Starbucks ‘Ukulele Festival will be held tomorrow at Kapi’olani Park bandstand. Festival hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Performers include Herb “Ohta-San” Ohta, Holunape, Herb Ohta Jr., Bryan Tolentino, Manoa DNA, Danny Kaleikini, James Hill (from Canada), Brittni Paiva, Yuji Igarashi and Yasuhiko Ariga (both from Japan) as well as Roy Sakuma’s 800-member ‘ukulele band of mostly youngsters. [ From the Honolulu Advertiser ]

Henry Kapono brings the ‘Wild Hawaiian’ experience to Maui tonight at The show begins at 7:30 p.m. today at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater.

The Brothers Cazimero will perform a benefit concert in San Francisco to suppor San Francisco’s 33rd Annual Nihonmachi Street Fair on July 23 from 7-9 p.m., at the San Francisco Palace of Fine Arts.

Keali‘i Reichel brings “Kukahi 2006″ to the Blaisdell Center in Honolulu this year at 8 p.m. Sept. 23 and 24. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at the Blaisdell box office and at Ticketmaster locations. Kūkahi will return to Maui in 2007 on Feb. 9 and 10, at Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theatre. See Wayne Harada’s column for more details.

Keali‘i’s website also mentions that he has a new CD in the works, scheduled for an early November release.

The Mountain Apple Company’s July newsletter carries some significant news, including the return of Amy Hānaiali‘i Gilliom to Mountain Apple, as well as the August 22 release of her new CD, “Generation Hawai‘i.” Also, John Cruz’ classic “Acoustic Soul” is now available again through MAC, and he is busy preparing his long-overdue second release.

Harry will be featuring the music of George Pāoa from July 21 through July 27, 2006. You can tune in to the program at www.hawaiian105.com, or www.am940hawaii.com. I posted my memories of George back when Harry did his previous tribute show.

From the desk of Maila Gibson comes news of the following upcoming releases…

• Taimane Gardner, “Loco Princess” August 1, 2006.
• One Drop, “One Drop”, release date, August 1, 2006.
• Various Artists, “Hawaiian Healing Journey: Continuing Journey”, August 1, 2006.
• Nathan Aweau, “Hawaii Classic Series Vol. 2-Hula”, August 15, 2006.
• Imua, “Greatest Hits Vol. 1″, August 22, 2006

Gaylord Holomalia posted some pics from Kalapana’s recent Philippine concerts. There is also a link to some video clips of them performing on YouTube.

Steven Espaniola will be making a number of performances in Hawai‘i to promote his recent (and excellent) CD entitled “Ho‘omaka.” Here is a list of the the appearance dates and times:

• 8/27:Borders In-Store Performance, Kailua Kona, 2PM
• 8/30:Kona Brewing Company, Koko Marina Center, Honolulu, 7PM
• 9/01:Borders In-Store Performance, Ward Centre, Honolulu, HI 8PM
• 9/03:Borders In-Store Performance, Pearlridge Mall,Honolulu, HI 2PM

My Celtic cousin Scott over at the MacHelpMaui podcast has been featuring Steven’s music in his podcast, and will feature more in the coming weeks. I may play another song this weekend as well.

Keola Beamer has a series of gigs in California that run from August 3 – 6. Check Keola’s tour calendar for more information.

He has also added two new intermediate-level slack key guitar lessons. You can listen to samples of the songs before deciding if it is appropriate for your skill level.

Sean and his band played through what looked on TV to be a small monsoon last night on Hot Hawaiian Nights. I was worried somebody was going to get electrocuted. It was a great show regardless. They performed a lot of music from Sean’s two most recent Hawaiian releases, and were joined by Robi Kahakalau on two songs as well. Great stuff. Billy V. got shoved into the stage-side swimming pool at the end by Pipi, and displayed excellent form on his backstroke. If you missed last night’s show, it will be rerun at 9:30PM tonight and tomorrow night. All in all possibly the best HHN this year.

Today is the first day to enter a lottery to purchase a limited-edition Jake Shimabukuro Signature Model ‘Ukulele made exclusively by Kamaka ‘Ukulele. Only 100 of these ‘ukulele will be made and will only be available for purchase through this lottery. The retail price is $5,500. [ From the Honolulu Star-Bulletin ]

The Big Island Hawaiian Music Festival will be held at the UH-Hilo Theater form July 22-23, 2006. ‘Ukulele and steel guitar performers will be featured on Saturday from 12-5pm, and slack key guitar on Sunday from 12-5pm. Saturday’s perfomers will include Dennis and David Kamakahi, Brittni Paiva, Diane Aki and others. Sunday performers will include Russell Mauga, John Keawe, Charles Brotman and Braddah Kuz. For more information call the East Hawaii Cultural Center, 961-5711.

