Hilo’s Darlene Ahuna, winner of multiple Na Hoku Hanohano awards and one of Hawaii’s foremost female vocalists, and Kanakapila will headline the 2015 Kailua Kanikapila Community Picnic slated Saturday in Kailua Village. ADVERTISING Hilo’s Darlene Ahuna, winner of multiple Na
Hilo’s Darlene Ahuna, winner of multiple Na Hoku Hanohano awards and one of Hawaii’s foremost female vocalists, and Kanakapila will headline the 2015 Kailua Kanikapila Community Picnic slated Saturday in Kailua Village.
Kick back, relax and enjoy the show on the shoreline fronting Hale Halawai off Alii Drive. The free event gets underway at 4 p.m. and continues until sunset.
First to take the stage during Kailua Kanikapila is Ahuna, a multiple Na Hoku Hanohano award winner, including Female Vocalist of the Year. Ahuna headlined the inaugural Kailua Kanikapila Community Picnic inspiring some in the audience to perform hula.
Following Ahuna’s powerful renditions of Hawaiian songs and hula classics, Ben Kaili and J.J. Ahuna of Kanakapila take the stage to entertain picnic-goers with their traditional Hawaiian music as the sun sets over Kailua Bay.
“It’s just a way to get people back down to historic Kailua Village to be with the whole family at a free event with live music from award-winning musicians,” said Darlene Cho, who coordinates special events for the Kailua Village Business Improvement District. “It’s just another way to appreciate where we live and the local community. There’s not that many events in town that are free with such amazing talent. So, come down and enjoy a wonderful setting and a free concert.”
Now in its second year, organizers of the free community get-together expect dozens of people to descend on the county park located just south of the Alii Drive and Hualalai Road intersection. The event is sponsored by KVBID, Hawaii Tourism Authority and County of Hawaii.
Attendees are encouraged to pack their own chairs and mats, as well as a picnic to enjoy. However, Cho said, those sans picnic items should have no problem should if they get hungry mid-show thanks to an array of vendors who will be stationed at the county park, including Estrada’s Surf n Turf, Big Island Kettle Corn, JJ’s Mini Orbits Donuts and Scandinavian Shave Ice.
