SEATTLE’S FOLKLIFE EXTRAVAGANZA TIME IS HERE…following are Hawaiian themed activities:

FRIDAY  MAY 25

1:40 p.m.                    OLO KANI @ Fisher Green Sage

SATURDAY MAY 26

7:20 P.M.                    TE FARE O TAMATOA @ the Exhibition Hall

8:30 P.M.                    BROTHER NOLAND @ Fountain  Lawn Stage)

SUNDAY MAY 27

HULA SHOW @ THE BAGLEY WRIGHT THEATER

11:10 A.M.                 HALAU HULA O NAPUALANI

11:45   A.M.                HALAU HULA NE LEI O MANUAKEPA

12:25 P.M.                  HALAU HULA KE LIKO A`E O LEI LEHUA

1:10 P.M.                    BROTHER NOLAND

UKENALIA/UKE SHOWCASE @ THE CENTER HOUSE

3 P.M.                           THE CASTAWAYS

3:35 P.M.                    THORNTON CREEK ELEMENTARY (5^TH GRADERS)

4:35 P.M.                    THE CANOTE BROTHERS

8:30 P.M.                    THE NAHILAHILA BOYS (Alki Court Stage)

Other “local area” activities:

May 19 The lovely “lady of Dance” Kathy DeAguair and her oh so talented Hokulani Dance Studio dancers are putting on their Annual Fund raiser in Bothell, WA….always one of the best events in this area.

MAY 19                      The MANU BAKER REGATTA (Outrigger Canoes) @ Spanaway Lake, WA

MAY 24                      ASIAN PACIFIC CULTURAL CENTER GRAND OPENING @ 4851 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma WA  (4-7:30 p.m.)

AT “DA PAC” (Pac Island Grill, 2012 S 320^th St),   Federal Way, WA, the new hot spot for Hawaiian themed music (plus great food and even better Hawaiian Aloha):

May  18          GROOVELINE HAWAII

May 19           LEO ALOHA

Across the Sound @ ALOHA KITCHEN in Silverdale, WA

May 26           MAKANI E

June 16          NAKI`I

MAKANI E (Roz and Jim Lowry) are on the road..catch them if you can for good fun/great music (Makani E contact @ “fairwindsmusic@hotmail.com)

May 26              Aloha Kitchen in Silverdale, WA

June 2              Bridge of Aloha in Bellingham (Ferndale Events Center), WA

June 29          Pono Hawaiian Grill, Santa Cruz, CA

July 21           Lakewood Elks Luau (Lakewood, WA)

July 28           Whaling Days, Silverdale, WA

KOHALA concerts with Halau Hula O Napualani

JUNE 1           Matthews Estate Winery, Woodinville, WA

JUNE 2           Phinney Ridge Community Center, Seattle

JUNE 3           Inhouse concerts at Jean’s (425-747-7655)

* * *WASSUP?  OTHER EVENTS, ACTIVITIES COMING SOON * * * * * *

MAY 17          The Native Arts & Cultures Foundation (NACF) in Portland, OR presents a special (NACF) Gala featuring Raiatea Helm

MAY 19          @ the Aladdin Theater, Portland, OR it’s the “other” Uke Man Herb Ohta Jr in concert

MAY 25          BROTHER NOLAND @ RIALTO THEATER, TACOMA, WA

MAY 27          BEEG FUNDRAISER FOR HUI HE’E HAU O WAKINIKONA (Snow Sliders of Washington Club)

Featuring  BROTHER NOLAND @ HARD ROCK CAFE SEATTLE with Po`okela Street Band, Kermit Apio

DEN COMES DA BEEG FESTIVAL WAY UP NORTH IN THE BELLINGHAM, WA AREA AS IT IS TIME FOR DA BRIDGES OF ALOHA which will be a day long event of Hawaiian/Native American themed activities/entertainment/food and fun stuff

JUNE 2                       BRIDGES OF ALOHA @ FERNDALE EVENTS CENTER 5715 Barrett Road, Ferndale, WA 98248.

JUNE 16                     Kumu Hula Onie Rendel and her Halau Kamakahiwaokalani presents Ho`olaulea (East the Mountains style) @ Stan’s Place 201 North Cedar, Kennewick, WA…..this group is very, very good and well worth the long drive over to Kennewick. Starts at 4 p.m.

JUNE 23/24                UWAJIMAYA SUMMER FESTIVAL @     their Renton store

WEDNESDAYS        ONGOING @ OHANA RESTAURANT, BELLTOWN AREA OF SEATTLE. Every Wednesday night it’s “young Hawaii kine music” (some traditional, lots of contemporary and Hawaiian Reggae)

JULY 8                       WAKINIKONA ANNIVERSARY celebration @ the Lakewood, WA Elks Club

SOME MO’ HAWAIIAN KINE ACTIVITIES

JUNE 6 & 7                LED KA`APANA & MIKE KAAWA @ THE TRIPLE DOOR, SEATTLE, WA

JULY 14                     ANOTHER BEEGIE!  The “Aloha O Na Kupuna Festival” @ Kennedy High School complex in Burien, WA

JULY 26/27/28           WOW, STILL ANOTHER BEEGIE:  THREE DAYS OF ALOHA sponsored by the Ke Kukui Foundation Vancouver, WA

AUG 18, 19                 Annual Renton Uwajimaya Polynesian Music Festival

* * * * * * * * * * * * FACES & PLACES * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Ke Kukui Foundation’s May Day is Lei Day event in Vancouver, WA was a huge success!  Lots of folks dropped in for the fun and food plus the all day long entertainment was top notch (with folks like Aunty Manu Lono and her Hula O Lono dancers and the super trio of musicians (Gary Medeiros, Tiko Kaeo and Bernie Simeona) who drove 150 miles from Seattle for the event…….driving down from Tacoma for the event was the Tahitian dance group Mana`ia)

I thought the highlight of the event was the very elegant

May Day Royal Court pageantry featuring the following high school students….

May Day Queen:   Marissa Malia Hanabusa (International High School of Beaverton,OR)

May Day King: Austin Taute (Union HS)

Hawaii Island Princess:   Kaulana Mahiai-Hess (Milwaukie, HS)

Oahu Princess…..Maleko Arango (Gresham HS)

Maui Princess……Bronwyn Skimseu-Arnold (Vancouver School of Arts & Academics/VSAA)

Molokai Princess….Miranda Cabral

Lanai Princess……Josie Henderson (Hudson’s Bay HS)

Niihau Princess…….Micah Tolai (Gresham HS)

Kauai Princess……Anna James (VSAA)

All of the Princess are hula dancers with various Halau Hula in Oregon and all were so beautifully dressed in long, flowing gowns matching the colors of the respective islands they represented…..each Princess had a handsome escort in Tuxedo style shirts but I did not get a chance to get their names…but it was an elegant pageantry and Queen Malia and all the Princesses did some awesome hulas……Ke Kukui Foundation president/founder Deva Yamashiro told me she wanted to replicate the May Day Court pageants that most of us who grew up in Hawaii remember ……..she and the young May Day Court’s members did a great job!

Among faces at the May Day  Event were several friends I have not seen in a while…

Recovering Cancer victim Gina Leialoha Mahiai-Hess looked sooooooo beautiful (and certainly beaming with pride about her daughter Kaulana who was the Hawaii Island Princess); she is still undergoing treatment for her cancer but says she is feeling so much better/stronger.  Tiko Kaeo, great ukulele player/singer/good golfer, also looked good (recovering from knee surgery and also heart ailments)he was playing music for Aunty Manu’s Halau…..another musician friend, Francis Doo was in the audience……my good friend Bernie Simeona (and wife Louise) were there too (and wolfed down on the great “Long John” pastries of Bullie Magasayo)!!!!  Those Long Johns are even mo’ bettah than da Delite Bakery Honolulu ones…..Kepule and Kaleo did great jobs as Master of Ceremonies or lead musicians respectively.

While the May Day Court Pageant was the single most outstanding act in this event, I have to congratulate Anela of Halau Hula O Manu for her outstanding comedy hulas which brought the loudest applauses for the day!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR…..September 29, 2012…There is a very special event “Pacific Islanders Education Summit” scheduled for that date where the hope is that Pacific Islander families, Pacific Islander Students and everyone involved in the State of Washington school systems (teachers/Administrators/staff/Legislators/Community leaders) gets to meet us Pacific Islanders and hear about issues/concerns that we have about how we need to improve the teaching environment for our Pacific Islander students.  Among the leaders of the group planning the PI Education Summit are Frieda Takamura, Sili Savusa (co-leader with me of this group) and young/upcoming Pacific Islander stars in the Education field Sheryl Day (Chamorro) and Rochelle Fonoti (Samoan wahine who grew up in Hawaii). The Summit will be at the South Seattle Community College site in West Seattle.

ONLY HAWAIIANS DO DIS KINE STUFF: Several years ago, the “hot” Hawaiian music group around the Seattle area was “Braddah Dem”….initially it was Tiko Kaeo and Billy Maquiling and Bernie Simeona..then when Billy went back to Hawaii, it was Tiko, Bernie and Elias Kauhane…the group broke up as the guys went their respective directions…ANYWAY, “Braddah Dem” nevah got a chance to Retire officially SOOOOO the guys (Tiko, Bernie, Elias) going come out of retirement so they can have an official retirement party (Aue…only Hawaiians do dis kine stuff huh?) No date set yet but I will let you know soon as I find out where and when…..Actually, Braddah Dem played a lot of gigs at the Kona Kitchen restaurant (and I hear that Kona Kitchen is planning to celebrate their 10^th anniversary soon soooooo that could be a great place and time for da Braddah Dem party too wouldn’t you say?????)

Very special CONGRATS to:

—to my Kamehameha School mate Kiha Kinney who will be all of da BEEG EIGHT ZERO (80) soon

—but especially: congratulations to the new Mrs Angela (Manke) Petersons who was recently married to Lucas Petersons in a very, very lovely wedding @ the Kualoa Resort on Oahu!

—to Da Portagee guy Stephen Braddah Gomes on his recent birthday (he said Portagees can only count to 39 so das wat he is (again))…..

Condolences to:

April West-Baker (wife of Ben Baker) on the recent death of her Dad (a retired US Army veteran)

Time to hele on….I hope to see a whole lot of you at some of the upcoming events

At the Folk Life Hawaiian Hula Show Sunday May 27………(I’ll be there)

I will be at the Bridge of Aloha event on June 2 (hope you are too…as we need to support our Hawaiian communities outside the Seattle Metropolitan area)

At the Triple Door to see Led Ka`apana and Mike Kaawa on June 7

I think I will be going to the Aloha Kitchen for the Makani E and Naki`i gigs…

I WILL BE @ the Three Days of Aloha Festival in Vancouver/Portland…..

I’ve stopped in at DA PAC (Pac Island Grill in Federal Way) a couple of Saturdays over the past few months to listen to/sing with the Kaulele trio and it has been fun (plus the food is ono) soooo I will definitely be stopping by again in the future (hope to see some of you there next time)…..

Be kind to each other……a hui hou e malama pono/until we meet next, take care…..Danny

Here are a few pictures of the many great entertainers who performed at the 2012 Aha Mele Festival last month….great photos (mahalo to the Bremers)!!!

* * * * * * * * * * FACES & PLACES * * * * * * * * * *

Lots of Hawaiian Islander students leave Hawaii and come to the “Continent” for college! I met five very beautiful young wahines who drove from Klamath Falls, OR for nearly 7 hours to attend the 2012 Pikanini (Baby) Bash in Yakima, WA. Not only were these wahine good looking, they also very akamai (smart)! Okay, how many of you would leave sunny Hawaii and go to a college high up on the Eastern slopes of the Cascade  mountains (between Oregon and California where you’re apt to get more snow days than sunny days?) These gals went there because they know that the specialized education they are getting at Oregon Technical College virtually guarantees they will be walking into well paying, specialized professions when they graduate from Oregon Tech.  The gals are:

Kai`ulani Evans-Bautista (from Hilo, Hawaii, a volleyball star for Kamehameha/ Hawaii campus) who is going for degrees in Psychology and Intercultural Communications!

Sarah Kamakana (Honolulu, HI) (Ultrasound training)

Kelsey Abellanida (Pukalani, HI (Ultrasound)

Chelsey Utemai (Kohala, HI) (Dental Hygiene)

Krystie Vea (Honolulu) (Psychology)

These Oregon Tech wahines practice hula on their own @ their mountain top campus and performed soooo very beautifully at the Pikanini Bash.  I thought Kai`ulani was the hit new hula dancing star at this Bash.

Accompanying the wahines was Dustin Kim Seu (Waipio, HI, Pearl City HS alum) who is also a student at Oregont Tech.

Lucas Smiral is a good man to know, a guy who loves the Hawaiian culture….I worked with Lucas of the Broadway Performing Arts Center association when they sponsored the recent Keola & Raiate in Concert” at the Rialto Theater in Tacoma…. a very nice guy…

Here is another good guy to know…. His name is Ricky Gene Powell, Executive Director of Tacoma First Night, which is an events promoter agency who are sponsoring Brother Noland @ the Rialto Theater on May 25^th!

* * * * * * DA 2012 PIKANINI BASH IN YAKIMA * * * * * *

Mahalo much to Da Man Ricky Chang for another outstanding party…Ricky is a humble guy who does not like to take credit for them but each year there are two HUGE gatherings of “East of the Mountains Hawaiians” which are outstanding examples of how to enjoy the best Hawaiian Islander culture can be (food, entertainment, fun, fellowship)!

Uncle Danny Kaopuiki & Ricky Chang

The 2012 Bash was another great party….complete with almost Hawaiian warm sunshine (over 70 degrees wow!)The two days long 2012 Pikanini Bash in Yakima, WA was an absolute BLAST! (and I am so sorry for those of you who weren’t able to attend)! Not huge in numbers attending but definitely huge in the quality of everything that occurred!  Congrats to the Alakai/ Leader of the host group (Ricky Chang) and his soooo talented helpers (Master Chef Wally Au, (Kamehameha grad); Sid Suenishi (the do everything guy) and the Suenishi ohana wife Sue/second Head Chef/ daughter Karen (chief photographer), sons Sid Jr and Brian, (the muscle guys) system added so much to the event!. Aunty Onie Rendal (Kumu Hula and entertainer plus decorator) was great doing decorations as well as singing and dancing hula.  Gotta tell you that I am kinda biased (`cause da guy is a fellow Lanaian) BUT Man-oh-Man can Wally Au cook…….lots of unique kind stuff and all so goooood! It was two days of all day long open buffet (filling opu, heart and memory banks with goooood stuff)…. Other faces at the Baby Bash included Ralph Roberts (Kanehoe) Doug Fairchild and his wife Sheryl (just returned from Maui where they celebrated their 40^th anniversary by redoing their wedding vows on the beach), the Esperas ohana came from Spokane as did my dear friend Pinki Culbertson. Aunty Onie Rendal and her hub Bob (really nice guy) and Aunty’s hula haumana from Kennewick were here as was Steve Tayamen (looking so very good as he recuperates from his stem cell surgery…Steve says his cancer is in remission, such good news)! Larry and Pinki Mattson of Yakima….Pat & Les Yoshinaga came all the way from Kaneohe to party @ the Bash….Kate Brougham came from Duvall, WA…Ellen Mamiya, retired educator was there…. then from the Seattle area was my Cuz, Peter Tabali (mucho great singer and bass/ukulele player) and his wife Robin plus Momi, Gregg Porter, Pat Brougham…..others included Alana Afualo (Haleiwa), Alton Yamuki (Waialae)…..Kenny, Gregg Esperas (from Spokane, WA) and the pretty LeAnne Esperas (also from Spokane) who did some lovely hula….

