KANEOHE, Hawaii — The 2nd Annual Kani Kuola: UH System Music Festival on April 1 invites community participation, with guests encouraged to bring their instruments and voices for a morning of educational workshops, master classes and a panel discussion with music professionals hosted by faculty from statewide UH music programs.

What You Need To Know

  • Free workshops from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. invite individuals to bring their instruments and voices

  • A panel discussion on “Music of the Hawaiian Renaissance” features Dr. Jon Osorio, Liko Martin and Jerry Santos, from 3-3:50 p.m.

  • Open Mic by MELE Program runs from 4-5 p.m. featuring first-time performers

  • The festival will conclude with Mele Hoomalamalama, an evening benefit concert, from 6-8:30 p.m. at Paliku Theatre

The Windward Community College event is entirely free with the goal of sharing “life-giving” music experiences through creation, performance and education, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Workshops will be held in-person at Hale Akoakoa with live streaming available. The festival will conclude with a scholarship benefit concert at 6 p.m. in Paliku Theatre.

“The goal for this year’s festival is to allow our campuses to come together in one space and to share what we are doing on our campuses with our community,” said Kamuela Kimokeo, Windward CC music instructor and Hawaii Music Institute director. “This is a time to celebrate not only the talent of our instructors, but of the music makers in our communities.”

Workshops run the gamut from music composition to the relationship of words to movement in hula to sustainable instrument making and Hawaii reforestation. They include “Ukulele Theory and Arranging” with Benny Chong and Byron Yasui, “Hawaiian Comping on Piano” with Aaron Sala, “Historical Hawaiian Instruments” with Shawn Yacavone and Kilin Reece, and “Recording and Producing to tell Native Stories” with Kelli Cruz with more available. Future artists can also perform for the first time at Open Mic.

Visit the Kani Kuola: UH System Music Festival website for a full workshop schedule, information and to register.

Award-winning Hawaiian musician, singer and songwriter Jerry Santos will be part of a panel discussion in the afternoon, "Music of the Hawaiian Renaissance," and will also perform at the benefit concert at Paliku Theatre in the evening. (Photo courtesy of Windward Community College)
Award-winning Hawaiian musician, singer and songwriter Jerry Santos will be part of a panel discussion in the afternoon, "Music of the Hawaiian Renaissance," and will also perform at the benefit concert at Paliku Theatre in the evening. (Photo courtesy of Windward Community College)

One of the day’s highlights is a panel discussion, “Music of the Hawaiian Renaissance” with Dr. Jon Kamakawiwo‘ole Osorio, Liko Martin and Jerry Santos, scheduled for 3-3:50 p.m.

The festival will conclude with Mele Hoomalamalama, an evening benefit concert, from 6-8:30 p.m. at Paliku Theatre. Jerry Santos; Jon Osorio and son, Duncan Kamakana; Ledward Ka‘apana; and Martin and Kawaikapuokalani Hewett will perform the music of the Hawaiian Renaissance. Lina Girl Langi and Davey D, Windward CC alums, will emcee.

Concert proceeds go toward the Kanilea Hawaiian Music Scholarship, enabling Windward CC students to learn and perpetuate Hawaiian music. Purchase concert tickets here.

Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.