Saturday Briefing

By Kathy Hansberry  Two free kama‘aina concerts, Nā Mele No Nā Pua and the weekly Sunday Showcase, continue to entertain and attract music lovers to Waikiki Beach Walk.

Na Mele No Na Pua Kama‘aina Concerts are held every other month on the Grand Lanai of the Embassy Suites®-Waikiki Beach Walk® from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. The next concert is scheduled for Sunday, August 30, 2009, with Kumu Hula O’Brien Eselu, a frequent winner at the Merrie Monarch Festival and Na Hoku Hanohano award winner, together with his halau Ke Kai O Kahiki.

Hosted by Jeff Apaka, Sunday evenings bring together locals and visitors on the lawn at Waikiki Beach Walk to relax and enjoy the sounds and songs of talented island artists. From Hawaiian and jazz, to local island folk songs, contemporary and R&B, the Sunday Showcase concerts are held weekly from 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. on the Plaza Stage at Waikiki Beach Walk.

August Sunday Showcase Schedule

August 2 - Jennifer Perri (Contemporary/Hawaiian) - Jennifer Perri has been in the spotlight since age 13 when she won Hawaii’s top children’s talent contest and became co-host of the local hit television show, “OKC TV.” She released her self-titled mini-album in 2001 and recorded with ukulele musician Jake Shimabukuro on his “Gently Weeps” album and was featured in the Japanese movie, “Hula Girl.” Jennifer’s most recent project, “He Mele Aloha,” features coverings of traditional Hawaiian songs like Pua ‘Olena and Ku‘u Momi Makamae along with a selection of original songs.

August 9 – Kalei Gamiao (Hawaiian) - A 2009 Na Hoku Hanohano nominee, Kalei Gamiao has been playing ukulele since he was 13. Kalei’s dream of releasing a CD has become a reality in his new self-titled album with a contemporary-classical flair. Listening to his songs, you will experience what radiates from within this young man as he showcases his passion for the ukulele in original compositions as well as well-known tunes.

August 16 – Hapa Folk (Hawaiian/Contemporary Folk) Hapa Folk has been entertaining since 2001and performing with its present group of musicians since January 2004. The band plays a wide range of American folk, oldies rock, and traditional and contemporary Hawaiian. The band is well-known throughout the islands and continues to play extensively throughout Oahu, including on a regular basis at the Outrigger Canoe Club and Punahou School functions.

August 23 – Tahiti Rey (Pop) - Tahiti Rey is the youngest daughter of local entertainer Augie Rey and a recent winner of the 2009 Hawaii Music Awards for Best Pop Album. Tahiti’s first full-length album, “AcousticBeauty,” presents her as a mature modern pop artist with national potential. Critics are quoted saying, “She intimately sings a wide array of songs, stripped to their core by an acoustic guitar and conveyed in a soulful manner. She is a natural with a huge voice and delivers emotionally charged renditions of some of our favorite tunes,” and “pop fans familiar with original hits will likely applaud her reworked versions.”
August 30 – Pilioha (Hawaiian) - Pilioha is a Hawaiian music trio from the island of Oahu. The name Pilioha literally means “a family relationship.” The genre of Hawaiian music that the band perpetuates is hard to do because of the wide range of their repertoire. Some have labeled their music to be much like the music of the Hui Ohana, one of Hawaii’s all time popular groups. In 2006, Pilioha captured first place honors at the prestigious Ka Himeni Ana Unamplified Hawaiian Music Contest. In the Spring of 2007 the trio released their debut album self-entitled “Pilioha,” that earned them two nominations at the 2008 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for Most Promising Artist and Group of the Year.

Valet parking for up to four hours is available for $6 at the Embassy Suites - Waikiki Beach Walk (201 Beachwalk) and the Wyndham at Waikiki Beach Walk (227 Lewers Street), with any same-day purchase from any Waikiki Beach Walk merchant.