The entertainment was a wonderful blend of something old, something new and a whole lot of stuff in between…… mahalo to Darryl Tom (Pearl City/MPI alum) whose sound system made all of us sound soooo good! There was a group of musicians from Spokane area led by the one and only Kai Uahinui accompanied by the Esperas clan…Aunty Onie’s Halau Hula dancers from the Tri-cities were  great again (every year same thing, they’re just great)…and then the surprise students from Oregon Tech/Klamath Falls who drove for almost 7 hours just to join in at the Pikanini Bash and were so very, very talented (danced hula and sang a few contemporary Hawaiian songs)….

A belated Hau`oli la Hanau to my favorite hula dancer from Kennewick, WA Judy Kryzan who was at the Pikanini Bash, dancing as gracefully as ever even though she just had knee surgery….

* * * * * * NEW ENTERTAINER IN THE AREA * * * * * *

Aloha nui and welcome to the guy I thought was the best new talent at the recent Pikanini Bash in Yakima. His name is Kamaka o Pono (Tommy Borges) and Kamakaopono plays great music (nice guitar, the old Waikiki style…smooth and mellow voice) If his name sounds kinda familiar, yes he is ohana to that famous Borges guy (Jimmy) Kamakaopono lives up in the Mt Vernon area so if any of you in that area need a really good entertainer, contact kamakaopono@gmail.com!  Heck, he is available for the rest of Washington State if you want him so contact him if you want a real good entertainer! Welcome to the Pacific Northwest Tommy!!!

* * * * * * WASSUP…COMING EVENTS, CONCERTS, ACTIVITIES * * * * * *

MAY IS GOING BE ONE VERY BUSY MONTH…….

MAY 5 The Ke Kukui Foundation May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii festival in  Vancouver, WA starts @ 11 a.m. and pau around 7 p.m. (but I suspect there will be a party-after-the-party event as Aunty Manu Lono is taking her Aloha Serenaders and Hula O Manu gang down to play at the May DayEvent than her whole gang (and probably a bunch of the Ke Kukui group) will be jamming from 6-8 p.m. at Patrick Chang’s Hawaiian Cafe in Vancouver, WA)  The Ke Kukui may Day event is always a first class event with excellent entertainment and food (gives me my first chance to get my Favorite Bully Magasayo’s “Long Johns” and Malasadas!) I WILL BE THERE (not just for the Long Johns but because my mo`opuna Malia (4) and Noa (2) will be dancing hula)  The event is at the Jefferson Middle School, 3000 NW 119^th St, Vancouver, WA…

MAY 5 ***The beautiful/multi-talented Amy Hanaiali`i and Nathan Aweau in concert @ the Green River College in Auburn, WA

MAY 5 Eastern Washington University Luau, Cheney, WA info 509-359-2540)

MAY 5 CINCO DE MAYO party with Rylen Akana & the Po`okela Street Band @ Finaghty’s in Snoqualmie, WA  9 p.m-midnight

MAY 6            The Pacific Islanders Association Spring Luau in Spokane, WA

MAY 6            ***ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDERS HERITAGE MONTH FESTIVAL @ the Seattle Center.  Great entertainment all day long (starts @11:30 a.m.)  with Hawaiian Islander favorites Claire Cortez Hula Halau Kew Liko A`e O Lei Lehua going on at 1:45 p.m. and Hawaiian Reggae Kore Ionz @ 3 p.m.

MAY 7-9         HO`OPONOPONO WORKSHOPS (info 206-323-5871)

MAY 12          KONAKAPILA SPAM JAM KANIKAPILA @ Kona Kitchen Restaurant, Seattle, WA, 9 a.m.-Noon

MAY 12          MOKUAINA A WAKINIKONA HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB General Membership Meeting & May Day is Lei Day celebration @ the Old Polish Hall, 1630 East 30^th, Tacoma, WA

MAY 12 ALOHA SERENADERS @ Kauai Family Restaurant 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

MAY 19          “HERB OHTA JR IN CONCERT” @ the Aladdin Theater, Portland, OR Sponsored by the KIAKO Foundation

MAY 24 ASIAN PACIFIC CULTURAL CENTER GRAND OPENING 4851 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, WA    4-7:30 p.m.

MAY 25           ***BROTHER NOLAND “CELEBRATE THE ALOHA” CONCERT @ the Rialto Theater in Tacoma, WA ((206-551-3244 for info)

MAY 27 BROTHER NOLAND @ THE HARD ROCK CAFE, SEATTLE, WA Fund raiser for the Hui He`e O Wakinikona (the Snowsliders of Washington Hui )

JUN 2             THE BRIDGE OF ALOHA FESTIVAL in Bellingham, WA @ the Ferndale Events Center (360-319-3601 info)

* * * * WANT TO VOTE FOR THE HOKU HANOHANO AWARDS? * * * * *

This information from Janet Napoles via Kai Uahinui (in Spokane) and verified by our own Hawaiian Music Guru Gregg Porter….the public can cast votes for Hoku Hanohano awards by going to http://www.hara-vote.com.  Problem is that by the time you read this the website will probably be closed (as okay, save this info for next year)!

* * * SPRING IS HERE SO SUMMER GOTTA BE AROUND DA CORNER?? * * *

One sure sign that summer is almost here is when da outrigger canoes start their racing season.  Here is the NW Outrigger Racing Canoe  Association (NWORCA) schedule of races.

MAY 19:         Manu Baker Regatta @ Spanaway Lake, Spanaway, WA

May 28           Greenlake Regatta, Seattle, WA

June 9             Silverlake, Everett, WA

June 16          Waterfront Prk, Silverdale, WA

June 23          NWORCA Chmapionships, Silver Lake, Everett, WA

June 30          Corbett, OR

* * * * MALAMA KO ALOHA: A BEAMER TRADITION * * * *

I had the distinct pleasure of doing a pre-concert introductory presentation about Keola Beamer and Raiatea Helm @ the Rialto Theater, Tacoma WA before they went on stage on April 27, 2012.  It was an honor to talk about “MALAMA KO ALOHA” (KEEP, CHERISH THE LOVE)  which has been the motto of the Beamer Ohana for generations.

The Beamer genealogy goes back to the 14^th century and their lineage includes a Queen Ahiakumai Ki`eKi`e and Kameiamoku (a favorite wife of King Kamehameha).  I was especially impressed with the passion the generations of Beamers have had for their Hawaiian culture, especially in the world of music!

Starting with Helen Desha Beamer who was instrumental in the early and mid 1930’s in helping rebuild the Hawaiian culture which had been torn apart after the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. Helen Desha Beamer created the Beamer hula style; she wrote such beautiful songs as Kawohikukapulani!

In the 1940’s Helen Beamer was followed by Aunty Nona Beamer (renowned Chanter/author/educator/song writer but especially notable for her activism on issues of Hawaiian rights) Aunty Nona was a critical part of the grass roots movement that eventually resulted in revamping/improving the way in which the Bishop Estate Board of Trustees managed the Kamehameha Schools system (she believed the Board at the time was mis- managing the system thus not providing the best educational opportunities for the children of Hawaii).

Then there was the master Falsetto singer Mahi Beamer who captivated a world of fans for Hawaiian music.

In the 1970’s it was the Beamer Brothers Keola and Kapono who stormed the Hawaii music world with “Honolulu City Lights” their recording of  which is still the best selling Hawaiian recording of all times.  Currently, Keola is continuing to “Malama Ko Aloha” with his concert tours and with his Aloha Music Camps in Hawaii.

Kaliko Beamer-Trapp (adopted, third son of Aunty Nona Beamer) has created still another dimension for “Malama Ko Aloha” with his online Hawaiian Language program which has taught thousands about Olelo (understanding and speaking the native language of Hawaii)!

Raiatea Helm, Moloka`i wahine, has been captivating audiences worldwide for many years since she began singing in her own ki`e ki`e/falsetto style while she was a teenager!. Raiatea has her own musical lineage including George Helm, a gifted musician who has become an Icon for Native Hawaiians striving to gain recognition as an indigenous people.  George Helm, at age 27, was lost at sea protesting the use of Kaho`olawe as a bombing target by the U.S. Navy (the poignant song “Hawaiian Soul” was written to honor George Helm).  Many in the Seattle area may remember Larry Helm, Raiatea’s uncle, who was one of the top Hawaiian entertainers in the Seattle area in the 1970’s playing at places like the Golden Door or the Dynasties!

KEEP THIS DATE IN MIND!!!  Channel 9, KCTS will be telecasting a special show called “PBS Presents:  Keola Beamer, MALAMA KO ALOHA!” at 11 p.m. Tuesday May 22, 2012!

Special wishes get well wishes:

to Kawehi Papalimu Howard’s Dad Joe Papalimu undergoing treatment for cancer!

To Shirren Kaaiai and hubby Carl Kaaiai, both suffering some health ailments…….

To Kenny Esperas recovering from Kidney transplant……..

To Steve Tayamen recovering from Stem Cell treatment…….

Time to hele on…be kind to each other….lots of things to do so get out and live a little/Hawaiian Style………a hui hou e malama pono………..Danny

Katchafire live in Las Vegas

Aloha Holoholonw readers…Sistah Maile here…just got back from 96º in da shade kine weather in Las Vegas, Nevada for the Pure Aloha Festival featuring one of my favorite bands – Katchafire from kiwi country New Zealand. Flew in just in time to grab some ono grinds and catch Rebel Souljahz open up for Katchafire. If you ever listen to Hawai’i Radio Connection 2nd Saturday you know deez guys is top of da list for me so it was so amazing to see them live!

Hawaiian Marketplace decor still stands

Next day we went cruise da strip and made sure to visit the Hawaiian Marketplace but when we got there, no moah noting! Was vacant except for one restaurant. Luckily there was an ABC Store we stopped into for some goodies before riding New York, New York roller coaster. All I can say is – AIYA – dats one awesome ride.

Life is whole lot like a roller coaster – plenny hairpin turns and unexpected loops (maybe some whiplash too)…but also get to laugh so hard broke da face and priceless memories. Hope you stay making your ride memorable! A hui hou…talk story later…Sistah Maile.

If you didn’t get there early, you probably ended up parking blocks away when you got to the Mokuaina A Wakinikona 2012 `Aha Mele Festival…..it was one of the largest crowds to ever gather at the Chief Leschi School complex  for the annual Hawaiian themed event and what a fabulous event it turned out to be…Aue, even the Sun was shining that day and folks were raving about the food and the great workshop by Kalani Hiapo and tons of great/unique vendors selling everything from cracked seed/poi/portuguese sausage (Hawaii General Store) to Easter candy baskets to intricate carved implements like canoe paddles and musical instruments to beautiful clothing and then there was the popular Mel Ponder Photography booth where you could get beautiful portraits taken (contact for Mel’s Photography is http://bit.ly/HiH9Is) Entertainment highlights were the awesome performances by groups like Aunty Moody Ka`apana’s Halau Hula Pulamahi I Ka Liko Lehua, Kuulei Gumapac’s Halau Hula Na Hanu O Kuuleialoha, Kalau Hula O Healani (Kumu Healani Kekala) and the oh-so very popular Hula Halau Ke Liko A O Lei Lehua (Kumu Claire Cortez) whose young dancers stole the show again (they seem to do it every year)! BUT, as I get a little more gray haired,  I am starting to appreciate some of the older hula dancers a little more so wanted to especially praise Pikake and Tapo Arouquiame and their Hula Makana Aloha ladies (Mary Verduin and her fellow dancers from the Renton Senior Center who were all soooooo good!)

Congrats especially to the Mokuaina Hawaiian Civic Club President Ben Baker and his group for a job well done.

Special commendations and mahalos also to Kumu Deva Yamashiro (Ke Kukui Foundation of Vancouver, WA) for bringing up her Foundation members who gave a spirited and informative play called “Ka Lei Maile Ali`i” (story about the women of Kahiko Hawaii who were opposed to the Annexation of Hawaii by the United States).

Ah, da people………….it was like “homecoming week” as I saw so many Hawaiian Islander folks whom I had not seen since the 2011 Aha Mele Festival….Ben and April baker, Sam & Lulu Awa’a, Phillip Akeo, Rocky Sarono (Damien HS alum/member of the Tropical Sensations group), Tom & Deb Horn (Castle HS folks), June & Roy Quemado (Leilehua HS) Maile Willrich (Kailua HS) Jack L Winn Jr (Kaohimaunu, Big Island), my Holoholo right hand lady Maile Lono-Batura, her daughter Schaller and sister Keana & Dad Steve Lono….coming up from the Vancouver, WA/Portland, OR area were Kumu Deva Yamashiro and her Ke Kukui Foundation group including Randy Chang (one of the best guitar players in the Pacific NW) and his wife Janey…

* * * * * * WASSUP—COMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES * * * * * *

APRIL 21        DA PIKANINI BABY BASH in  Yakima, WA…one of the two large Annual Gatherings (food/fun/festivities/music and dances) of the “East of the Mountains” Pacific NW Hawaiian Islanders!  Hosted by Da Man Ricky Chang, this is one of the best “backhome in Hawaii style” parties one could hope to attend here in the Pacific NW…..it’s called the Baby Bash cause da BEEG one is the Blue Bridge Bash in October in Kennewick, WA) A couple hundred folks show up for the Baby Bash (including master musicians like Pete Tabali, Bernie Simeona, Bill & Gloria Nahalea, Gregg Porter from the Seattle area and Francis Doo from Portland…yep, you bet: I will be there too and I’ll let you know what happened in my next Holoholo column)

APR 21 If I was not going to Yakima, then I would be going to the Aloha Kitchen in Silverdale, WA to enjoy their great food and to catch the Naki`i duo (Mike and Erma Kuenzli) They are such goooood fun entertainers…if you not going to Yakima, den dis is where you should be going!!!

APR 24           KEOLA BEAMER & RAIATEA @ an inhouse concert (@ Jean’s in Bellevue). Sorry to announce that dis one is Sold Out already (Got my ticket so I will be there)!

APRIL 26        ELIAS @ the Very Taki Tiki B & G in Edmonds, WA

APRIL 27        KEOLA BEAMER & RAIATEA HELM in Concert @ the Broadway Performing Arts Center (Rialto Theater) in Tacoma, WA.  I will have the honor and privilege of introducing Keola and Raiatea on stage so why don’t you all come down and join me???!!!! It will be a fun night  with such great musicians as Keola and Raiatea plus the very elegant, beautiful Mahealani dancing hula for you

APRIL 28        KAULELE @ the Pac Island Grill in Federal Way, WA!

