Saturday Briefing

By Nancy Daniels

Congratulations to Kellen Paik and Lihau Hannahs, the duo known as Kupaoa, for winning the Kani Ka Pila Grille Talent Search at last weekend’s Hawaii Book & Music Festival.

Outrigger Enterprises Group was pleased to sponsor the Festival’s Sunday evening sunset concert “Outrigger Presents Kani Ka Pila,” with legendary slack key artist and Grammy winner Cyril Pahinui with Peter Moon Jr. opening the evening’s musical program, and the award-winning group Kaukahi closing out the night. In between was the very exciting Kani Ka Pila Talent Search, where four up and coming solo artists/groups competed to win a chance to play at the Outrigger Reef’s new Kani Ka Pila Grille.

Performing four songs each, the artists included Cyrus Irvine, Danny Carvalho, Kupaoa, and Manoa Voices. According to judges Cyril Pahinui, Kawika Kahiapo of Kaukahi, and our own Luana Maitland of the Kani Ka Pila Grille, it was a tough decision with such a talented slate of musicians. However, when the points were calculated, it was Kupaoa who came out on top.

The audience was charmed by the lyrical music and rich voices of the charismatic pair, whose debut recording “Pili o ke Ao” has been nominated this year for four Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, including “most promising artist.”

There were many people involved in making the debut of “Outrigger Presents Kani Ka Pila” such a success. They include from the Hawaii Book & Music Festival Roger Jellinek, Amy Hammond, and Mele Pochereva; our emcee for the evening Derrick Malama of Hawaii Public Radio; our musicians Cyril Pahinui, Peter Moon Jr., and Kaukahi, with group members Kawika Kahiapo, Barrett Awai, Dean Wilhelm, and Walt Keala; and, of course, our talent search contestants Cyrus Irvine, Danny Carvalho, Manoa Voices (Chadwick Pang, Justin Ka‘upu, and Naomi Castro), and Kellen Paik and Lihau Hannahs of Kupaoa. Mahalo also to the Outrigger team Kathy Hansberry, Sam Hoffman, Luana Maitland, Bill Comstock, Robert Bauer, Kimberly Agas, and publicist Susan Sunderland for their hard work and support.