For folks in western Canada, Hapa will bring the music, dance, chant and storytelling of Hawai‘i and the South Pacific to the Mission Folk Music Festival in Fraser River Heritage Park, July 21-23. HAPA performs in the festival’s Saturday evening concert which starts at 7 and is offering a presentation on Hawaiian music and culture on one of the festival’s three day stages at 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. [ From the Mission City Record ]

Hawai‘i’s acoustic guitar trio Kohala has just returned from Japan and embarks on a California tour:

July 16: San Jose Borders 2:00 pm (Santana Row)
July 16: Monterey Monterey Live 8:00 pm (ticket fusion 877-548-3237)
July 18: Sacramento Borders 7-9 pm (information: 916-564-0168)
July 19: Mill Valley Throckmorton Theatre 8:00 pm (415-383-9600; www.ticketweb.com)
July 21: Santa Cruz Kuumbwa Jazz 7:30 pm (tickets: 831-479-9421)
July 22: San Diego Humphries Backstage Lounge 7-9 pm (tickets: 619-224-3577; ticketmaster)

According to the K5 website, Sean Na‘auao will be performing from the Hawai‘i Prince Hotel tomorrow evening (Friday, July 14) at 7PM. It will be broadcast live on K5 and rebroadcast Saturday and Sunday at 9:30PM.

I just got an email from Billy V, and big changes are about at KCCN and KINE. First, tomorrow (Friday, July 14, 2006) is Brickwood Galuteria’s last day at KINE. He’s been on the air for some 27 years. That’s the bad news. The good news is that his time slot will be filled by the one and only Billy Van Osdol. Billy V. shares his thoughts on the move on the KCCN weblog and his own on MySpace.com. You can read the full KINE press release here.

So, my best wishes to Brickwood in his future endeavors, and to Billy V. on the new gig. Billy will be off next week, but will be on-air Mornings on Hawaiian 105 KINE on July 24, 2006 Monday starting at 5:00 am.

Mana Maoli, Vols. II and III feature artists include Jack Johnson, Paula Fuga and O-shen. All proceeds go to Halau Ku Mana and the other 11 charter schools known collectively as Na Lei Na‘auao. You can buy the CD at www.halekumana.org or at any school location.

Sonya Mendez is going to donate 100 percent of sales of her single, ‘Lū‘au Cha Cha Cha,’ toward the Rotary Polio Plus National Immunization, which will immunize children in Africa. You can buy copies ($5) at her Web site, www.sonyamendez.com or at her personal appearances.

John Berger has some pics from the reception for Henry Kapono’s ‘The Wild Hawaiian’ performance at Hawaii Theatre in his “Island Scene” column.

Honolulu’s favorite contest of unamplified, old-fashioned singing of nahenahe (sweet) Hawaiian mele (songs) returns to the Hawaii Theatre as Ka Hīmeni ‘Ana 2006 presents an evening filled with Hawaiian music and the smell of nā pua ‘awapuhi (ginger flowers). The purpose of Ka Hīmeni ‘Ana is to encourage the singing of Hawaiian music in the “old-style,” without microphones, and to provide opportunities to undiscovered talent.

Join Mistress of Ceremonies, Marlene Sai; Mahi Beamer; and 2004 Ka Hīmeni ‘Ana winners and 2006 Nā Hōkū Hanohano “Group of the Year,” Holunape; as this year’s contestants play the sweet sounds that have made Hawaiian music familiar around the world. Ka Hīmeni ‘Ana 2006 Contestants:

Waiaulu ( Ilima De La Cruz, M. Keaulana Holt, Millie Kawaa)
Pilioha (Glenn Mayeda Jr., Kamuela Kimkeo, Gary “Kalehua ” Krug Jr.)
Vella (Joseph Keliihoomalu, Joseph O. Wilcox)
Ualei (Kukaho’omalu Souza, Kapono Haynes, David Asing)
Mailelaulani Canario, Smitty & Dwayne (M. Canario, Claybourn Smith, Dwayne Yamada)
Ho‘omālie (Kimo Hussey, John Enos, Lopaka Ho‘opi‘i, Zanuck Lindsay)
Mona Joy Trio (Mona Joy Lum, Roland Aton , Dewayne Conching)
Pomaika‘i (Pomaika‘i Loo, Ron Loo)
Kaleoiki (Poni Kamauu, V. Leilani Kong, Albert Maielua)
Kamalino (Stephen Akana, Dexter Choy, Garret Okubo, Derrick Mau)
Jennifer & Henry Camacho (Jennifer Camacho, Henry Camacho)
Keauwena ( Alapa’i Chang, Kale Gouveia, Jason Kaneakua , Mark Kaneakua)
Nā Pūlama ‘ia (Kahalelaukoa Alexander, Lokelani Moreno, Haleaha Montes, Puanani Lee)
Kahele, Fitch & Bolos (Moon Kahele, Doug Fitch, Bruce Bolos)