APRIL 28        ALOHA SERENADERS @ Uwajimaya, Renton store

MAY 5 Da place to go to celebrate May Day 2012 is @ the Jefferson Middle School in Vancouver, WA when the Ke Kukui Foundation presents their May Day program

MAY 5 Closer to the Seattle Metropolitan area:  the Green River Community College Hawaiian Concert Series presents Amy Hanaiali`i and Nathan Aweau, two of Hawaii’s best entertainers in concert on the Green River CC campus in Kent, WA. I would go to this concert BUT my mo`opuna Malia (age 4) and Noa (2) are dancing at the May Day event in Vancouver so dat is where I will be (much as I love Amy, my mo`opuna take priority this time)

MAY 6 ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION @ the Seattle Center….representing our Hawaiian Islander cultures will be Kumu Claire Cortez and her Hula Halau Ke Liko A O Lei Lehua plus the Hawaiian Reggae group Kore Ionz…Free show!!!!

MAY 7-9         HO`OPONOPONO WORKSHOP (learn how to bring peace, harmony, balance, wisdom and love into your life Hawaiian style/it’s da best kine!) featuring renowned Kanaka Maoli/Native Hawaiian Medicine specialist Dr Maka`ala Yates.  Contact 206-323-5871 for info.

MAY 19 Per information from Lani Wiig: the KIAKO Foundation in Portland, OR is sponsoring “Herb Ohta Jr” in concert @ the Aladdin Theater in Portland…great show for a great cause (KIAKO Foundation puts on a number of Hawaiian  Cultural activities geared at perpetuating the Hawaiian culture/improving the well being of Hawaiian Islanders in the Portland area).

JUNE 1-3 The 2012 Edmonds, WA Waterfront Festival…..lots of multi-cultural activities/performances including Hula/Mele by Kumu Krista Espiritu and her Hula Halau Lehualani! A really neat family style event on the beautiful Edmonds waterfront!!!

JUN 2             NW Hawaii Ohana Bridge of Aloha Festival @ the Ferndale, WA Events          Center in the Bellingham, WA area.  The event will bridge the gap between cultural groups (Native Americans/Pacific Islanders/Canadians/Alaskan Natives/et al) who live in the northern reaches of our Pacific NW aina (360-319-3601 or 360-393-9306 for information or if you want to be a vendor or an entertainer at the event)

JUNE 3           KOHALA is back in Seattle….the great guitar trio will be playing at an inhouse concert (Jean’s Hale O Mele in Bellevue) Da Best Way to hear/see musicians (very upclose & personal) 425-747-7655 for info!

JUNE 23, 24 New event:  UWAJIMAYA SUMMER FESTIVAL…More info coming!

JULY 8           6^th Anniversary celebration of the Mokuaina A Wakinikona Hawaiian Civic Club @ the Lakewood, WA Elks Lodge

JULY 14         ALOHA O NA KUPUNA FESTIVAL sponsored by Aunty Manu and her Hula Halau ‘O Lono group…@ the Kennedy HS complex in Burien, WA

JULY 26, 27, 28         KE KUKUI FOUNDATION’S “THREE DAYS OF ALOHA” Hula & crafts workshops Thursday/Friday @ the Embassy Suites by the Portland, OR airport.

Thursday: workshops all day long then a kanikapila jam session in the Embassy Suites lounge (good fun stuff)

Friday: workshops during the day then the Hapa Haole Hula Competition @ the Esther Short Park in Vancouver, WA. Free and good fun show!!!!

On Saturday, DA BEEG “Ho`ike in The Park” show (FREE) @ the Esther Short Park in Vanocuver, WA!

“THREE DAYS OF ALOHA” is a TRULY GREAT EVENT which draws hula and crafts students from all over the US and Canada and over 10,000 people for the Ho`ike in the Park Show!

YOU GOTTA GO SEE THIS EVENT!!!!!

AUG 18, 19     Annual RENTON UWAJIMAYA POLYNESIAN MUSIC Festival @ THE Uwajimaya Store in Renton, WA

* * * * * * * GET INVOLVED—SAVE DA DATE * * * * * * *

Did you know? I hope you care! Some of The latest statistics about our Pacific Islander communities in the Pacific Northwest are sooooo scary!!!!!

—Graduating on time rates for Pacific Islander High School students has never been good and is not improving very much (was 58.7% graduating on time in 2008, 57% in 2010)

—Pacific Islanders over age 25 with Bachelor degrees was 11.2% of the PI population in 2008 and 7.6% in 2010 probably meaning that fewer are graduating from college or those with degrees are going elsewhere!

—the unemployment rate of Pacific Islanders was 6.5% in 2008 and 11.7% in 2010.

—the Pacific Islanders poverty rate was 17.7% (2008) and a virtually unchanged 17.3% in 2010.

—Pacific Islanders and Asians combined occupy ONLY 6% of the total Washington STATE workforce.

Many among us believe that education is critically important for our Pacific Islander communities!!! Much of the above statistics are driven by the fact that too many of our people are “failing” because we can’t compete against others (most of whom have a better education than we do).  Several people with Pacific Islander ties (folks like Tim Culler, Mele Aho, Stan Dahlin, Reidar Smith, Rochelle Fonoti, Mikey Tuncap, Cris Takayama, Sili Savasu, Bobbie Daligcon, Sheryl Day, et al) are working with me trying to improve the environment for learning for our Pacific Islander youth!  SAVE THIS DATE: On September 29, 2012, there will be a Pacific Islander Education Summit @ South Seattle Community College where we want YOU to come join us so we can discuss academic issues/concerns/options/solutions/ programs/etc among ourselves and those (legislators, educators, administrators, teachers, et al) who can help make the improvements in our school systems.

NW Ohana Scholarship available! The NW Hawaii Ohana Association of Bellingham, WA is proud to offer a $500 scholarship to a qualifying student BUT you gotta apply by the May 15, 2012 deadline to be considered.  Check website nwhawaiiohana.webs.com for information and application form.  Mail form to NWHO Scholarship Commitee 3222 30^th Street, Bellingham, WA

* * * * * * * * * * FACES & PLACES * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FACES first….

Tamari Miyashiro (Kalani HS alum, from Waialae Iki, Oahu) recent graduate and star Libero on the University of Washington’s wahine volleyball team (four time PAC-10 All Conference/three times All American/National Defensive Player of the Year 2007 and 2008) is currently trying out for the 2012 U.S. Women’s Olympic Volleyball team!  Good luck Tamari!!!!!

KAPENA is coming!!!!  Yep, that great entertainer will be the headliner attraction @ the 2012 LIVE ALOHA HAWAIIAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL in Seattle on September 9, 2012!  Joining him will be KEALI`I KANEALI`I (a member of the original HAPA group and also brother of Aunty Maile Baker/Matriarch of the huge Baker Ohana in Washington State and very popular Seattle area entertainer)!

A very, very special couple:  Beverly and Stephen Melin….I was the “relief Master of Ceremonies” for the 2012 Aha Mele Festival (that was a fun job) and around 1:30 p.m. Ben Baker (the primary MC) called me to the main stage and surprised me by telling the audience about the different things I do on behalf of the Pacific NW Hawaiian Islander community.  Ben then shocked me by presenting me with two very special awards for my service to our community.  First was a very handsome and very delicate miniature outrigger canoe…..then saying that a canoe needs a paddle, he gave me a 6 foot high kahili with a regular sized paddle attached thereto.

Uncle Danny Kaopuiki being honored for involvement in Pacific NW islander activities at Aha Mele Festival

Both the miniature canoe and the Kahili/Paddle were made by the very talented Stephen Melin assisted by his beautiful wife Beverly………Mahalo Ben, Stephen and Beverly for the beautiful mementos which will always remind me of the wonderful Hawaiian Islanders of the Pacific NW.

Among the entertainers at Aha Mele was Marama Geronimo (who performs regularly in Las Vegas) but flew to Seattle to play music with his ohana Tapo Arouquiame!

One of the true leaders of Kahiko Hawaii (particularly on the island of Lana`i in the early 1900’s) was Judge Solomon  Kaho`ohalahala.  Carrying on the proud legacy of the Kaho`ohalahala ohana is the Judge’s great grandson Sol Kaho`ohalahala who was a member of the State of Hawaii legislature for several years but more recently has become very involved in the efforts to perpetuate the Hawaiian culture including a project to memorialize the Kalaupapa settlement on Moloka`i! Sol (who is my ohana) was a guest on the Hawaii Radio Connection show (with Braddah Gomes, Gail and I) in Seattle on April 14<sup>th</sup> during which he stated that the kalaupapaohana.org group he works with is trying to create a memorial which will recognize all (as many as possible) of the apporximately 8,000 Native Hawaiians who were exiled to Kalaupapa between 1866-1969 because they were afflicted with Leprosy/Hansen’s disease.  Of that 8,000 total there are around 1,500 who have gravesites or headstones that identify them….Sol and his group are trying to identify as many of the others as they can (YOU  can help….if you had relatives/friends who were exiled to Moloka`i, contact the Kalaupapa Ohana group and give them whatever information you have). His newest project is determining the status of fisheries around the island of Lana`i (how and what changes have occurred in native Hawaiian waters/fisheries)  Maholo Sol for all the work you are doing in trying to memorialize those who lived their lives out in Kalaupapa and in the fisheries project!

ALOHA `OE JERRY!!! Speaking of Lana`i, I must sadly say Aloha `oe to a great guy who spent some of his growing up days on the island of Lana`i……Jerry Takasaki was an educator who lived in the Shoreline, WA area for many years then retired and moved out to the country (Camano Island) to relax with his wife Ginger.  Jerry suffered a heart attack and died a few days ago.  The Takasaki “boys” (Jerry/Sonny/JP and Bucky) were among the first Hawaiian Islanders I met when I first moved to the Seattle area in 1974………..all really great, first class guys/families! Back in those days, “JP’s Restaurant” in Edmonds was the hangout for a lot of us Hawaiian Islanders…condolences to Jerry’s ohana!!!1

Boy talk about birthday dates that are NOT likely to be forgotten/mistaken!!!

Hauoli la Hanau to five of our favorite people whose B’days happen to fall on Tax Day…..

To my daughter Shannon Malia Kaopuiki Delaney!

To Ruth Trendall Cummings!

To Tanya Jose!

To Aunty ‘Nona Keohokapu Alo!

And (had to be at least one guy in there) to Thomas Gibson!

Hope you all had an awesome special birthday!

Aue…time to go pay my taxes and hele on down the road……

Be kind to each other…………….a hui hou e malama pono…………….Danny

Uncle Danny visits Gail Stringer at Hawai'i General Store booth

Aloha Holoholo readers…Sistah Maile here…it was great to see some of you at the ‘Aha Mele festival earlier this month. Like Uncle Danny said…place was solid with plenny of our NW ohana, vendors and ono kaukau. We arrived toward the end of the program and were lucky enough to get some of the last few bags of poi from Hawai’i General Store (mahalos foah dat Gail Stringer). After we ate some of the onolicious plate lunches, we were able to catch some of the interactive play and I was really taken back by how intrigued my 4-year old was in hearing them speak Hawai’ian and trying to understand what was happening. I told her about the Hawai’ian Monarchy and how a group of people jailed the Queen so they could rule the land. Her simple and candid response was, “that’s not very nice at all.” It made me remember how important it is to share our history with our keikis so they know about these truly amazing – real superheros that shaped our history like Queen Lili’uokalani. So easy to get caught in our day-to-day, it’s things like this that remind me how important it is to take time to reflect and share these stories with our ohana.

Talk story later…..a hui hou…..Sistah Maile

* * * ALOHA KITCHEN RESTAURANT—WHAT A GREAT PARTY PLACE * * *

Owners Lori Ann & Kim Lafontaine know how to put a party on @ their Aloha Kitchen Restaurant, 10516 Silverdale Way NW, in Silverdale, WA.  It was Saturday March 31, 2012 which was supposed to be just another weekend but Lori Ann & Jim decided to put more live entertainment on their schedule and that evening Makani E (Roz and Jim Lowry) were the headliners and the word got out and the place was jam packed…and it was a great party…..Makani E play some real goooood music.  Folks came from all over the place:  Kim Allen came from  Olympia WA while Bernie and Louise Simeona came over from Mukilteo;  good friends Beverly and Stephen Melin came from the Seattle area (if you ever get a chance, sit next to Steve Melin and watch him draw pictures (the man is an absolutely fine artist as he draws pictures of people around him…his artistic talents extend to the magnificent miniature outrigger canoes he builds as a hobby)!  Also there were Millie Barcena Kiyan (wahine from Hakalau, HI and Hilo HS alum who now lives in Silverdale, WA); Wendy Wong (Makiki/Roosevelt HS); the beautiful Kumu Hula Diane Kekela; Paul Lugo; Keola Barretto(Pearl City ’97) and Maile Hemm-Barretto (Moanalua HS ’99); Shanti Takemoto; Judy Perdue (Waianae wahine) and US Navy dependents Melinda and her daughters Jasmine and Sabrina (who just returned to the Pacific NW from Hawaii); Mike & Erma Kuenzli (Naki`i duo) came over from Sequim…

And den dere was da very hardworking Aloha Kitchen staff:

—our lovely waitress Valerie Namakaokealoha Shaddot

—the La Fontaine twins, both star athletes at Central Kitsap High School

—–Cody is just a junior (quarterback/punter/safety) but already attracting recruiting interest from colleges

—–his twin sister Logan is a basketball, track and volleyball star @ Central Kitsap

—–the rest of the LaFontaine siblings Clayton and Nick also help out in the restaurant

After the Makani E duo got off stage, Bernie Simeona and I (and Jack Aldrich) got called on to do a few numbers (twas lots of fun)

Anyway the next beeg party @ the Aloha Kitchen will be on Saturday April 21^st when Naki`i will be the headliners….sooooo, mark your calendars and go to the Aloha Kitchen, Silverdale for a great party night…..

* * * * * * NHEA AWARDS  2012  * * * * * *

A   lot of us see her in  the Pacific Northwest every  4^th weekend  in  July when the beautiful,  funny, sometimes kolohe (in a nice way) and so very talented Aunty Vicky Takamine Holt puts on her Kumu Hula hat and begins to teach  haumana at the annual Three Days of Aloha festival in Vancouver, WA/Portland, Oregon new dances. That she is an outstanding Kumu Hula (hula instructor) is a fact we all have acknowledged. She is also the founder of MAMo (Maoli Arts of the Month) program in Hawaii. During their 2012 Convention, the Native Hawaiian Education Association (a non-profit organization of  Native Hawaiian educators) honored  Aunty Vicky as one of the Three “Educators of the Year” in Hawaii!  Moses Crabbe (whose brother Michael lives among us up here in the Pacific NW) and Kalena Silva were the other two honorees!  Congrats to all three….we’ll be seeing Aunty Vicky @ the 2012 Three Days of Aloha Festival in July.

