Martin and Kawaikapuokalani Hewett. All proceeds from the concert will go to the Kanile‘a Hawaiian Music Scholarship, making it possible for Windward CC students to learn and perpetuate Hawaiian music.
Windward CC alums Lina Girl Langi and Davey D will emcee the concert.
Tickets may be purchased online.
VIP tickets: $75 (includes premium seating, pre-show photo with the artists and signed poster)
General admission: $30
Student admission: $15
Livestream: $15
Please consider a donation to the Kanileʻa ʻUkulele Hawaiian Music Scholarship.
The UH music festival is scheduled to rotate to a new campus every year. Future hosts include UH Maui College in 2024.
Festival supporters include the Hawai‘i Music Institute at Windward CC, UH music faculty, and Kanile‘a ‘Ukulele.
For more information, contact Bonnie Beatson at beatson@hawaii.edu.
