You may noticed that I put a campaign ad for Manu in my right hand navigation column (how could you miss it). I just found read an endorsement letter from Robert Uluwehi Cazimero in the Moloka‘i Times, and that Manu has a campaign site as well.

A first, free annual Starbucks Maui ‘Ukulele Festival is scheduled to take place from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s A&B Amphitheater. Performers include Jake Shimabukuro, Herb “Ohta-san” Ohta, Richard Ho’opi’i, Kelly Boy DeLima and daughter Kalena, Manoa DNA, the Hula Honeys and Da ‘Ukulele Boys.

A feature in the business section of the Star-Bulletin tells how Raiatea Helm is reaching new heights with the help of her family and her own label.

Wayne Harada offers a glimpse into Amy’s recent past, which includes marriage, childbirth, and recording a CD during pregnancy. She’ll sing many of the album’s songs at Friday’s concert that’s also titled “Generation Hawai’i,” launching the Hawai’i Theatre’s popular Friday-night “Hana Hou!” series.

Brittni Paiva will be performing at what has become one of her favorite annual events, the ‘Ukes for Kids Concert. This benefit event will take place on Saturday, November 4th, 2006 at 7:00 PM at the Marriot Hotel in Waikiki. This concert is part of the ‘Ukulele Guild of Hawai‘i’s 5th Annual ‘Ukulele Exhibition and Conference November 3-5. Tickets are $15 for the concert, and may be purchased at the door.

This is just another reminder about the Hawaiian Music Conference that will be held on O‘ahu on November 11 at the Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Campus Dining room. That’s only two weeks away! See the announcement linked above for more details and registration info.

There is a nice feature on the band Holunape in this week’s Midweek Magazine. Kudos to writer Melissa Moniz.

Below find information regarding The Hawaii Music Institute’s three-hour Music Law Workshop presented by William G. Meyer, III.

Date: Saturday, October 28, 2006
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon
Location: Windward Community College
Cost: $60.00

Topics to be covered include:

• Who owns the copyright?
• What type of license do I need?
• Can I get my copyright back?
• How does publishing work?
• What do ASCAP and BMI do?
• Can Act 221 help my career?
• The sound of money – ringtones?

. . . and more. Call Windward Community College Continuing Education Program at 235-7433 enroll.

The Brothers Cazimero, Sean Na‘auao, Nā Kama, and others will present an Aloha Friday buffet luncheon show at noon on Friday at Brew Moon at Ward Centre. It will be broadcast live on KKNE-AM (490 AM). Cost is $30 per person, which includes the buffet or add $5 for an upgraded Halloween package offering four-ounce samples of six handcrafted beer flavors. Seating is limited. For reservations, call Brew Moon at 593-0088. [ Mahalo to Wayne Harada at the Advertiser ]

Since Kenneth Makuakāne’s solo debut has been in limited distribution since it’s release on Sept. 29, we’re concerned that many members of The Recording Academy have not had a chance to hear it in order to give it due consideration for the 2006 Hawaiian Grammy Award. In order to compensate for that fact, Kenneth are coordinating an awareness campaign, and I have set up a private area on his website where Grammy and Nā Hōkū Hanohano voters will be able to hear the CD in its entirety – all 20 songs from beginning to end. If you are a member of the Academy or HARA, all you need to do to gain access to this area is to email me at keola@nahenahe.net and I will send you the login information.

I want to make it clear that I do not expect anyone to vote for Makuakāne out of friendship with me or anything I may have done for artists here on Nahenahe.net. Nor am I going to offer to scratch anyone’s back by voting for them if they offer to vote for Makuakāne, so please don’t ask me to do that. I’ve already chosen the releases I’m going to vote for, based on their quality and being the best representative of our Hawaiian music tradition. And yes, at least one of my choices has the term “slack key” in the title Our only reason for doing this is to give members of the academies the opportunity to hear the music and consider the release for nomination.

In order to be fair, if there is any other artist out there that is running a similar awareness campaign on behalf of their release, please let me know and I’ll point to you. If you would simply like a pointer to your Grammy entry release page, send it to me and I will link to it.

The Star-Bulletin’s John Berger gives us a glimples into the life of John Cruz and a preview of “Made of Music — The Story of John Cruz”, which premiers at the Hawai‘i International Film Festival this week.

Hawai‘i Night (Thursday, October 26) at the Hawai‘i International Film festival kicks off with “The Shimmering”, an ethereal piece based on the shark tale “It Swims When You Sleep” by Hawaiian singer-songwriter Keola Beamer. The ‘aumakua (protective deity) of Hawaiian mythology is the foundation of this fascinating underwater tale. To be followed by a performance by Keola Beamer!

“Made of Music: The Story of John Cruz” chronicles Nā Hōkū Hanohano award winner John Cruz, from hanabata days in Palolo Valley, to years of struggle on the East Coast, to ultimately achieving personal and professional equilibrium back in the islands he loves. However, unashamedly, Cruz delves into his dark past, including his bout with drug addiction that tears his family and shakes his very foundation. From the dark comes a soulful inspiration in his music, which he calls “acoustic soul.” To be followed by a performance from John Cruz!

Musicians, writers, website and game designers, photographers, video and other visual artists and their managers will benefit from a four-hour seminar from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., followed by free private consultations, on Friday, October 20th at the Maui Research and Technology Center.  The seminar is sponsored by the Maui Small Business Development Center and Paradise Patent Services, Inc.  The fee is $25.

A large part of the business of making music CDs, videos, websites, and games is using copyright and trademark laws to establish your rights as a licensor (granting Intellectual Property (IP) rights to others, or stopping infringement) or as a licensee (obtaining IP rights from a rights holder, or defending against alleged infringement).   Understanding the licensing of digital arts is also key to taking advantage of Hawaii’s tax incentives for producers of digital performing arts products.  Digital Rights Management is a new, fast-evolving tool for administration of licenses of digital arts products.

For more information contact Charlene Sagapolutele at 808-875-2402.  Register online at http://hawaii-sbdc.org.

Kenneth Makuakāne’s new CD was in limited distribution since its release on Sept 29, however, it is much more widely available now, and should have made it into most bricks and mortar stores as well as online retailers this week. Auntie Maria is taking on orders, and you can check Kennethʻs release page which will point to all online retailers who are stocking it. If you have trouble finding it at your favorite retailer please contact me and I’ll let the distributor know.

Kenneth has been busy setting up promotional appearances at retailers, on TV and other venues. As soon as they are lined up he’ll post them on his website and I will also do so here.

Kāko‘o ‘Ōiwi is a non-profit Native Hawaiian Organization founded in 2006 by Mehana Hind, Kahi Brooks and Kehau Watson after they saw a need in our community to create better networking opportunities and provide administrative support to Native Hawaiian people and organizations.

Kāko‘o ‘Ōiwi is starting its new fundraising program with a concert featuring Ernie Cruz, Jr. and HAPA on Tuesday, November 21, 2006, 6-8 pm at Punahou School. All proceeds from the concert will go to Kāko‘o ‘Ōiwi’s Ola Nā Iwi program which supports projects that protect, promote, and celebrate the Hawaiian lifecycle. You may use the attached form to pre-order a limited number of tickets they have made available. Due to recent events, the deadline has been extended to Friday, Oct 20 (the document says October 18).

I started a new poll (see the top of the right hand column), asking what your favorite Hawaiian Christmas release is. I’ve not included any of the new and upcoming releases. If you have a favorite that is not listed please email me and I’ll try to add it.

One topic that was discussed during our music conference a few weekends ago was the closing of Tower Records, a sure sign that the record industry, at least the retail side of it, has changed forever.