* * * * WASSUP? COMING ACTIVITIES & EVENTS * * * *

April 7:            Da first really Beeg Hawaiian themed event in the Pacific Northwest happens April 7, 2012 with the annual Aha Mele Festival @ the Leschi Schools complex in Puyallup, WA.  YOU ALL COME OKAY???  Sponsored by the Mokuaina A Wakinikona Hawaiian Civic Club, this event brings some of the finest entertainers and vendors together under one roof…..program begins at 11 a.m. and ends around 7 p.m.  Cy Pierce of the sponsoring Hawaiian Civic Club needs volunteers to help run the food ordering line at the event (contact her 360-259-2591 or auntycy@msn.com if you can help…nice easy job and you get free entry/ free meal)

Schedule of events

11 a.m.                  Opening Pule

11:40 a.m.            Halau Hula Na Opio O Wakinikona

12:15 p.m.            Kaulaili music Sam Awa’a & Friends

12:50 a.m.           Kumu Mahina Lazzaro & Hula Wahine Ilikea

1:45 p.m.              Halau Hula O Ku`u Leialoha

2:20 pm.              Halau Hula O Healani

3:00 p.m.            Halau Hula Ke Liko A`e Lei Lehua

4:20 p.m.            Ka Lei Maile Ali`i, and interactive play about the opposition to Annexation of Hawaii (Ke Kukui Foundation of Vancouver, WA) A MUST SEE

5:10 P.M.           Apato’crau Tahitian group

5:45 p.m.            Monday Ukulele Ohana

6:55 p.m.             Last chance for Plate Lunch

7:00 p.m.            Pule & Hawaii Aloha……all Pau!!!!

April 6 & 7            The popular Hawaiian Reggae group Two Story Zori will be @ the Longhorn BBQ in Auburn, WA. Info @katafund.org.

April 6, 7          Pacific Islander Studies Conference @ the Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA (11 a.m.-4 p.m.)

April 12            Black Seeds, Kore Ionz, Mighty High @ the Crocodile Tavern in Seattle

April 17            Keola Beamer & Raiatea Helm in concert @ the Broadway Performing Arts Center/Rialto Theater in Tacoma, WA.  Free pre-show lecture at 6:30 p.m., concert starts @ 7:30 p.m.

April 28            Fund Raiser for the Washington Karate Ballard Dojo, 8618 3^rd Ave NW, Seattle, WA (contact 206-784-3171 for info)

May 5                        Ke Kukui May Day Festival @ Jefferson Middle School in Vancouver, WA is an outstanding event @ Thomas Jefferson Middle School, 3000 NW  119^th Street, Vancouver, WA. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

May 5                        Nathan Aweau and Amy Hanaiali`i in Concert @ the Green River Community College

May 16            20^th Annual Community Voice Awards program honoring some of the leaders of our Asian/Pacific Islander Pacific NW community. At The Tea Palace Restaurant & Lounge, 2828 Sunset Lane NE, Renton, WA

June 2:            The “Bridge of Aloha Festival” scheduled for June 2 in Bellingham, WA is developing it’s entertainment program very nicely (just got a note saying two of my favorite entertainers (Roz & Mike Lower/Makani E) will be performing….good group/nice sound)!  But Brenda Ancheta of the NW Ohana group (sponsors of the event) is still looking for vendors soooo if you have stuff you want to sell, contact her @ 360-319-3601

* * * * MAHALO SERGEANT FIRST CLASS PETER FRITSCH * * * *

AND WELCOME HOME FROM THE WARS………

My daughter Shannon Kaopuiki-Delaney was the first one to tell me about this fantastic  teacher named Peter Fritsch who was teaching Hawaiian History classes at the Ke Kukui Foundation facility in Vancouver, WA…then I started hearing from others who were equally impressed….

First:  I am always so awed by folks who are not of Hawaiian ethnicity (nor even born in the Hawaiian Islands) who somehow become so enthralled with our Hawaiian culture that they immerse themselves in the culture and become experts…I call them our Hawaiian at heart ohana…..these include folks like Puakea Nogelmeier (now overseeing the process of transposing Hawaiian language newspaper writings to the internet)…or Kepa Maly (curator for the Lana`i Cultural and Heritage Center)…or Barry Flanagan (HAPA music group)….or Jeri Tackett (who with husband Mike have been creating Hawaiian books for children for years and who now teaches Hawaiian olelo here in the Pacific NW)…….now we can add Chicago born and raised Peter Kepulekaneokealoha Fritsch to this list.

Secondarily, I admire and respect the men and women who have put heir lives on the line on behalf of our country, serving in the military in combat areas like Afghanistan. Peter Fritsch was a US Marine from 1984-1992 and after leaving the Marines joined the Oregon Army National Guard (his unit just returned from a tour in Afghanistan a few months ago) Peter says that the sometimes difficult transitioning back to “civilian life” process has been made easier for him by his involvement in teaching the Hawaiian History classes for the Ke Kukui Foundation! It was during his time as a US Marine that Peter first went to Hawaii (1986) where he became fascinated with the story of how the Native Hawaiian Monarchy was overthrown…his initial reaction was one of outrage at the haoles who were involved in overthrowing the Hawaiian Monarchy…then he was afraid that the Native Hawaiians would/should hate him because he was a haole….eventually he was surprised at how warmly the Native Hawaiians accepted him when he earnestly began to learn about their culture (Peter is a Chaminade College alum)….

Peter Fritsch’s Hawaiian History classes are scheduled over a 6 weeks cycle and include the following main topic areas: The First Hawaiians (300 AD); Captain Cook arrives; King Kamehameha; Arrival of the Missionaries; Rise of Sugar in Hawaii; King Kalakaua; Queen Liliuokalani; Annexation to the United States; Statehood.  For more info contact Kepule @ 503-580-6662. Also check out Hawaii Trivia on Facebook….

* * * * * FACES & PLACES * * * * *

His name is Eric Yamada and HE IS DA MAN when you want to find out what is happening in the Pacific NW Reggae arena!

Her name is Maile Hemm Barretto, MS, BCBA, Clinical Director Olympic Peninsula Autism Center.. A Moanalua High School graduate, her forte is dealing with Autistic Children so if you need some expert advice on Autism, contact her (360-337-2222)

Are you a musician who wants to get on the music circuit???  Then you need someone like Ariel Aguilar as your Booking Manager. Ariel is currently doing that job for the Makani E duo and has already them booked for shows starting down in the central Oregon area and working northwards towards Seattle.  Contact Ariel @ PO Box 2785, Bremerton, WA 98310.

We’re losing a great contact person in Silverdale as Dina Manatad is leaving her position as Marketing Director for the Silverdale Resort Hotel…..much mahalo to Dina for helping perpetuate the culture of Hawaii in Silverdale over the past few decades….not sure what Dina is going to do but do know we will miss her (especially at her special Ohana Night events)….Mahalo Dina and good luck on your future endeavors!!

I feel so lucky to be in the Pacific Meicald/ US Family Health Program….I get treated by such a talented group of medical specialists (among the very best in their respective fields). My primary doctor, a very lovely and competent lady named Marty Babcock, ARNP, floored me last week when she mentioned she had just returned from a vacation on Kauai. Marty asked me what island I was from and I said guess….she said: “Well, you can’t be from Kauai” and I asked “Why not?” and she said “Why would anyone leave such a beautiful place like Kauai to live up here?” You all know that the most popular Kauai guy in this area is da Portagee guy Braddah Stephen Gomes (with whom I share radio hosting of the Hawaii Radio Connection show on KXPA 1540 AM a couple of times each month) so I repeated Marty’s comments to him while we were on air and he almost choked laughing so hard….I gotta agree with Marty that Kauai is soooooo beautiful (but then Lana`i isn’t too bad either sooooo you all tell me again why we all live up here????) Nancy in the Pac Med Pharmacy office said to tell folks going to Maui about the new Redline Rafting Company in Kihei if you want to do some outstanding snorkeling trips (they make numerous snorkeling stops around Maui and Molokini island)

The YMCA of Greater Seattle is hiring eight (8) outreach workers and one Classroom Coordinator to work with youth in their Gang Violence program.

* * * * SAVE THE DATE/PACIFIC ISLANDER EDUCATION SUMMIT* * * * *

For the past few years I’ve had the pleasure of working with a number of Asian and Pacific Islander community leaders with the mission of improving the academic performances of Pacific Islander students (Pacific Islander students are rated as the lowest scoring students in Washington State) Much of the time and work has been working on “paper stuff” (rhetoric/policies and procedures/etc) but now, FINALLY, some of that work will be put to reality.  On September 29, 2012, there will be a huge PACIFIC ISLANDERS EDUCATION SUMMIT @ the South Seattle Community College where we hope to gather 300 plus Pacific Islanders/Washington State Political Leaders/ School Administrators/Teachers to discuss Pacific Islander students needs/issues and how to enable Pacific Islander students to perform better academically.

Any/all of you who have children in public schools in Washington State are strongly

encouraged to attend this Summit so you can help determine the education future for them!

* * * * * * * ALOHA OE AND CONDOLENCES * * * * * * *

Aloha `oe……..I joined in when the Hui Wa’a O Puget Sound outrigger canoe members held a special farewell dinner for Hal Levinsky @ Bobby’s Hawaiian Style Restaurant a few weeks ago….Hal (another one of those Hawaiian at heart guys who loved our culture so much) was one of the original members who helped create the Hui Wa’a O Puget Sound club in Everett, WA.  Condolences to the Levinsky ohana as Hal passed away just a few weeks after that farewell dinner…..Aloha `oe Hal!

Aloha ‘oe….to another Hawaiian at heart (Susy McAleer).  Al Tringali and I played music at the Memorial Service for Susy and it was amazing how diverse Susy’s music world was….Susy loved our Hawaiian culture so much she became a good Kiho`alu Slack Key guitar player and hula dancer and singer of Hawaiian mele..she was also a Belly dancer (her Belly dancer group performed at the Memorial)…also performing (and all very talented) were several folk singers, poets, writers……on the Hawaiian music side, others who joined the very talented Al Tringali and I were Don Yoder, Sheryl Akana (niece of our great Senator Dan Akaka), Jack Akamine (my classmate from Lana`i), Kory Tideman and Jay Syverson…………. Aloha ‘oe Susy….mahalo for being such a great Ambassador of Aloha…

Time to hele on…be kind to each other…a hui hou e malama pono…………..Danny

I don’t know which was the greater……watching the beaming smiles on the faces of the kaikamahine (keiki and young ladies) as they danced so beautifully on the Third Place Books (Lake Forest Park, WA) stage OR seeing the so very proud smiles of their  ohana (Moms/Dads/Grandparents/siblings/relatives/friends) watching the dancers in the standing room only audience on that wintry day in early March  2012!  Kumu Hula Krista Moani Espiritu’s young Hula Halau O Lehualani dancers from Edmonds, WA were totally awesome!  It was nice to watch parents like Kermet Apio (da Best Hawaiian comedian in the Pacific NW) and his wife Marni snapping photos and/or video taping the dancers (including their kaikamahine Kaiona)  Also saw good friend/fellow musician Billy Kinney in the audience.

This Halau Hula O Lehualani is so very good, it is their time to start dancing at some of the bigger events in the Seattle area soooo if you need a really good Hawaiian style show, this is the group for you!

* * * * * * * * * * DA MAN IS SOOOOOOO GOOD * * * * * * * * * *

Maui guy Willie Kahaiali`i a.k.a.Willie K is without doubt one of the most talented  Hawaiian musicians in the world today!  He absolutely “wowed” the huge (nearly a thousand strong) audience at the Emerald Queen Casino on March 9, 2012! Willie K displayed virtually the entire range of his talents in a concert that began shortly after 8:30 p.m. and didn’t end until almost midnight…he did it all (ukulele: basic to Jake kine stuff/guitar strumming: from the Hawaiian ga-lang-galang style to Jimmie Hendrix blastouts to the sultry BB King R & B styling!) His vocals ran from baby style lullabies (done with his young 3 year old daughter Po Mahina) to classical Opera stuff!

AND YET, after a solid 3 1/2 hours/no intermission show, Willie K admitted to the audience that it would take him another 3-4 hours to truly demonstrate the full diversity of his many talents!

The concert was titled “A Night with Willie K and his Ohana” and that was what it was…Willie was the star but he shared the night with his ohana:

—first there was baby Po Mahina (she looked to be around 3 years old)

—then there was 16 year old Pomaika`i (such a beautiful dancer)

—last but not least was his younger brother Kalani Kahaiali`i (a resident of the Seattle area who lives in Edmonds, WA)….I’ve known Kalani for many years and in the main, Kalani has kept his talents pretty low keyed BUT on this night and on this stage (with his famous brother Willie K) Kalani was a bright shining star with his beautiful singing voice…

—also adding to the ohana image was the beautiful Cindi Cook Kahaiali`i (Kalani’s Lady) and her Hula Halau O Mokihana dancers…..

Opening up the show for Willie K was a brand new Hawaiian duo, the Kalama Brothers (Ryan and Kai)…..watch for these guys because they are stars in the making (great singers whose music and  harmony can only be described as unique/one of a kind stuff which can only come from blood brothers who know each other so intimately)…..

* * * * * * * * * * WILLIE KA IS DA MAN but AMY IS DA WAHINE * * * * * * * * * *

Willie K is, in my mind, the best, most multi-talented of today’s Hawaiian male entertainers!  Along that line, Amy Hanaiali`i is, also in my mind, the best/most multi- talented of today’s wahine entertainers AND SHE IS COMING BACK to the Pacific NW…Yep, she and Nathan Aweau will be the headliner acts at the Green River (Kent, WA) Community College’s Hawaiian concert series on May 5, 2012. Better get your tickets soon as they going sell real fast…….

* * * * * NEED IMMEDIATE ACTION: SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE * * * * * *

For High School Seniors in Washington State/Oregon or California:  the Asian Pacific Community Fund in partnership with Verizon is providing some fifteen $1,000 (each) scholarship awards…Deadline for applications is March 30^th so if you have a Senior who might qualify (go to www.apcf.org for more information).

There is also a second cycle program available to 2d year college students (5 $2,000 scholarships) Again go to the apcf website for more information. Applications for these due October 31, 2012.

