The sounds of Kuleana

September 3, 2015

It's likely to be one of the highlights of the year on Saturday in the Castle Theater when Project Kuleana presents the screenings of some epic short films and performances by Hawaiian artists featured in them, including Palani Vaughan, Mike Ka'awa, Sonny Lim, Ernie Cruz Jr., Kainani Kahaunaele and Napua Greig.Project Kuleana is the creation of three Native Hawaiians, Sean Naleimaile, Kihei Nahale-a and Kamakoa Lindsey-Asing, who believe that kuleana (responsibility) is the essence of Hawaiian music - kuleana to the aina (land) and to the ancestors who developed a powerful connection to ...

Back on Front

August 27, 2015

Back on Maui after touring Europe with Fleetwood Mac, Mick Fleetwood just celebrated the third anniversary of his Lahaina restaurant over the weekend. On Friday night, the legendary drummer sat in with the House Shakers, thrilling a packed rooftop audience that included rock star Rod Stewart.Living up to their name, the Shakers powered through blues gems and boogie-rock classics including terrific versions of the Rolling Stones' "Shake Your Hips" and Johnny Kidd & the Pirates' "Shakin' All Over."Fleetwood then introduced the King, "Burn'n Love's" Darren Lee, for more shaking to ...

Roger McGuinn

August 20, 2015

There was a time when the Byrds were viewed as America's answer to the Beatles. Almost overnight, buoyed by the success of their debut No. 1 hit single, "Mr. Tambourine Man," they became one of the most popular bands in the world.Time magazine proclaimed they had invented a new musical movement called folk rock, and in quick succession the Byrds were credited with also helping to create psychedelic rock and country rock.The influential group's principal singer and lead guitarist, Roger McGuinn, still performs today, and will make his Maui debut Tuesday at the Historic Iao Theater in ...

Purely ukulele

August 13, 2015

In recent years, there has been an explosion of interest in the humble ukulele beyond Hawaii's shores. One of our acclaimed players, Herb Ohta Jr., just experienced this phenomenon as a headliner at the sixth Ukulele Festival of Great Britain in late June."It was crazy," Ohta marvels. "I was telling people I love to play ukulele, but you guys are crazy. They don't stop playing until they fall off their chairs. In the summer it doesn't get dark till 10 o'clock at night and they're sitting there playing constantly."The only Hawaiian musician on the British festival bill, which included ...

On the Map

August 6, 2015

Perched at the edge of the West Maui Mountains, overlooking the valley below, Waikapu's King Kamehameha Golf Club offers a spectacular setting for any entertainment event, let alone the mighty, extraordinarily talented Willie K."I'm still flying high from the first show there," Willie enthuses. "The location is great, it's an upgrade, it's central, it's awesome. I'm stoked."Willie K and his Warehouse Blues Band can now be heard Thursday nights playing in the golf club's Waikapu Ballroom.It's highly unlikely that one could experience anything like a Willie K show anywhere else in the ...

Masters of Mozart

July 30, 2015

The island premiere of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Great Mass in C minor will be presented Sunday in Castle Theater at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, with two choirs totaling 120 voices, a 42-piece chamber orchestra and four soloists.Under the direction of conductor Robert E. Wills, the performance will feature the Maui Chamber Orchestra and the Maui Masterworks Choral joined by 60 members of the Finger Lakes Choral Festival from upstate New York.While many are probably familiar with Mozart's Requiem (featured in the Oscar-winning movie "Amadeus"), which was left unfinished upon his ...