LIHUE — With the leap year theme of “Leap Into Hawaiian Music,” the Garden Island Arts Council presents its 33rd season of E Kanikapila Kakou Hawaiian Music Program. Musicians, composers, kumu hula, storytellers and artists steeped in Hawaiian music, dance
LIHUE — With the leap year theme of “Leap Into Hawaiian Music,” the Garden Island Arts Council presents its 33rd season of E Kanikapila Kakou Hawaiian Music Program. Musicians, composers, kumu hula, storytellers and artists steeped in Hawaiian music, dance and culture will share their talents.
All events will take place at the Kauai Beach Resort Jasmine Ballroom. For 10 consecutive Monday nights, from Jan. 18 to March 14, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., guest artists will share something special, topping off the season with a ticketed concert on March 21, featuring headliner Willie K and his band.
For most of the Mondays, attendees will be treated to one-hour workshops in ukulele, guitar, steel guitar, hula or some kind of fun interactive learning activity.
Week one on Monday opens with a combined total of over 100 years of entertainment experiences by the talented slack key artist Paul Togioka, ukulele virtuoso Kenny Rapozo, and steel guitar master Ernest Palmeira.
During the first hour, Rapozo will lead the ukulele circle, Togioka will work with an intimate group on slack key guitar and Palmeira will share some secrets with steel guitar enthusiasts.
Togioka has been on the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival Tour since 1996 and received the Hawaii Music Awards “Best Recording by a Slack Key Artist.” He has released three solo CDs including the 2014 Na Hoku Hanohano nominated “Aikane Kuikawa” produced by Milton Lau of Ka Hoku Productions.
Togioka said he’s delighted to be part of the E Kanikapila Kakou Hawaiian Music Program.
“We’re perpetuating the art forms of Hawaiian music,” he said.
Early in his music career, Togioka was shy and didn’t feel comfortable on stage by himself, so he made sure to show up with other performers.
It took a long time for promoters to convince him to go solo. He got over his fears, he said, because he knew he had to if his music career was going to succeed.
“I wanted to be part of tour on Hawaiian slack key guitar festival and I knew I had to go solo,” he said.
So he started performing at small festivals, shows and wedding. One day, it clicked and he felt at home in the spotlight.
“I finally got courage to go alone,” he said.
While Togioka is looking forward to opening night of the with Kenny Rapozo and Ernest Palmeira, he said he still gets nervous.
“It just my nature,” he said, laughing. “I know I”ll never be a public speaker or motivational speaker.”
A suggested donation of $5 to $10 at the door will help the Garden Island Arts Council, which hosts EKK, to defray expenses and continue the community service program.
Funding for the 2016 E Kanikapila Kakou program is made possible by a grant from the Hawaii Tourism Authority and managed by the Kauai County Office of Economic Development.
Info: www.gardenislandarts.org