* * * * * WASSUP, COMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES/MARCH 2012 * * * * *

MARCH 16 KALUHIOKALANI @ the Pac Island Grill in Federal Way, WA. Great place for ono food and great entertainment especially with Boy Chun Fook/Ohana/Friends (who are Kaluhiokalani) Fun starts @ 6:30 pm

MARCH 17: IT’S HERE!!! WINTERFEST ’12 IS ON SATURDAY MARCH 17 @ THE SHOWBOX IN SODO in Seattle, WA……………yet another one of Eric Yamada’s smash hit Reggae Concerts, this one (an all ages show) featuring J Boog and his Billboard’s #1 Reggae Album of the Year plus Taurus Riley and local/Seattle Reggae Icons Two Story Zori…

MAR 19 Elias Kauhane @ Mel’s Old Village Pub Lynnwood, WA

MAR 23 Local favorites Island Bound and Unified Culture in the appropriately named “Locals Only” concert @ the “In Nightclub” 728 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, WA

MAR 23 Elias Kauhane @ Pau Hana Restaurant, Seattle, WA

MAR 24 Island Bound @ the Aloha Kitchen in Silverdale, WA

MAR 30             Island Bound @ Pac Island Grill in Federal Way, WA

MAR 31 Island Bound @ the Half Moon Bar & Grill Westport, WA

* * * * * WASSUP. COMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES/APRIL 2012 * * * * *

APRIL 7 ‘AHA MELE, A HAWAIIAN MUSIC FESTIVAL @ the Chief Leschi Schools complex, 5625 52d St E, Puyallup, WA.  Huge, all day long (11 a.m.-7 p.m.) Extravaganza of food, fun, fellowship, entertainment, and vendors event sponsored by the Mokuaina A Wakinikona Hawaiian Civic Club

Entertainment schedule:

11 a.m.                  Opening Pule followed by welcoming ritual by the Chief Leschi Drum & Dance group

11:40                      Halau Hula Na Opio O Wakinkona (Kumu Miverva Hohaia and Ali1ialohalani Naipo)

12:15 a.m.            Kaulaili music by Kiho alu artist Sam Awaa & Friends

12:50 a.m.            Kumu Mahina Lazzaro & Na Hula O Wahine Ilikea

1:45 p.m.              Kumu Ku`ulei Gumapac & Halau Hula O Ku`u Leialoha

2:20 p.m               Halau Hula O Healani

3:00  p.m.            Halau Hula Ke Liko A`e Lei Lehua (Kumu Claire Cortez)

3:50 p.m.             Kumu Kamaile Hamada & Halau Hula Ke Ala O Kamailelauli`ili`i

4:20 p.m.            YOU MUST SEE THIS: A special play “Ka Lei Maile Ali`i” presented by the Ke Kukui Foundation group from Vancouver, WA)

5:10 p.m.            Apato `erau Tahitian Group (Kumu Aimeo Arouquiame)

5:45 p.m.            Monday Ukulele Ohana (Ray Alonzo)

6:55 p.m.            LAST CHANCE FOR HAWAIIAN PLATE LUNCH

7 P.M.                 Pule and Hawaii Aloha………all Pau

April 27 Keola Beamer & Raiatea Helm in concert @ the Rialto Theater, Tacoma, WA

* * * * * * * * * * * * * SUPPORT MY LANA`I ISLAND PLEASE * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I know many of us would love to go back to Hawaii in March to see ohana or da aina and (maybe if it stops raining there) catch a few rays of sunshine…I also know that MOST of us ain’t going home BUT just in case you go home in late March, please kokua for da people of my Island as there is a special “Aloha Lana`i Benefit & Concert” (4 p.m-8:30 p.m.) @ the Mamiya Theater in Honolulu sponsored by the Lana`i Culture & Heritage Center! Go see and come back tell me all about it okay?  Mahalo………

—Under the leadership/guidance of Kepa & Onaona Maly, the Lana`i Culture and Heritage Center has done wonders in preserving the history of my island and they deserve all the support they can get to do even more!!!! Mahalo!!!!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * FACES & PLACES * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It’s that time of year again (aue, seems to come around same time as time to pay taxes) when the University of Hawaii/Manoa puts on a “Student Reception/Send-off” event for the many first time students who are going to the U of Hawaii/Manoa from the Pacific NW for the school year starting this September.  UH Alumni/NW Region’s President Dawn Mallory has been shaking the bushes trying to find UH Alumni who can help out as hosts at the Reception (which will be held at the Grand Ballroom in the Westin Hotel, Bellevue, WA @ 2 p.m. on Sunday March 18^th)  Soooo if you are a UH Alum and can help, please call 206-304-4944!  I’ve been helping as a host the past few years and am impressed with how much the U of Hawaii administration/staff puts into this event (every aspect:  curriculum/housing/social life/financing/extra curricular activities/etc is covered by UH Staff who come from Hawaii for this event which really helps prepare the students and their families)

More Ukulelemania stuff……..Catherine Airola says that the West Seattle Senior Center is sponsoring a special Lil` Rev concert on March 16

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY….to the Mokuaina A Wakinikona Hawaiian Civic Club. Wow, hard to believe it’s their 6^th anniversary in July….Aue how fast da time go by huh?  Da only ting faster den da time going by is Ben Baker’s ohana producing grandkids….I think da latest count is 16 grandkids…..talk about Bakers by the dozens………..wow!!!!

Bob Bonville, author of the historical novel “Voyages of Malolo” about the Polynesain navigators who sailed the vast Pacific in ancient times tells me his book is gaining lots of attention worldwide (but especially among the peoples of the Pacific) Bob recently did an interview in Australia and Amazon.com is now showing a short “trailer” about the book.

Congrats to Wai`ale`ale Sarsona who has just been selected as Director for the Kamehameha Schools Ho`olaka Like Department which oversees the operation of 14 Hawaiian themed Charter Schools and 3 Hawaiian Immersion Schools in Hawaii.

Our/Seattle’s own Gary Medeiros is one of the Hawaiian Entertainers whose music albums are being considered for Na Hoku Hanohano “Hawaiian Album of the Year” award this year! Gary’s “Hula Pa`aina” album faces some stiff competition against folks like Natalie Kamau`u, Kuana Torres Kahele, Keli`i Tau`a, David Kauahikikaua, Robert Cazimero, Kawika Alfiche, Nick Castillo, Hi`ikua and Mailani Makanai.  Initially, five from this group will be selected as finalists. Then the winner will be picked from that group and announced at the Hoku Awards ceremony in May 2012.

—Special commendations to Gary because this is the first year that the Hoku awards is considering Hawaiian artitsts who live outside of Hawaii so Gary is already helping make history.

—Good luck Gary!!!!

One of the most go-getter guys I know is a young Chamorro named Mikey Tuncap, (Director, Pacific Islander Studies Institute) who is currently working on his PhD through the U of California/Berkeley, CA though Mikey lives here in Tacoma with his beautiful wife Carmen and keiki..  Mikey is perpetual motion, especially in working on projects/programs to help Pacific Islander students….he is coordinating a series of events:

April 6-7:  Pacific Islander Studies Conference @ Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA

—the April 6 event focuses on issues facing Pacific Islander students in high schools

—the April 7 event focuses on challenges facing students who attend community or four year colleges

April West Baker of the Mokuaina A Wakinikona Hawaiian Civic Club invites you to join in on the ongoing Olelo/Hawaiian Language classes  (beginner’s level) as it is a fun, affordable, family oriented series where everyone has been enjoying learning the basics of Hawaiian grammar/pronunciation/sentence structures/etc  Contact  253-282-2230 for more info.

One of the most outstanding leaders in the Samoan community in the Pacific Northwest is Sili Savusa (works with the State of Washington on issues/challenges facing Pacific Islander students)  She is one sharp wahine, very intelligent and articulate and steady/solid as a rock and while quiet mannered, she can (and does) roar like a lion when she feels our Pacific Islander communities are being short changed!  Sili and I are currently co-leading a group that is preparing for a Pacific Islander Education Summit scheduled to he held on the South Seattle Community College campus on September 29^th, 2012. It really has been my pleasure to work with some outstanding educators/representatives of the Pacific Islander communities like Sili, Frieda Takamura, Cheryl Day, Tim Culler, Mikey Tuncap, Rochelle Fonoti, Lina Thompson, Michael Itti, Chris Takeyama, Mele Aho, Bobbie Daligcon and Lourdes Gutierrez….

Auwe, time to hele on……be kind to each other…a hui hou e malama pono….Danny

Condolences to our beloved friend/mentor Rochelle Delacruz whose mother Ida Mae Wong, died peacefully on Sunday February 19, 2012.  Ida Mae suffered a heart attack after her daily morning walk on January 25, 2012 (which also was her 95^th Birthday). She seemed to be recovering but then pneumonia was discovered in one of her lungs. After refusing any more treatment other than pain killers, she slipped away quietly.

This is as much a tribute to Rochelle Delacruz as it is to her beautiful Mother Ida Mae Wong.  Rochelle was Ida Mae Wong’s legacy to all of us here in Pacific Northwest Pacific Islander communities! In her many years living among us here in the Pacific NW, Rochelle left huge footprints in the aina that most of us now call home (Washington, Oregon, Idaho). Rochelle personifies all that is good about the Hawaiian Islanders culture…A truly beautiful lady inside and out, she was so passionate about  perpetuating all things Hawaiian, whether she was dancing a hula or reciting her stories over the Hawaii Radio Connection programs but especially after she created the highly respected Northwest Hawaii Times newspaper (which started off small (5,000 copies) but had grown to over 20,000 copies when Rochelle left the Pacific NW so she could spend time with her Mother back in Hilo)! Through the NW Hawaii Times (whether if was via columns by Kermet Apio (comedy), Gregg Porter(music), Roy Almeida( Hawaiian culture/history), me (Holoholo/Profiles), Rochelle and other guest writers or tons of pictures like “where are they reading the Pacific NW Times” photos) Rochelle helped unite so many of us Hawaiian Islanders who now call the Pacific NW our aina!

Aloha `oe Ida Mae Wong…and mahalo nui for leaving us such a beautiful legacy in your daughter Rochelle!

* * * * * WASSUP…COMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES * * * * *

MARCH 9            OKAY ALREADY….DA MAN “WILLIE K” IS HERE! FINALLY @ Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma (easy place to get to right off Highway I-5.  It’s going to be a BEEG MUSIC night with Willie and his Ohana….show time: 8:30 p.m.

MARCH 3 Samoa Laumoli Tea Experience sponsored by the Asian Pacific Americans Cultural Center.  10 a-11 a.m. @ the Southpark Community Center, 4851 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, WA

MARCH 10 Guitarist Tom May doing an inhouse concert at Jean’s in Bellevue, WA

APRIL 7                        AHA MELE FESTIVAL @ the Chief Leschi Schools Complex, 5625 52d St East, Puyallup, WA

APRIL 27                        KEOLA BEAMER & RAIATEA in Concert @ the Rialto Theater in Tacoma, WA

MAY 1                            KE KUKUI FOUNDATION MAY DAY CELEBRATION @ the Thomas Jefferson School in Vancouver, WA

MAY 12 PIA SPRING 2012 LUAU @ West Central Community Center; Spokane, WA

JUNE 2                        BRIDGE OF ALOHA FESTIVAL in Bellingham, WA

* * *BY POPULAR DEMAND, “KOHALA” is coming back to the Pacific NW in 2013. Bill and Gloria Nahalea confirmed that the popular music trio “Kohala” which recently completed a very successful tour of the Pacific NW area (Seattle and Westport, WA and Portland and Salem, OR) will be returning to the Pacific NW in 2013!

Kohala performed on Hawai'i Radio Connection (HRC). From L to R, Charles Brotman, Maile Lono-Batura (HRC Co-host), Ed Tanaka (HRC Co-host), Charlie Recaido, & Rupert Tripp, Jr.

Kohala playing at Jean's Hale O Mele

* * * * * * LOCAL AREA ENTERTAINERS * * * * * *

MARCH 1 & 29 Beginners Hawaiian Olelo classes sponsored by Mokuaina O Wakinikona Hawaiian Civic Club (253-282-2230)

MARCH 3                        KEIKI HULA performance @ Third Place Books 17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, WA featuring the Halau Hula O Lehualani (2-3 p.m.)

MARCH 1, 15:            ELIAS KAUHANE, the roaming Hawaiian Troubador, @ the Very Taki Tiki Bar & Grill, Edmonds, WA

MARCH 9, 23            ELIAS KAUHANE @ the Pau Hana Restaurant on   Capital Hill in Seattle

MARCH 19                        ELIAS KAUHANE @ Mel’s Old Village Pub in Lynnwood, WA

MARCH 24 Aloha Serenaders @ the Renton, WA Uwajimaya Store

The Pac Island Grill, 2012 S 320^th St, Federal Way, WA continues to have live Hawaiian entertainment every weekend.  Call them (253-529-8667) to find out who is playing when you are ready to go enjoy some great Hawaiian style food and entertainment.  I know that Kaulele, one of my favorite groups will be there on March 17^th!

* * * * * * SPECIAL HAUOLI LA HANAU GREG DE LOS SANTOS * * * * * *

Aue, da guy now one KUPUNA….Greg De Los Santos has been one of the more popular  Hawaiian Islanders in the Pac NW for years(singer/drummer/married to da beautiful Lei De Los Santos) and there was a BEEG PAHTY on February 25^th, 2012 celebrating Greg’s ascent into the golden ages (can you believe da Man is now 65??? Dat’s kinda old huh but he still one good looking guy)…..lots of ohana and friends helped Greg celebrate @ the Holiday Express in Marysville…….Congrats Greg….wishes for many, many more!!!

* * * * * * DA SPOKANE AREA HAWAIIAN ISLANDERS * * * * * *

One of the most passionate Hawaiian Islanders I know in the Spokane area is a young man named  Kai Uahinui, a Kamehameha Schools alumni who is now a Counsellor at Gonzaga University in Spokane.  Give Kai a ukulele and he can sing Hawaiian songs all night long (and he really is a great singer/entertainer)!  Now under Kai’s guidance, Hawaiian Islanders in the Spokane area have banded together as “PIA” (Pacific Islanders Association/Spokane”.  The PIA is headed by President Stephanie Bell, VP John Dang, Secretary Nancy Peterson, Treasurer Stacey Spohr and Historian Tisha Takeshita AND they have just published their first PIA Newsletter. Online at http://barney.gonzaga.edu/uahinui/pia/forms/PIA-newsletterfeb2012.pdf.

Or contact kai@gonzaga.edu for more information! A great, great way to learn about what’s happening among our Hawaiian ohana in the Spokane area!!!!!

* * * * * * NEW PLACE, NEW NAME BUT STILL ONO FOOD * * * * * *

Courtesy dat wahine from Punahou (Cris Legasy) I found out about the newest Hawaiian kine food place you can put in your address book.  It’s over in West Seattle (4437 California Avenue SW) and used to be called the Spring Hill Restaurant (famous for it’s awesome Fried Chicken Dinners)….it has been renamed “Ma’ono” by owners Mark (Kauai guy) and Majorie Fuller. I decided to check it out one evening and ran into Cris Legasy and some of her friends having dinner there and after a hearty evening of great food and some awesome exotic beverages, the consensus was that this is a place you all should go see!  It is an upscale place with lots of exotic kinds of food (including great Hawaiian kine standby’s like Saimin, Spam Musubi, Ahi Poke, Manapua and Kalbi but the best item on the menu remains their very special fried chicken dinner with Kim Chee and rice…aue soooo good!).  Go check Ma`ono out especially when you want to take someone special to a special place..it is kinda pricey but the quality is well worth it!  Contact @ 206-935-1075.

Speaking of food: Dis one just in time for Easter Celebration! Aunty Manu Lono’s non-profit Manuiki Foundation is holding a special Lau Lau sale….Fresh Pork or chicken Laulaus at $4.50 each…..pre order now for pickup between 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on March 24^th.  Call  206-250-8357 or 425-271-0375 or 425-765-7511 or email kazukokame@comcast.net!  Good food, great cause (the Manuiki Foundation’s mission is to perpetuate our Hawaiian culture!!)

