On Saturday, April 28, Waikiki Beach Walk&trade launched its new Hawaiian music heritage program, "Na Mele No Na Pua...Music for the Generations." Outrigger was proud to host Eddie Kamae and the Sons of Hawai'i for the first in a series of free monthly concerts sponsored by Outrigger and our partners the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame, the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts, and Cox Radio-Hawaiian 105.1 KINE. The concert took place on the Grand Lanai of the Embassy Suites® - Waikiki Beach Walk&trade Hotel (ESH) and was standing-room only as Eddie and the Sons played classics from Hawai'i's musical past. Our emcees, TV and Radio personalities Brickwood Galuteria and Kimo Kahoano. kept the crowd entertained in between songs and also performed, with Kimo singing a Don Ho tribute.
The free monthly concerts will be held on the last Saturday of each month on the ESH's Grand Lanai. May's concert will feature Jerry Santos and Olomana, with special guest Hoku Zuttermeister, and June's concert will feature Hapa.
Another important part of Na Mele No Na Pua was unveiled last week when the History of Hawaiian Music timeline display was completed. The 50-foot timeline, which is located in ESH's makai corridor near Roy's, marks important milestones in the history of music in Hawai'i. From the traditional musical implements of the Native Hawaiians, to the heritage of Hawai'i's royal composers Na Lani Eha (King Kalakaua, Queen Lili'uokalani, Princess Likelike and Prince Leleiohoku), to the Golden Age of the 1930s, to modern day music, the timeline will educate both visitors and kama'aina alike. As a gift to Waikiki Beach Walk and Outrigger, Hawaiian songwriter Kenneth Makuakane and Hawaiian scholar Keola Donaghy composed a special mele (song) in celebration of Hawaii's musical tradition. We plan to unveil the song at the May concert, but for now, everyone can view the liner notes, as it is a very special part of the timeline. We are also working with the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame to create a display honoring Hawai'i's musicians and Hall of Fame honorees for ESH's mauka corridor.
On behalf of Outrigger, I'd like to thank everyone who helped make our first concert a success: Bob Yeoman, Mark Burson, Sun Bee, Dennis Maher, Nancy Daniels, Sam Hoffman, Burton Kong, Loyce Hurley, Elliot Mills, Roy Codeiro, and Conchita Malaqui.
We invite everyone to bring your 'ohana down to Waikiki Beach Walk for next month's concert and to take a look at all the wonderful things that Waikiki Beach Walk has to offer!