The Garden Island
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HANAMA‘ULU — E Kanakapila Kakou is back and booming for six Monday nights of Hawaiian-music sessions, plus a sixth Monday concert, all loaded with talent.

EKK, as it’s called by an enduring and endearing audience, is now in its 38th year, drawing local fans along with visitors from around the world.

EKK events run for the next six Monday starting tomorrow, March 21, through April 25, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., with ‘ukulele practice, talk story and gobs of music and hula. Tickets are required for all events.

Kicking off the season in the Jasmine Ballroom of the Kaua‘i Beach Resort is Natalie Ai Kamau‘u, six-time winner of Na Hoku Hanohano awards, Hawai‘i’s premier music awards and equivalent to the Grammy awards. A 2016 Grammy nominee and 1990 Miss Aloha Hula, she shares the stage with her husband, guitarist Iolani Kamau‘u.

And who knows who else might jump on the stage.

Natalie Ai Kamau‘u delights audiences with her powerful vocal performances that are at the same time sweet, soaring, effortless, and accompanied by memorable stories. Take, for instance, the song she wrote, “Natalie Noelani,” her Hawaiian name that she interprets as “misty heaven.”

It’s also the title of her sixth album, recorded during Hawai‘i’s COVID shut-down and released on Feb. 22. Her husband sings the love song to her on the album, and we should hear it at this gathering.

This poster girl for the image of forever young — with three grandchildren, please — comes from a musical family, and what that means to the audience is generations of Hawaiian culture shared with abundant aloha.

KBR will have food and drinks available for purchase.

Doors open at 5 p.m. for each session, and if you want to learn to play and sing a Hawaiian song, enter the Jasmine Ballroom then, bringing an instrument (or not) to learn a song you’ll group-perform later in the evening.

A connected event takes place at the same location on a seventh Monday, May 30. It’s a concert hosted by a legend in his own right, none other than Makana!

Session performers:

• March 21: Natalie and I’olani Kamau‘u and ‘ohana;

• March 28: Michael Pili Pang and Halau Hula Ka No‘eau Hula Academy;

• April 4: Led Kaapana with Jesse Gregorio;

• April 11: Kupaoa and Ke Ala Aumoe Hula Dancers;

• April 18: ‘O’iwi – John Mahi, Bronson Aiwohi, DJ Yaris;

• April 25: Community Hula Night with Malie Foundation — Learn a hula and watch heaps more!

• May 30: “Legacy of Our Legends,” hosted by Makana.

Children under the age of 12 are admitted free to the first six sessions only.

• Info 245-2733 or giac@hawaiilink.net