* * * * * * SERIOUS STUFF:  UNDERSERVED PACIFIC ISLANDERS * * * * * *

I attended a Seattle Public School District “Race/Ethnicity Employment” meeting last night representing our Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Pacific NW communities and found out some very sobering information.  Bottom line was that the new Human Resources Director for the Seattle School District (SSD) wants/needs us…of the current SSD employment of some 5,484 employees, only 14 are Pacific Islanders (7 Security Staff, and the remainder in Maintenance and Office staff).  The Director is new on the job and he wants to hire more people of color including Pacific Islanders beginning now!! I was given a listing of 25 jobs that are currently open (jobs ranged from Administrators to Nurses to Teachers to part time coaches with pay ranging from $75,000 annually to $11.20 per hour for Assistant Coaches)  Go to the Seattle Public School (SPS) District website for job postings.  I truly hope some of you who need jobs can find something there for you!

Want a job with some of the world’s finest? The Seattle Police Department wants more Pacific Islanders/Filipinos on it’s force and will be holding a SPD Recruiting Fair between 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on March 31, 2012 @ the Filipino Community Center, 5740 Martin Luther King Jr Way S, Seattle!!!

* * * * * * MORE SPECIAL ALOHA ‘Oes * * * * * *

Condolences and sympathies to:

—Aunty Manu Lono on the recent loss of her beloved sister back in Hawaii

—the ohana of  Arnie Ching, long time member of the Wakinikona Hawaiian Club who passed away in early February 2012.

It’s time to hele on….be kind to each other….a hui hou e malama pono…………….Danny

February

17              ”Kohala” will be in Eugene, OR

18              “The Warmth of Winter Concert” with the Brothers Cazimero @ Martin Woldson Theater, Spokane, WA

19               Claire Cortez & Halau Hula Ke Liko A’e Lei Lehua @ the Library in Covington, WA

19             Isaiah Chun Fook and the popular Hawaiian Reggae group Island Bound will be @ Lucky Strike in Bellevue along with “Two Story Zori”, DJ “Chinky Eye”and DJ Asia.

March

9 DA GREAT, DA ONE & ONLY WILLIE K @ the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma WA Casino in Tacoma, WA (no can miss the place right off the I-5 Highway) AND FOR SURE YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THIS VERY SPECIAL EVENT AS DA MAN IS ABSOLUTELY SO TALENTED!!!

17 Seattle’s Hawaiian Reggae group (Two Story Zori) will be the leading group for Winterfest II @ the Showbox Sodo in downtown Seattle…headliners include J Boog & Tarrus Riley

April

7               “AHA MELE” Festival…..Beeeeg festival sponsored by the Mokuaina A Wakinikona Hawaiian Civic Club. At the Chief Leschi School complex, 5625  52d St East, Puyallup, WA. Lots of fun, good food, great entertainment/workshops and vendors…..11 a.n\m.-9 p.m.  Contact 253-475-8381 for info.

26   Asian Pacific Islander Art Contest Deadline. Contest theme celebrates 50th Anniversary of 1962 World’s Fair and must incorporate Asian Pacific Islander heritage and culture in America. More information at: http://www.thenextfifty.org

27 RAIATEA & KEOLA BEAMER @ the Rialto Theater in Tacoma, WA

May

1 The Ke Kukui Foundation May Day Festival in Vancouver, WA

– No firm date yet but the beautiful, talented Amy Hanaiali`i will be doing a special Mother’s Day event sponsored by the Manuiki Foundation

June 2 “THE BRIDGE OF ALOHA FESTIVAL” in Bellingham, WA

Kupuna Festival 2012

July 14 5^th Annual “ALOHA O NA KAPUNA FESTIVAL” @ Kennedy HS, Burien, WA

BACK @ THE “PAC”……I have mentioned in the past that one of the Hawaiian themed places in the Seattle/Tacoma Metropolitan area where you can find live Hawaiian music on an ongoing basis was the Pac Island Grill 2012 South 320^th St, Suite H (behind Ivar’s and Starbucks), Federal Way, WA.  Well, following is the list of great entertainers who will be “Back at the Pac”.

February  (6-9 p.m. each evening)

17                        That great Hawaiian Reggae group “Island Bound”

18                        Leo Aloha

24                        Aunty Manu & the Island Serenaders

25                        Boy Chun Fook &  Kaluhiokalani

* * * * * * * * FACES & PLACES * * * * * * * *

“KOHALA” finally hit town and they drew great audiences at the various places they did their “Thing” (acoustical traditional Hawaiian music with a flair!

The fun/music loving Ukulele players group in the Olympia, WA area has a new name (used to be OLUPA/Olympia Ukulele Players Associatio) but have added the very important word Aloha to their title (so now it is Olympia Aloha Ukulele Players Association/Oly-A UP) and they invite you all to come join them (Wednesdays from 6-9 p.m. in the STARS room of the Olympia Community Center…contact Carol @cinder5fella@yajoo.com for more info OR just do Hawaiian style (show up)!!!…..

Good bunch of folks who love Hawaiian music and having a good time…..it’s BYOU (bring your own Uke)…

ABSOLUTELY GREAT EVENT…..The Ke Kukui Foundation fundraiser Luau in Vancouver, WA on February 11, 2012 was sooooo good! Kumu Deva Yamashiro and her Ke Kukui Foundation folks know how to do things the right way…..everything was so perfect from the location (huge gym) to the table settings to the silent auction tables to the food, everything was first class!!!!

…and the entertainment was also very, very good starting with Kaleo Lancaster and Francis Doo and then Kumu Deva’s Kaleinani O Ke Kukui Halau dancers….. I have to confess to being somewhat biased as I was at the event almost expressly to watch my two mo`opuna (4 year old Malia and 2 year old Noa) dance hula…aue, dey sooooooo cute and dey can dance pretty good too but the whole Halau is very, very good! Special congrats to Kaina Barba (Hilo guy who has been in the Pacific NW about a year and loves it) who was singing/playing music in front of a large, live audience for the first time in his life (Kaina, you did real gooooood!). KALOKU HOLT is the son of Kumu Deva Yamashiro and served as Master of Ceremonies! Kaloku is truly one of the best young Hawaiian musical talents in the Pacific NW (great guitarist, great singer and soooo good looking (used to be a male model) and soooo masculine (lots of muscles which is necessary when you are, like Kaloku, one of the Ultimate Fighter guys at which he is really good).  Kaloku is looking forward to going on a 3-6 months music tour in Japan in another month or so where I’m sure he’ll have a whole group of young Japanese wahines/groupies following him around!

Among folks at the Ke Kukui event were Lulani Arquette and her husband.  Special Hauoli la Hanau to the following who were at the Luau:

Verna Hoffman of Portland, OR on her 101^st birthday!

Grace Bryne on her 76^th!

Julie Keim on her 72d!  Celebrating with Julie were her beautiful daughters Jennifer Keim Kirby (now lives in Battle Ground, WA) and Karen Keim (who flew in from Louisiana for the event)….Jennifer and Karen are both Kalaheo HS alumni…

REMINDER……..Catch the latest in Hawaiian kine news and music every Saturday or Sunday on the radio waves in the Seattle/Everett, WA areas

Saturdays:

9 to 10 a.m.            The Hawaii Radio Connection show on KXPA 1540 AM

Noon-2 p.m.          The Hawaii Radio Connection show on KCBS 91.3 FM

Sundays: “Da Coconut Wireless Radio Show” on KSER 90.7FM (5-7:30 p.m.)

The Kamehameha Schools announced the newest Board of Directors for their Ke Ali`i Pauahi Foundation:

Janeen Ann Ahulani Olds; Lancre Keawe Wilhelm; Dee Jay Beatty Mailer, Lee Ann Johansen DeLima; Caroline Peters Belsom; C. Manu Coleman Ka`iama; and William “Billy” Pieper II.

Good news:

Our Man in Spokane, WA (Kenny Esperas) has just received a new kidney (from one of his relatives) and is recuperating nicely…get well soon Kenny!

Tanya Jose is doing okay so far with her chemo-therapy treatments….get well soon Tanya!

Auwe…time to hele on…be kind to each other………a hui hou e malama pono….Danny

Feb 4 6^th Annual KIAKO Ho`ike @ the Portland Community College, 12000 SW 49^th Avenue, Portland, OR

Feb 5 JOHN CRUZ in concert @ The Triple Door, Seattle, WA

Feb 9      Opening of the “Gauguin & Polynesia: An Elusive Paradise” exhibit @ the Seattle Art Museum runs through April 29, 2012.

Feb 11 Ke Kukui Foundation Fund Raiser @ Thomas Jefferson Middle School; Vancouver, WA.  Doors open @ 4 p.m., dinner @ 6 p.m.

Feb 14     APCC New Year’s Celebration @  the Tacoma Dome

Feb 11     “KOHALA” in Bainbridge Island

Feb 12     “KOHALA’ in Westport, WA

Feb 15 “KOHALA” @ in-home concert in Bellevue, WA (253-588-6222)

Feb 17     “KOHALA” in Eugene, OR

Feb 18 “The Warmth of Winter Concert” with “The Brothers Cazimero” @ Martin Woldson Theater, Spokane, WA

Feb 19      Claire Cortez & Halau Hula Ke Liko A`e Lei Lehua @ the Library in Covington, WA

Mar 9 Da Man Willie K and Ohana in concert @ the Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, WA

April 7     3rd Annual Aha Mele Festival @ Chief Leschi Schools complex in Puyallup, WA

April 27 Raiatea & Keola Beamer in concert @ the Rialto Theater, Tacoma, WA

May No firm date yet but there will be a special Mother’s Day Event; Sponsored by the Manuiki Foundation featuring Amy Hanaiali`i

Jun 2 The Bridge of Aloha Festival in Bellingham, WA

Jul 14      “Aloha O Na Kupuna Festival” @ Kennedy HS, Burien, WA (206-459-0958 for info; 425-802-6845 entertainers who want to perform; 206-852-8594 if you want to be a vendor)

Local Seattle area entertainment:

Elias Kauhane is back from a much deserved vacation in Hawaii and his ukulele strumming & singing schedule is:

Feb 3 & 24         Pau Hana Restaurant, Seattle

Feb 16                  Very Taki Tiki Bar & Grill, Edmonds, WA

Feb 17                  Wine Styles in Bothell, WA

Feb 20                 Old Village Pub, Lynnwood, WA

I don’t have their specific entertainment schedule but the Pac Island Grill in Federal Way has live Hawaiian entertainment every Friday and Saturday evening….among the recurring entertainers: Kaulele, the Chun Fook Ohana & Friends (Kaluhiokalani), Grooveline Hawaii, Nona Alo and her group…call 253-529-8667 for info.

The following is for all you athletes (actual and wannabes)…..first schedule is for the outrigger canoe paddlers and den for the golfers…

HUI WA`A O PACIFIC NORTHWEST…….The Pacific Northwest Outrigger Racing Canoe Association (PNW-ORCA)  2012 Winter Races schedule

Date Month of February Location

11                        3rd Winter Series Race                        Kalama Beach Park, Kalama, WA

25                       4^th Winter series Race                        Waterfront Park, Silverdale, WA

Month of March

10                        5^th Winter Series Race                        Vanier Park, Vancouver, BC/Canada

24                        6^th Winter Series race                         Willamette River, Portland, OR

Month of April

7                        Winter Series Championship            Lake Washington, Seattle, WA

Okay now is time for you golfers….the NoKaOiHawaiian Golf Club is playing some very nice/challenging golf courses this season…here is their schedule…

Date Golf Course

Mar 10                        Allenmore

Mar 25                        Newcastle

Apr 14                         McCormick Woods

Apr 22                        Washington National

May 5                         Hawks Prairie

May 20                      Redmond Ridge

Jun 2                          West Seattle

Jun 24                        Harbour Point

Jul 22                        Kayak Point

Aug 11                        Riverbend

Aug 19                        Echo Falls

Sept 8                         Classic

Sept 23                      Hawks Prairie

Oct 6                          Trophy Lake

Oct 13                        Annual Banquet

FACES & PLACES

Boy Chun Fook and his musical ohana (Kaluhiokalani) will be performing every last Friday of each month @ the Pac Island Grill……real good fun group and oh sooo talented….

Sincerest congrats to Dr Kamaha`opono Crabbe on his selection as CEO of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA)…..Dr Crabbe is the brother of, Michael Crabbe, one of our Pacific NW Hawaiian Icons!

Kokua for a real good guy and a good cause…..Kahu/Pastor Wendell “Skip” Wright and his wife Diane are in an online contest (sponsored by The Town Center Apartment complex in Mill Creek, WA where Skip and Diane live).  The contest basically is a contest the contestants who best describes, in a video, why they love living where they do. The winners will be based on the most number of viewers who view the videos.  Skip has a short (1 minute 48 seconds) video and he is asking for as many of you as possible to check it out.  If he wins the grand cash prize (and I hope he does) Skip will be using most of the funds to support his Kapena Wright Ministries program. See video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF98ZVWOdM

Congrats to Daphne Smith (daughter of Reidar & Sharon Smith) on her wedding to David Pierce!  Aue, their wedding reception @ the Embassy Suites in Tukwila, WA was totally awesome!The bride looked so beautiful and vivacious…and da food was out of this world gooood! And the entertainment: whoa—started off with Aunty Manu Lono and her Aloha Serenaders (Gary Medeiros/Peter Tabali/Puanani Howell) and the so very graceful Halau Hula O Manu dancers! then I had the honor/privilege of accompanying two great voices/talents as Iwalani Kamahele and her cousin Larry Kamahele sang Ke Kali Nei Au for the bride and groom. My privilege was playing a few songs (besides the Hawaiian Wedding song) with a guy (Brian Nova) I consider to be one of the very BEST Hawaiian guitar players in the Pacific NW…Brian  has been doing tour gigs in Japan and came back to Seattle for  Daphne’s wedding; also joining me on stage was Brian’s dad Peter Nova (great voice)….after our group got done, the Baker Ohana (Ben, Jack and Mom Maile) came on stage and they were great….much of the praise for the great entertainment needs to go to DJ Bob Winters (and his sound system)  Bob had the audience grooving and shaking the building with their dances….lots of Pacific NW Hawaiian Islanders in attendance including Larry Awana’s beautiful daughters Kirsten and Kristen and their ohana; the musical Po`okela Street Gang leader Rylen Akana and his family,  and Heather and Frank Minton….a great time was had by all!

Speaking of weddings and beautiful brides….coming soon, wedding bells for two of the most popular Hawaiian Wahine Icons in the Pacific Northwest

Angela Manke, the multi talented Executive Director of the “Live Aloha Festival” in Seattle is getting married in June!

Sistah Kulina Gomes of “Hawaii Radio Connection”  fame will be marrying in July!

