(Photo by Aubrey Hord)
‘Ukulele Workshop: Saturday (October 16), 10am, McCoy Studio Theater, MACC, Free
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‘Ukulele Festival: Sunday (October 17), 1pm-6pm (gates open at 12:30), Events Lawn, MACC, Free
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Friday night (October 15), the Castle Theater gives stage to the New York company Complexions Contemporary Ballet, for a matchless showcase of art meets athleticism (CLICK HERE to read more). But as I often like to joke when the MACC hosts back to back days of artfully-inspired workshops/shows/festivals, you ought to just roll out your sleeping bag onto their well manicured lawn and call the cultural center home for the weekend (but really, obviously, don’t).
Actually, I take that parenthetical back. On Sunday (October 17), blankets are encouraged on the Events Lawn for the isle’s beloved ‘Ukulele Festival — celebrating its fifth year at the MACC. A lineup of performances by senior players (who’ve won such prestigious prizes in their field, like Grammy and Na Hoku Hanohano awards) and rising stars from Maui are sure to delight your ears all afternoon. Notables include Roy Skauma (MC), Herb Ohta-san, Kelly Boy De Lima, Uluwehi Guerrero, Kamakakehau Fernandez, Derick Sebastian and Da Ukulele Boyz with Peter DeAquino and Garrett Probst, plus budding talents Nick Acosta, Aidan Laprete Powell, and (near and dear to my heart*) the Kalama Intermediate School’s ‘Ukulele Band.
Door prizes including ukes from Kamaka ‘Ukulele, KoAloha ‘Ukulele, Ko’olau ‘Ukulele, Kanile’a ‘Ukulele, Kala ‘Ukulele, Pono ‘Ukulele and MGM ‘Ukulele will be given away throughout the event. And, food & beverage and arts & crafts booths will abound, for patrons to peruse.
Get a head start on Saturday (October 16) with a free ‘ukulele workshop for beginners and intermediate students, conducted by Roy and Kathy Sakuma. All ages are welcome, so long as the student is capable of comfortably holding C, F and G7 chords (please, bring your own uke, pencil and notepaper). To register for the workshop (not required, but recommended), e-mail ukulele@mauiarts.org.
These ‘ukulele happenings are brought to you by the MACC, Hawai’i Tourism Authority, County of Maui Office of Economic Development, Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, and National Endowment for the Arts.
Here’s an interesting tidbit (if you didn’t already know) from the press release:
In 1879, Portuguese immigrants arrived in Honolulu to work in the cane fields and brought with them a braguinha, a four-stringed instrument. As soon as they jumped off the boat, they started playing sweet strains and Hawaiians who came down to the dock were impressed with the speed of the musicians’ fingers as they danced across the fingerboard. They called the new instrument ‘ukulele, which translates into English as “jumping flea.”
(Photo by Aubrey Hord)
*Hey! I’ve know this guy — and since small kid times, too! He’s my classmate, Kamaka Fernandez. In fact, we used to play in “Poly,” Samuel Enoka Kalama Intermediate School’s ‘Ukulele Band (back in the 7th and 8th grade), under the direction of Mr. Rama Camarillo (who after many years at SEKIS, now teaches for Kamehameha Schools). With a name like Kamaka, no wonder he took four-stringing seriously. But the amazing part (to me), is how his gorgeous smile got more vibrant over the toiling (again, for me, at least) years that followed middle school (as if that wasn’t toil enough). As an aside, when I chatted with Raiatea Helm for a Music Scene feature, we recognized our common age and she asked me if I knew Kamaka. I replied, “Indeed!” and we giggled over the lovely web of ties Maui Nui weaves.
(Photo by Aubrey Hord)
Ah, and we should all know this guy. Falsetto king Richard Ho’opi’i is a mainstay at the ‘Ukulele Fest, and is not to be missed on any occasion.
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