Kenneth Makuakāne and I have been collaborating on a mele for a new Hawaiian music heritage program, “Nā Mele No Nā Pua” (which figuratively is defined as “Music for the Generations”). It will feature two, expansive permanent exhibits highlighting Hawai‘i’s rich musical history, an ongoing monthly Hawaiian music concert series, special educational and cultural events, and interpretive displays – all free and open to the public. There is already a plaque with the song up, but it will undergo change as we’ve updated both the lyrics and the music of the song recently.

I was surprised to find information on the program, including our involvement in writing the mele, in the online edition of Business Traveler magazine, which is published, it seems, in Germany.

People sometimes email and ask how I find these kinds of stories, and if I simply spend all day cruising the net. Unfortunately, no. My secret? Google Alerts. If you don’t use it, check it out.

Ho‘okena will give two Mother’s Day performances May 13 at the Hibiscus Ballroom of the Ala Moana hotel – brunch session, from 10:30 a.m. with Aaron Sala. Doors open at 10:30 a.m., with a brunch buffet from 11 a.m. to noon, followed by a two-hour performance. The dinner event, from 5 p.m., includes Raiatea Helm. Doors open at 5 p.m., with buffet from 6 to 7:30 p.m., with the show from 7 to 9 p.m. Brunch tickets are $50 ($25 for children 4-11); dinner events are $60 ($30 children). Reservations: 955-4811.

UH Hula & Chant Ensembles, led by kumu hula Vicky Holt Takamine, UH Hawaiian Chorus (led by Nola A. Nahulu, chorus director) and the UH Slack Key Ensemble (Peter Meideros, director) present “Nā Paniolo o Hawai‘i” tonight, April 25, 7:30pm – 9:30pm at the UH-Mānoa Campus, Orvis Auditorium. Celebrate with them the customs, ‘āina and lives of Hawai‘i’s cowboys through mele and hula.

Celebrate Cinco De Mayo at The Aloha Tower Fiesta, Saturday May 5th, 5pm to closing at the Aloha Tower Events Stage (formerly Kapono’s) Performing: Brazilian Connection Band from 5:40 pm to 8:30 pm, followed by Rolando Sanchez & Salsa Hawaii” from 8:30 pm to Closing. Free to the public.

According to The Listening Post, The Public Radio Exchange is looking for “the next great public radio host,” and is using the web to find one.

The Berklee Internet Radio Network (BIRN) is a commercial-free, internet radio station and is a project of the Berklee College of Music and is designed, operated, and maintained by the Berklee community of students, faculty, and staff. It predominantly features music of Berklee alumni, but also does acccept music from outside the college for consideration. I’m listening now.

I seriously considered going to Berklee in the mid-80s, but at the time didn’t want to do a full college program, and opted for Musician’s Institute in Hollywood instead.

I’ve been reading a lot of the tributes to Don Ho that have been posted on the net but haven’t had time to point to any. The Advertiser features Marlene Sai’s thoughts as she got her start in the same Kāne‘ohe club, Honey’s, where Don started and which was owned by his parents. A little bit more difficult to find in CyberSpace is Henry Kapono’s recollections of the Waikīkī music scene in the 60s, of which Don was a huge part.

The final Ho‘okani Mānoa of the year will be a big one, on Saturday, April 28, 2007 at Andrew’s Amipitheater, 5-10PM. Featured artists include Robi Kahakalau, Aaron Mahi, Martin Pahinui and George Kuo, Weldon Kekauoha, Chad Takutsugi, Keao Costa, the Lim Family and a Hawaiian music class from Mānoa. $5 for UH students with ID, $10 for others. Sounds like it will be a blast.

Don Ho passed away this morning at the age of 76. The Advertiser has coverage.

The Kauai Music Festival is a four-day celebration of the art of songwriting held on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. The festival runs from August 1st to August 4th, 2007. At the festival you will learn songwriting from some of the best songwriters in America. You can consult, one-on-one, with award winning songwriters, Grammy winning producers, and top A&R and other music industry people. I’m seriously considering going myself.

The Star-Bulletin’s Erika Engle reports that Kimo Kahō‘ano and Brickwood Galuteria will be reuniting on morning radio as they host “Nā ‘Ōiwi ‘Ōlino,” on KKNE-AM 940 from 7-9 a.m. Monday through Friday. They will not be employees of the station, but under contract with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which is buying the time for the show. Interesting development. Hopefully they’ll be able to play a wider selection of Hawaiian music than typically gets played on the air in Honolulu.

I wanted to let you all know about two different events, one on Maui and one on O‘ahu. Guitarist extraordinaire Tom Conway will be filling in for Barry Flanagan and performing with Eric Gilliom during upcoming Wailea Nights events at Mulligan’s on the Blue in Wailea, Maui. Mulligan’s is one of my favorite watering holes and restaurants when I return to Maui to visit family. I’d love to catch this but unfortunately don’t have any upcoming visits.

For folks on O‘ahu, Zanuck Lindsey, Anita Hall and band will perform with the Honolulu Pops Symphony at “A Tribute to The Beatles:40th Anniversary of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” to be held at the Blaisdell Center on April 27, 28, and 29. Call 792-2000 for ticket information.

Kenneth is back from what sounded like a relaxing cruise around the islands, and will be performing on Kaua‘i at the Island School on Monday, April 9. 6-7 PM will be a three song ‘ukulele lesson, then a solo concert 7-9 PM.

Congratulations to Dave Winer at Scripting News, who is celebrating 10 years of blogging today. I used tools that Dave has written for over 10 years, and Nahenahe.net is modeled after Scripting News, though it took me a few months to catch on. Nahenahe.net, at least as a blog, will celebrate 10 years this November (here are the initial Nahenahe.net blog posts from 1997). How time flies. Mahalo, Dave!