Hawaii Performing Arts Festival kicks off new year with ukulele superstar
For 15 seasons, Hawaii Performing Arts Festival (HPAF) has continued to bring world-class music to Hawaii Island.
In preparation for its 2019 Summer Festival – HPAF’s 15th anniversary season – executive director Justin John Moniz welcomes ukulele superstar Jake Shimabukuro back to the Big Island to kick off this year’s momentous occasion.
Praised by the New York Times as a “master of the ukulele,” Jake Shimabukuro is no stranger to Big Island audiences. His heartfelt and captivating performances have cultivated quite the following both locally and worldwide.
“We are really thrilled to be presenting Jake again this season,” Moniz said in a press release. “Jake is one of the most exceptional and innovative ukulele players of our time, and has agreed to return for our annual scholarship fundraiser. All proceeds from his performance will assist aspiring young artists from Hawaii Island, as well as those worldwide, to study and perform during HPAF’s 2019 Summer Festival.”
The performance is at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort. Tickets are $85 general and $100 premium and are available for purchase by visiting: http://www.hawaiiperformingartsfestival.org/upcoming-events/.
Info: For additional information, please contact jjmoniz@hawaiipaf.org.
Kona Aloha Singers announce their first full season
The Kona Aloha Singers, an adult contemporary chorus, will begin their first full season on Thursday, Jan. 17 at the Kona Church of Christ on Palani. Check-in starts at 5 p.m. and rehearsal begins promptly at 6 p.m.
The chorus will be learning choral arrangements from 20th and 21st century songwriters in a fun but serious singing environment. Music genres include: Hawaiian, pop, broadway, modern, jazz and standard choral repertoire. This will include songs from Elton John, Leonard Cohen, Abba and Queen. There are no auditions and reading music is not required.
Artistic director Bernaldo Evangelista is an accomplished artistic director and choral accompanist. Bernaldo teaches orchestra, band and drama at Kealekehe Middle School.
The cost to join the chorus is $90, $35 for high school singers, plus $45 for sheet music. If you are interested in singing with the chorus, please email contact@konaalohasingers.org or message the Kona Aloha Singers Facebook page to preregister or just attend the first rehearsal Jan. 17.
The Kona Aloha Singers is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization and is currently seeking donations.
Learn how to make an ukulele
Waipahu Community School for Adults — Kona Campus, will be offering Guy Sasaki’s ukulele making course. The spring 2019 session begins on Monday, Jan. 28 and ends on Monday, May 20. Classes are each Monday, except holidays, from 6-9 p.m.. Registration fee is $120 (cash or money order), plus $100 for materials, which is paid during class. A list of required tools and supplies will be provided during registration.
Registration will be from Monday until Friday, Jan. 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.. The office is closed on weekends and Jan. 21 for Martin Luther King Day. Registration must be done in person and is open on a first come, first served basis (payment and registration) until the class size of 12 students is reached.
The office is located on the campus of Kealakehe Intermediate School, 74-5062 Onipaa St., F-2.
Info: Call 313-3032.
Kona Jazz Experience at the Aloha Theatre
At 7 p.m. Saturday, the Aloha Theatre will be home to the eighth annual Kona Jazz Experience which will once again bring together acclaimed jazz artists to perform a combination of jazz, soul, tango and reggae.
KJE is proud to debut original music by jazz composer Ann Hoku Lyn. This year’s show will feature Ann Hoku Lyn on trumpet, Russ McKinnon on drums, Matt Spencer on bass, Loren Wilken on piano, Truth Musiq on guitar and harmonica, Binti Bailey and Jeannine Guillory on vocals, and Amanda Trusty on tap dance.
The opening set will be by the Big Island Music Academy All-Star Jazz Band and special guests. The Big Island Music Academy teaches students ages 10 and up on a variety of instruments including bass, guitar, drums, ukulele, congas, piano, trumpet, flute, saxophone, trombone and vocals and provide the highest caliber of group instrumental and vocal music instruction, tailored to each student’s unique strengths and goals.
All proceeds will benefit the Aloha Theatre, a nonprofit organization. Tickets are $25 adults, $10 under 18 and may be purchased at AlohaTheatre.com.
SOKO exhibition opens
“Collective Synergy,” an exhibition by South Kona Artists Collective — SOKO, will feature a diverse art of this group of local artists. The public is invited to join the artists for the opening reception from 5-7 p.m. Saturday at Pictures Plus in Kona. Inspired by the natural beauty of Hawaii, SOKO artists will be showing a wide range of art, including watercolors, photography, woven and natural fiber art, woodcut prints, ceramics, jewelry, woodworking, mosaics and sculpture. All art will be available for purchase.
The exhibition is from Jan. 12-25 at Pictures Plus, 75-1006 Henry Street, Kailua-Kona and will be open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Info: Visit sokoartists.com.
Hula Kahiko is back at Volcano Art Center
The Volcano Art Center presents the first program in its 2019 Hula Kahiko series at 10:30 a.m. Saturday with a performance by Na kumu hula Pelehonuamea Harman and Kekoa Harman with Halau I Ka Leo Ola O Na Mamo.
The students of Halau I Ka Leo Ola O Na Mamo come from the Hawaiian language immersion K-12 school — Ke Kula o Nawahiokalaniopuu. For the past eight years, their mission has been to perpetuate the Hawaiian language and culture through mele and hula. All classes are conducted through the medium of Hawaiian language.
Held in conjunction with the Hula Kahiko performances, the public is invited to join Native Hawaiian cultural specialist Loke Kamanu and ohana on the lanai of the Volcano Art Gallery for a Na Mea Hula (all things hula) demonstration. Come and learn a hula, use various hula implements or try your hand at lei making. These cultural demonstrations are hands-on and family friendly and occur from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Hula Kahiko performance days.
Info: Visit www.volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-8222 for more information.