Congrats to Jeri Tackett who just received her certificate of  completion for Papala Ho`oku Mokuna….Jeri has been in the Niuolahiki Mokuna Na Ka Ewalu program for four years now and after all the hard work, she is finally beginning to get the accreditation she deserves.  Jeri  & her husband Mike have written many Hawaiian themed (Here Is Hawaii) children’s books and now with her new Olelo expertise has begun to write some of those stories in Hawaiian….congrats Jeri!!!!

February and March 2012 HAUOLI LA HANAU to the following Pacific NW community Hawaiians/members of the Mokuaina A Wakinikona Hawaiian Civic Club

Date Name

Feb 1          Kenneth Walters

2                  Verna Escalante

2                  Erin Gorai

4                  Wendy Puanani Jeffrey

10                William Thomas Jr

13                Kaeha Baker

16                Audrey Basque

18                Cathy Keliihoomalu

25                Naomi Mokihana Kaahui (aue…..my cuz going be 39 again!!)

Mar 6        Barbara Pi`ilani (Benz) Raper

Get well soon wishes to:

We wish a great young lady Tanya Jose, a speedy and complete recovery from her illness.  Tanya is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment!

Kenny Esperas in Spokane, WA as he undergoes treatment for a kidney ailment

Aloha `Oe—-it is with sad hearts we say farewell to

Laurita Casuga Arreola, 75, originally from Waimanalo, died in Renton, WA…condolences to her ohana………

Time to hele on……be kind to each other…….a hui hou e malama pono……..Danny

Aloha Holoholo readers…Sistah Maile here…wanted to plug some of our local musical talent playing around the Seattle area this month.

Kore Ionz will be at the Nectar Lounge this Saturday, Feb. 4 – amazing performers and blend of instruments on one stage. Island Bound and Two Stori Zori will be at Lucky Strike Lanes on Sunday, Feb. 19 – sure to get folks out on the dance floor. If you have a chance, try get out to enjoy these groups or any of the others mentioned above.  A hui hou…talk story later…Sistah Maile.

January 15-29 Seattle Aquarium will feature “Hawaii Weekend” events each Saturday/Sunday through the end of January with music, dancers and a Pacific Coral Reef exhibit

January 18 Jake Shimabukuro in Concert, Admiral Theater, Bremerton, WA

January 19 Jake Shimabukuro in Concert, Edmonds Center for the Arts, WA

January 20 Jake Shimabukuro in Concert, Rialto Theater, Tacoma, WA

January 19 Olelo, Beginner’s Level Hawaiian Language Class, Lacey, WA sponsored by the Mokuaina A Wakinikona Hawaiian Civic Club (253-282-2230).

January 21 Grooveline @ the Pac Island Grill, Federal Way, WA

January 26 Elias Kauhane @ the Very Taki Tike Bar & Grill, Edmonds, WA

January 28 Kaulele @ the Pac Island Grill, Federal Way, WA

January 28 Aloha Serenaders @ Uwajimaya Store, Renton, WA

January 30: “Ka Lei Maile Ali`i” stage presentation @ the Midland Library in Vancouver, WA  (503-706-2599 for info)

February 4: Our Man (Comedian/Slack Key artist) KERMET APIO will be one of the stars in Comedy Night V, @ the Edmonds Center for the Arts, Edmonds, WA….

February 4: 6^th Annual KIAKO Ho`ike @ the Portland Community College, 12000 SW 49^th Avenue, Portland, OR

February 5: John Cruz @ the Triple Door in Seattle, WA  7:30 p.m.

February 9-Apr 29 The Seattle Art Museum will feature “Gauguin & Polynesia: An Elusive Paradise” exhibit

***February 11: KE KUKUI FOUNDATION FUND RAISER @ Thomas Jefferson Middle School, Vancouver, WA. Doors open @ 4 p.m., dinner @ 6 p.m. This is always a goooood event to go to!  Kumu Deva Yamashiro and her Ke Kukui Foundation put on such a nice event (some unique vendors, very very ono food (don’t miss out on Bullie’s custard Long Johns (aue, to die for stuff) that he only makes on very special occasions 3 or 4 times a year and this is one of those times! Come join me as I will be there watching my daughter Shannon and my two mo`opuna (4 year old Malia and 2 year old Noa) dance hula)!!! Contact 360-921-8816 (Virginia) or 360-901-8860 (Karen) for more information.

February 11: 14^th annual APCC (Asian Pacific Cultural Center) New Year’s Celebration, Tacoma Dome, WA (11 a.m.- 6 p.m.)

February 11: Kohala in Concert, Bainbridge Island

February 12 Kohala in Concert, Westport, WA

February 15 Kohala at an in-house Concert, Bellevue, WA (253-588-6222). I have said this before and say again:  “this is the place to go see a concert, a small (40 people max) in house concert where you are up close and very personal with the entertainers…really fun venue!”

February 17 Kohala in Concert, Eugene, WA

February 18 “The Brothers Cazimero, The Warmth of Winter” @ the Woldson theater, Spokane, WA

February 19 One of my favorite Kumu Hula, Claire Cortez and her Halau Hula Ke Liko A`e Lei Lehua will be performing @ the Covington Library, 27100 164^th Ave SE, Covington, WA (253-630-8761 for info) Mahalo Jane Shumate for the info…..

March 9: DA MAN WILLIE K in Concert @ the Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, WA

April 7: Aha Mele 2012 @ the Leschi Schools complex (5625  52d St, in Puyallup, WA).  The first of our Pacific NW “biggie” events, sponsored by MAWHCC (Mokuaina A Wakinikona Hawaiian Civic Club) promises to be an event you will NOT want to miss!”Ke Welina Na Ohana”(Aloha to the family) is the theme this year…every year over 2,000 Hawaiians/Hawaiian Islanders and/or Hawaiians-at-heart dropin and enjoy this reaallly beeg event with tons of vendors, day long schedule of great entertainers (including a very special presentation of “Ka Lei Maile Ali`i” by Mary Alice Kaiulani Milham of the Ke Kukui Foundation) and this year’s Aha Mele event  promises to be better than the ones in the past!! Event runs from 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

June 2: This will be one of the biggest Hawaiian themed events to ever be held in the northern reaches of Washington State. The Bridge of Aloha Festival in  Bellingham, WA is sponsored by NW Ohana.  They are still looking for more vendors, musicians, dancers!  It will be during the “nice part/weather wise” of our pacific NW area aina and I anticipate folks will be coming from all over to participate (from Canada to the north, the Bellingham area as well as many of us from the central and southern parts of the Pacific NW)….for all you musicians and vendors, it’ll be a good time/good way to get some exposure that is not always available (most of our Pacific NW Hawaiian Islander activities center around the Seattle and Portland metropolitan areas)  Contact Brenda Ancheta 360-319-3601 (b.ancheta@yahoo,ocm) or Deb Leikvoll 360-393-9306 (dleikvoll001@cimcast,net) for more info

July 14: the 5^th Annual O Na Kupuna Festival @ Kennedy High School in Burien, WA… Looking for vendors, musicians and/or volunteers to help out…….(contact Kalei Kahala 206-852-8594 (vendors) or Ehu 425-802-6845  (entertainment). Event chair Leilani Vaughn (206-459-0958).

* * * * * * * * ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING, ABSOLUTELY * * * * * * * *

I had no idea what to expect when I sat in my chair in the New Hope Church in Shoreline, WA on that cooooooold January 13, 2012 day!  I had come, at the invitation of the Aloha Twins (Gloria & Bill Nahalea) to listen to Kaumakaiwa Kanaka`ole speak…I had seen Kaumakaiwa at the Benaroya Concert Hall a few years ago and remembered mostly his thick mane of bushy hair and his great voice….this time, instead of being in an auditorium several hundred feet away, here he was very up close and personal…his hair was bundled/tied and I was amazed at what a really good looking Hawaiian man he is…but the most fascinating thing about Kaumakaiwa Kanaka`ole was his story…too often I am a man of clichés and too often I’ve spoken of folks who “walk the walk, talk the talk” but this time around I want to create a new cliché: “Lives the Life”! Kaumakaiwa Kanaka`ole, does more than walk the walk or talk the talk, he “Lives the Life”! Kaumakaiwa  spoke of his legacy of 600 years of HULA lineage…he spoke for an hour about that Kanaka`ole lineage of famous names that go back at least seven generations (from great-great-great Tutu Mary Kealiikekuewa to great Tutu Edith Kanaka`ole to Tutu Pualani Kanaka`ole to Makuahine Kekuhi Kanaka`ole….he spoke of being so fortunate as to be among the first to attend/graduate from a Punana Leo (Hawaiian language) high school on the island of Hawaii.  A five time Hoku Hanohano award winner, he talked about the importance of becoming a part of whatever Hawaiian culture activity we do..

—The analogy he used that really hit my heart was:  “when doing any Hawaiian Cultural thing (like dancing the hula or chanting an Oli or singing a Mele or speaking Olelo), one must seek/accept ownership.  If the words speak of “the island”, the dancer/singer must dance/sing of “the island” as “MY island”.   Same for “the Hawaiian Culture”…we need to speak of it as “MY/OUR HAWAIIAN CULTURE” for it to be truly meaningful!

* * * * * * * * GOLFERS WANTED * * * * * * * *

I am looking out into my backyard which is covered with a few inches of SNOW sooo I can’t believe I am actually writing this but Bucky Takasaki and Wayne Akiona are good friends and among the leaders of the No Ka `Oi Hawaiian Golf Club and they want you!!!! They are getting ready to start into their 2012 season sooo would like you to join up NOW…..contact Vance Lee, 12243 6^th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98177!

Another Hawaiian kine sport not normally associated with Winter weather has started up.  Mahalo to Stan Dahlin (Wakinikona Wa’a Leader, KS’61 alum, retired Lt Colonel, US Army and more recently retired from AT&T) for information about the first PNWORCA (Pacific NW Outrigger Canoe Racing Association) Winter season race that was held on Lake Union Saturday January 14…..65 canoes entered the race which started under grey, overcast Seattle skies and ended up during a snowstorm……..everybody had fun and no one “wen huli”….more races are coming up in the next few weeks….

* * * * SNOW IS UP HERE, BEEG WAVES IN HAWAII * * * * * *

Aue, it’s that time of year when many of us wish we were back in Hawaii watching or catching 40 foot high waves at “Jaws” on Maui and or the Northshore of Oahu BUT NO CAN sooo the option is to join Hui He`e Hau O Wakinikona (Snow Sliders of Washington; contact at THEHUI.ORG)  a group of island sports enthusiasts who now do their “surfing on skis/snowboards”…..their first meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on January 30, 2012 at the Ohana restaurant in Belltown, Seattle!!!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * FACES & PLACES * * * * * * * * * * * * *

HAWAII RADIO CONNECTION CD’S OF THE YEAR 2011…..okay, if you’re wondering about the best new CD’s on the market, following is the listing of the 10 best CD’s as voted on by the very akamai (smart) Hawaii Radio Connection (HRC) hosts Braddah Gomes, Gregg Porter and the HRC staff (who knows  better than these folks who play Hawaian music for you every Saturday on KXPA 1540AM (9-10 a.m.) and KCBS 91.3FM (noon-2 p.m.)

1.            Kaunaloa (Kuana Torres Kahele)

2.            Sea of Love  (Raiatea Helm)

3.            Aina   (Mailani)

4.            Aia I Hi`ialo   (Hi`ikua)

5.            Descendants sound track  (various artists past and present)

6.            Waimaka Helelei (Dennis Kamakahi & Stephen Inglis)

7.            Hula Paina (Gary Medeiros)

8.            Play With Me Papa (John Keawe)

9.            Hula (Robert Cazimero)

10.          Practicing Aloha (various artists)

Stories behind the story:

—You will be able to see/hear Raiatea Helm (Sea of Love CD) up close and personal as she will be performing at the Rialto Theater in Tacoma on April 27 @ the Rialto theater in Tacoma, WA

—the sound track for the “Descendants” movie is sooooo good that it is being touted for next year’s Grammy Awards….among the featured musicians are some of our greatest from years ago (Gabby Pahinui and Sonny Chillingsworth are two) as well as a whole bunch you and I have been able to see/hear  up here in the Pacific NW (Cyril Pahinui, Jeff Peterson, George Kuo, Dennis Kamakahi, John Keawe, Stephen Inglis, Robert Cazimero, et al) in recent times. You can order the sound track from Barnes & Noble or probably from Amazon….it is a great CD to listen to….

—Hi`ikua (Aia I Hi`ialo) was here in the Seattle area a couple of times last year (including headlining the 2011 Live Aloha Festival @ the Seattle Center.

—The Hula Paina star (Gary Medeiros) is our area/Seattle’s own artist-in-residence (plays with Aunty Manu Lono’s Aloha Serenaders group).

* * * * * * * * * * EDUCATORS ARE SO CRITICAL TO OUR FUTURE * * * * * * * * * *

MAHALO MUCH…sooo nice to know that our Hawaiian Islander scholars are alive and thriving.  I attended an event called “Unity of Pacific Islanders” at the University of Washington  and it was soooo nice to listen to four professors from the University of Hawaii, Manoa do readings from some of their original compositions (literature and poetry). Ku`ualoha Ho`omanawanui is an Assistant Professor of Hawaiian Literature; Brandy Nalani McDougal is an Assistant Professor of American Studies; Caroline Sinavaiana is an Assistant Professor of English Literature and Craig Santos Perez is an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing (all at the University of Hawaii, Manoa!)

Congrats to Dr Holoua Stender who was recently hired on as the new Po`o Kula (Headmaster) of the Kamehameha Schools campus on the island of Hawaii!

* * * * * * * * * * Aloha `oe….Masakazu Uemura * * * * * * * * * *

Condolences to the another Holoholo guy in the Pacific NW, Hawaii General Store Travel’s Terry Uemura on the recent loss of his father…Aloha `oe Masakazu Uemura!!!!

Aue, time to hele on……….be kind to each other…..a hui hou e malama pono….Danny

The new Year 2012 is upon us and since my “Holoholo” column associate Maile Lono-Batura and I both agree that the future belongs to our youth, here are my mo`opuna 5 months old Kiele Eileen Jane Kaopuiki-Delaney and Maile’s daughter — Schaller Kua’aina Lono Batura sending wishes to all of you for all good things in 2012 and beyond (health, wealth, love, happiness, successes in whatever you do)!

* * * * SOOOO, WASSUP? UPCOMING  EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES * * * *

We are just into the first few days of the new year 2012 and already the calendar of Hawaiian Islander kine events is filling up!!!!!

DATE/TIME EVENT LOCATION

JANUARY 13, 8 p.m. KAUMAKAIWA KANAKA`OLE @ TOWNHALL in Seattle

JANUARY 14 9 A.M. start for the HAWAII RADIO CONNECTION LIVE BROADCAST WITH BRADDAH GOMES, COUSIN GAIL, UNCLE DANNY @ KONA KITCHEN RESTAURANT IN  SEATTLE

JANUARY 18 JAKE SHIMABUKURO BREMERETON, WA

JANUARY 19 JAKE SHIMABUKURO EDMONDS, WA

JANUARY  20 JAKE SHIMABUKURO TACOMA, WA

JANUARY 19 OLELO HAWAII CLASSES, a 10 SESSION HAWAIIAN BEGINNER LANGUAGE COURSE PRESENTED BY THE HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB OF WASHINGTON

FEBRUARY 4             6^TH ANNUAL KIAKO HOIKE PORTLAND, OR

FEBRUARY 11           “KOHALA” CONCERT BAINBRIDGE ISLAND

FEBRUARY 12           “KOHALA” CONCERT WESTPORT, WA

FEBRURARY 15        “KOHALA” CONCERT BELLEVUE, WA

FEBRUARY 17           “KOHALA” CONCERT EUGENE, OR

FEBRUARY 18           BROTHERS CAZIMERO SPOKANE, WA

MARCH 9                    WILLIE K IN CONCERT @ the EMERALD QUEEN Casino in Tacoma, WA

MARCH 19                  JAKE SHIMABUKURO JAZZ ALLEY, SEATTLE

APRIL                          AHA MELE HO`OLAULEA Leschi Schools hosted by Mokuaina Hawaiian Civic Club of Washington at Leschi Schools in Puyallup, WA

APRIL 27                     KEOLA BEAMER & RAIATEA IN CONCERT @RIALTO THEATER in Tacoma, WA at 7:30 P.M.

JUNE                            BRIDGE OF ALOHA EVENT in Bellingham, WA

JULY                             “THREE DAYS OF ALOHA” hosted by the Ke Kukui Foundation in VANCOUVER, WA & PORTLAND, OR

SEPT 9                          “LIVE ALOHA HAWAIIAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL @SEATTLE CENTER

Following is more definitive information on some of the above events….

Courtesy of Lani Wiig, who used to do some “Talk Pidgin” columns for the Northwest Hawaii Times newspaper, here is her Hawaiian style “Press Release” about da 6^th Annual KIAKO Hoike that is happening on February 4, 2011 in Portland, OR:

Imagine, maybe da coldest munt of da year: February.  Oudside get cold weddah wit snow and ice but eensai—da atmosphere going warm da heart, and da opu…..

Da kaukau!! Kalua pig and cabbage, shoyu chicken, Tofu long rice, steamed rice sounds almost like one onolicious lunch wagon in Hawaii plys Mac Salad, grilled pineapple, Haupia Cake (can you almost feel you on da jet arriving at Honolulu International Airport?)  And while you stay grinding on da pua`a, you can talk story with all kine people from Hawaii Nei who now live up heah….

And den…da Show…..going get live music and da Hula Halau “Ohana Holo`oko`a going do some sweet dancing…going get both keiki and adults performing…Kaleo and one nudder KAIKO member (Frank Dadulla) will emcee………

Cost of tickets:  Adults ($35 general admission/$45 reserved) Keiki ages 3-10 ($18 and $25)….Ohhh, da proceeds from da event (including lots of great silent auction stuff) will be used to help KIAKO perpetuate da culture of Hawaii up heah on da Continent! E Komo Mai!!!!!

For da folks who may not dig Da Kine language, here is Lani’s press release about the KIAKO event in da best kine Queen’s English:

A Warm Hawaiian Event in the middle of Winter:  6^th Annual Ho`ike in Portland, Oregon on Saturday February 4, 2012

Ho`ike is defined by Mary Pukui & Samuel Ebert as:  to show, make known, display, tell,  exhibit, reveal, indicate, report, notify, explain, cause to know or see/discover/announce/Guide/exhibition……

Aloha, Oregon based KIAKO Foundation is pleased to announce the upcoming 6^th Annual Ho`ike to be held at the Portland Community College/PCC (12000 SW 49<sup>th</sup> Avenue, Portland 97219) A Ho`ike is a major Hawaiian Cultural event featuring popular island style food as well as performances of Hawaiian music and dance.  Participation by Oregon and Washington residents who are Hawaiian Islanders or “Hawaiian-at-heart” is encouraged and welcome.

This year’s Ho`ike starts at 5 p.m. with Children’s activities and a silent auction in PCC Sylvania’s College Center.  A Hawaiian dinner featuring Kalua Pig, Shoyu Chicken, Tofu long rice, Macaroni Salad, grilled Pineapple Slaw and Haupia Cake will be served starting at 5:30 p.m. The menu for children features Shoyu chicken, mac Salad and Haupia Cake.

Children and adult hula dancers from Hula Halau ‘Ohana Holo`oko`a will perform (backed by a live band) a variety of modern and traditional hulas.

General admission is:  Adults$35; children (ages 3-10) $18.  Reserved tickets are $45 for adults and $25 for children.  Proceeds will go to promote Hawaiian/Polynesian culture in Oregon communities.

WHO DAT??? The group “Kohala” (Charles Brotman, Charles Recaido, Rupert Tripp) has been entertaining fans on the Big Island for over a decade and their music is best described as “contemporary Hawaiian, an acoustic blend of Island Jazz”.  Brotman is a Grammy Award/Hoku Hanohano and Hawaii Music Award winner..

WHO DAT??? Kaumakaiwa Kanaka`ole is definitely and totally Hawaiian in every respect……..from the long flowing black hair to the deep throated magical voice to “talking the talk/walking the walk” of his ancestors, Kaumakaiwa is constantly perpetuating the Hawaiian culture…a five time Na Hoku Hanohano award winner!

WAT DAT? The Mokuaina A Wakinikona Hawaiian Civic Club of Washington is constantly doing things to perpetuate the Hawaiian Culture in the Pacific NW.  The series of “Olelo Hawaii” classes for beginners is starting on January 19 and will be held on Thursday evenings (7-9 p.m) in Tacoma or Lacey, WA and conducted by PhilletteLihu`e (Hamakua) Ling, a Kamehameha Schools ’79 graduate and native of Ho`olehua, Molokai who worked for the Punana Leo O Moloka`i school. Lehua comments that “being Hawaiian is not just work, it is a way of life….although we may be miles away from Hawaii, we can continue to live our values here”….language is a critical element of our culture, something we all need to learn more about…more info @ MAWHCC@Comcast.net!

* * * * * * WASSUP, LOCAL ENTERTAINERS * * * * * *

JANUARY 14 & 28              KAULELE @PAC ISLAND GRILL, FEDERAL WAY, WA

JANUARY 14                        HULA O NAPUALANI IN CONCERT @ SEATTLE TOWNHALL

JANUARY 14                        KONAKAPILA @KONA KITCHEN 9 A.M.-NOON

* * * * * * DA BEST CHANTILLY CAKE IN THE PACIFIC NW! * * * * * *

I had the pleasure of playing music with Kaulele’s Bernie Simeona and Peter Tabali at the grand opening of the “Cakes of Paradise Bakery” 6322 6^th Ave S. Seattle, WA (which makes the best Chantilly, Mango, and Haupia cakes in the Pacific NW) “Cakes of Paradise” shares space with the Kauai Family Restaurant in the Georgetown area of Seattle so one trip to the same address will give you a chance to sample some of the best Hawaiian grinds and Hawaiian themed cakes at the same time…..contact:  206-763-1151 or cakesofparadisebakery.com!

* * * * * * VOYAGES OF MALOLO * * * * * *

Da book is here….,“Voyages of Malolo” is a historical novel by Robert “Palolo Bob” Bonville who lived for several years in Hawaii……just to perk up your interest a wee bit, here is an overview of the book::

“In 1,000 A.D., on a tiny eastern Polynesian Island, a fugitive wood carver was breaking Kapu, or taboo, by carving hieroglyphs into a piece of mahoe wood.  The tablet (known as Rongo) depicted the teachings and prayers of his people the Hanu-mo-moku who honored the gods of Hawai`iki although forced by the ruling class Hanau-epe to worship the moai (the colossal stone idols that litter the island’s landscape). Suddenly discovered by a Hanau-epe search party, he attempts to escape only to be trapped by his pursuers at the edge of a sheer rocky cliff overlooking the pounding surf far below. In his desperation he hurls the Rongo far out to sea before jumping to his death.  One year later, on the shore of an island in the western South Pacific, Auka`i finds the barnacle encrusted Rongo which  his people believe had been sent by the gods and contains a secret that must be discovered.  Aukai and thirteen remarkably skilled men then construct a large, majestic double hulled canoe and set out on an epic voyage lasting nearly three years that takes them to Ecuador and California 5,000 miles from their home island”

A work of historical fiction, “Voyages of Malolo” will keep you reading to the very end as the crew battles to survive violent weather, disease, cannibals, headhunters, and never before seen creatures during their journey to Ecuador, California and back to Polynesia. Go to Amazon.com for info on this book.

* * * * * * The HOLT Brothers * * * * * *

Kaloku Holt and the Crew are about the hottest young music group in the Vancouver, WA area right now and you can get a “double your pleasure evening” if you go to Charlie’s Bar and Grill in Vancouver, WA on Wednesday January 3 when Kaloku Holt and Crew will be performing and Kaloku will be joined by his brother Keawe Holt (a US Marine on leave flying in from Hawaii to be with his ohana for the holidays) this time.  The brothers are really, really good looking, talented guys who can rock the joint.  Normally, Wednesday evenings are “Island Nights” @ Charlie’s so if you don’t make it this time. go some other Wednesday in 2012!

* * * * * * NEED YOUR KOKUA * * * * * *

The Seattle area Filipino Community is mobilizing a project to help the victims of Typhoon Sedong which devastated the island of Mindanao in the Philippine Islands on December 17, 2011, just a week before Christmas 2011, leaving over a 1,000 dead and more than 100,000 homeless.  They are seeking:

—-usable clothing, blankets, toiletries, canned goods which can be dropped off at the Filipino Community Center, 5740 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Seattle, WA. Do your Spring Cleaning now and drop off usable items for a great cause (will be so nice to know that the items will actually be used by people who need them)

—-or monetary donations (checks should be made out to “Filipino Community of Seattle/ pinay sa Sendong” and mailed to the Filipino Community Center, 5740 MLK Jr Way, Seattle, 98118)

* * * * MAHALO TO KAREN YONEDA FOR THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE * * * *

Bringing in the New Year….every segment of our diverse Hawaiian Islander community had/has it’s own unique way of celebrating the New Year….I’ve asked good friend Karen Yoneda for her perspective on how the Hawaiian Islander Japanese population did it and here is what she has to say…mahalo Karen……………

Growing up in Hawaii, it was indeed great to spend a New Year’s Holiday there! The New year  in Hawaii involves many traditions, cultures, customs and rituals. For example, the Japanese people attach great importance to the New Year season and share traditional New Year’s foods that are eaten to give strength, good luck, good health and long life!  One traditional New Year’s food is Mochi.

If you are interested in Mochi pounding, which is a major New Year’s celebration, please visit the 23d annual Mochi Tsuki Festival, a community event in Islandwood on Bainbridge Island on January 8, 2012 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Families prepare mochi soup or ozone which symbolizes unity of the families on New Year’s Eve and consume it after 12 midnights. It will provide strength throughout the New Year.  The Japanese believe Mochi soup is essential to insure a very happy year.

Other foods consumed on New Year’s day include:

• Sake or rice wine with plum for good health
• Kazunoko for fertility
• Black beans with chestnuts or kuroname for good health and success
• Kobumake (sea weed) for happiness
• Kunkinton (sweet potato) for good fortune
• Konbu (seaweed) for long life
• Red fish (whole) for good luck
• Noodles for good luck
• Sashimi for good luck

Besides feasting, firecrackers are lit to chase away evil spirits.

Karen wishes “Hauoli Makahiki Hou” to all….New Year is a wonderful time to be with family and friends and may the  New Year 2012 be filled with peace, health and happiness…

Mahalo Karen!!!

* * * * * * * * * * 2011 IS PAU….TIME TO HELE  ON TO 2012 * * * * * * * * * *

It is time to hele on into 2012 and we do so with best wishes to the following:

For continuing/complete recovery from serious health issues:

— Steve Tayamen (Kennewick, WA), Ruth Cummings,  Benny Lagmay, Sharmayne Schilling, Ahoi Simeona (Waimanalo, HI), Kenny Esperas (Spokane, WA) Lei Castellano (Federal Way, WA) Rod Lopez Sr (somewhere in Texas)

—improving sales for Gail Springer and her Hawaii General Store, and for Chris Culler and his coffee business

—more business for the Buza ohana and their Kauai Family Restaurant; same for Yuji and Angie Okumoto and their Kona Kitchen Restaurant; to Bobby & Diane Nakihei and their “Bobby’s Hawaiian Style Restaurant” in Everett; same to Patrick Chang and his Hawaiian Café in Vancouver, WA and to the Bamboo Hawaiian Grill in Portland, OR, and the Pac Island Grill in Federal Way, WA and Colleen and her Saimin Says in Kent, WA

—continuing success for the many folks who promote and perpetuate our Hawaiian culture through their respective endeavors in the entertainment arena (Comedian Kermit Apio, Roz Lowry and her Fairwinds Promotions; Eric Yamada and his music promotions; Elias Kauhane; Bernie Simeona and his Kaulele group, Island Bound, Mike and Erma Kuenzli in Sequim, WA and Kaloku Holt, Randy Chang, Manny Fernandez (all in the Portland, OR/Vancouver, WA area) Ricky Chang (and his BBB/Pikanini events), Kalani Kahaialii, Leo Aloha, Na Leo O Hawaii, Grooveline; Maggie Matoba (Salem, OR), Al Tringali, Sam Awaa, Zeke Nakoa, Deva Yamashiro and her Ke Kukui Foundation……and to folks like Jean Smith and Tim & Barbara Culler who graciously host many of the entertainers from Hawaii who visit our area!

—to the many Kumu Hula in this area (and their respective Halaus) like Manu Lono, Krista Espritu, Moodette Ka`apana, Iwalani Christian, Onie Rendal (Kennewick, WA) Cindy Aiona, Kuulei Gumapac, Gina Mahiai, and folks like Jean Smith and Tim Culler who graciously host many of the entertainers from Hawaii who visit our area

—to the Media folks like Braddah Gomes and his Hawaii Radio Connection hosts/hostesses, Butch Calivo and the Coconut Wireless gang, Bill & Gloria Nahalea, and their TV programs, to Angela Manke and her Live Aloha Festival staff and folks like Danielle Chang @ Green River CC…..

—to the Kahu/religious leaders in our community like Jimmy Sequiera (Vancouver, WA) and Wendall Skip Wright (Mill Creek, WA)

2011 also was a time of sadness as we bid Aloha `oe to a number of friends and family who left us to return to Akua….we remember and honor the memories of folks like:

Lokelani Cook, Pekelo Cosma, Kahauanu Lake, Mary Eileen Molitor, Lois Warner, Lindsay Kinney, Susy McAleer, Bill Kaiwa, Herb Kane, Joe Boy Keliiholokai, Walter Ishii, Francis Chun, Aunty Delores Kanaiali`i Bowen, Earl Oda, Wally Yonamine, Clarence Dias, Joe Abad’s Dad and others…..

2011 was equally a tough year for many of us financially…here’s wishing that 2012 will be a better financial year for all of us!

Time to hele on….mahalo sooo much for reading Holoholo…

Be kind to each other……..a hui hou e malama pono……..Danny & Maile