TGIFr!day

Week of Friday, January 30, 2015 | Vol. 3, No. 5

Grinds & Da Kines For Your Weekend

KOLOA RUM

‘THE SPIRIT OF JAZZ’ • ‘THE BOY NEXT DOOR’ • HOIKE HULA • HA COFFEE OPEN MIC Island Calendar and much, much more!

2 | TGIFR!DAY | January 30, 2015

IN THIS ISSUE: 2. OUT & ABOUT: Top picks for the week

3. PAGENT: Miss Garden Isle Miss Paradise Kauai

4-5. DINING OUT KAUAI: Koloa Rum

6. FLICKS: ‘The Boy Next Door’

7. ART & THEATER: Ha Coffee open mic

8-9. CHECK DA SCENE: Wellness Expo

10. TUNES: Hoike Hula

10. TUNES: SLACK & BLUES

OUT & ABOUT: TOP PICKS FOR THE WEEK FRI SAT SUN ‘BEYOND THERAPY’ 5:30 P.M. HUKILAU LANAI RESTAURANT Women In Theatre presents a dinner theater production of Beyond Therapy

by Christopher Durang. $60 PHOTOGRAPHY WITHOUT CAMERAS NOON TO 3 P.M. NA AINA KAI BOTANICAL GARDENS A formal tour and lumen printing workshop with Phyllis Schwartz, a visual artist from Vancouver, Canada. $15 advance, $20 door, limited to 20 participants.

‘EVERYDAY NAKED’ 5 P.M. TALK STORY BOOKSTORE

Author Mary Bartnikowski will signing her new book, “Everyday Naked, Sacred and Profane Morsels of Truth.”

Contact Us: www.thegardenilsland.com facebook.com/TheGardenIsland @thegardenisland

HARP MUSIC 6 TO 8 P.M. GALERIE 103 Harp music by Renee Janton, pupus, silent auction and a slideshow of whales and dolphins.

SOUP KITCHEN DEDICATION 3 TO 4:30 P.M. KAPAA MISSIONARY CHURCH

WALK WITH A DOC 7 A.M. WILCOX HOSPITAL Walk a mile with Dr. Amy Corliss, then stay for cancer care video conference RUMMAGE SALE 8 A.M. TO NOON CHURCH OF THE PACIFIC

BEACH CLEANUP 9 A.M. TO NOON MOLOAA BAY Kauai Surfrider and Sierra Club will be having a beach cleanup. Gloves, tools, bags and refreshments will be provided. 634-6597

‘BEYOND THERAPY’ 5:30 P.M. HUKILAU LANAI RESTAURANT Women In Theatre presents a dinner theater production of Beyond Therapy

by Christopher Durang. $60 MAHAULEPU HIKE Join the Sierra Club on a sunset to full moon walk from Shipwrecks Beach along the coast to Mahaulepu. 3.5 miles, 413-522-3734 KALAPAKI JOE’S SUPERBOWL FUNDRAISER ALL FOUR SITES Proceeds benefit 4-year-old fighting cancer

THU

Patrick Ching’s ‘KAI’ Ocean Art Show 6 to 9 p.m. Monday.

MON TUE WED ART SHOW 6 TO 9 P.M. CHING YOUNG VILLAGE Patrick Ching’s ‘KAI’ Ocean Art Show opening reception with the grand opening of the new general store of Hanalei gallery and art school.

COMMUNITY YOGA 6 TO 7:30 P.M. NAWILIWILI YACHT CLUB Hosted by the Kauai Sailing Association, weekly on Monday.

Bring your own yoga mat or towel.

346-7671

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Bill Buley | bbuley@thegardenisland.com | 245-0457 TGIFRIDAY EDITOR/CALENDAR: Chloe Marchant | cmarchant@thegardenisland.com | 245-0451 ADVERTISING: displayads@thegardenisland.com | 245-0425 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING: tgiclassified@thegardenisland.com | 246-0325

HULA CLASS 4 P.M. KOLOA NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER Halau Hula O Leilani is having hula classes for ages 4 to 12.

651-0682 WEIGHT WATCHERS 5:30 P.M. ST. JOHNS EPISCOPAL CHURCH Weekly Weight Watchers Meetings held same time on Tuesday.

NUTRITIONAL PROGRAM 7 P.M. Short film followed by samples, talk with certified-nutritional adviser Jane Riley. Free. Ongoing event, call for location. 212-1451 AEROBICS CLASSES 8:30 A.M. ALL SAINTS GYM Carol Yasutake is having aerobics classes on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. $12, 822-3817

‘CHOICES’ 4 TO 5:15 P.M. LYDGATE BEACH PARK CSL Kauai, a new and growing spiritual community is reaching out to teens ages 13 through 17 with their youth program “Choices.”

Its purpose is to nurture your teen’s emotional, intellectual, creative and spiritual life through art, theater, literature, community sharing and physical activity. Choices meets on Thursdays.

755-9177 KUGA DANCE CLASS 5 P.M. ISLAND SCHOOL Learn hip-hop, drop in fee is $10. kuga808.com

TGIFR!DAY | January 30, 2015 | 3

Miss Garden Isle, Miss Paradise Kauai to be crowned Sunday

Beauty, brains, believing in self

A

s the current Miss Garden Isle titleholder, Topaz Fernandez has learned a lot about herself over the past year.

As Miss Garden Isle, the 21-year-old Kauai High School alumna had a chance to visit Children’s Miracle Network recipients at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children in Honolulu and overcome one of her biggest fears: public speaking. “I’d have to say that it was definitely life-changing,�

Fernandez said about being crowned Miss Garden Isle last January and competing for the Miss Hawaii title in Honolulu. “I’ve definitely matured over the past year and learned more about myself than I ever thought I would. As Miss Garden Isle, you are a voice in the community and you have to work well with others around you. You are also a role model for pretty much everyone.�

The tradition of crowning a new Miss Garden Isle and Miss Paradise Kauai will continue at this year’s annual scholarship program, beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Kauai Community College Performing Arts Center.

Pageant organizer Rose Dahle said eight contestants will be vying for the two titles, including Sarah Alonzo, Guinevere Davenport, Shelbi Shimazu, Ruby Hawthorne, Nicholette Levinthol, Hualalai Grance, Kizna Pascua, and Sarah Manuel.

The two contestants who are crowned Miss Paradise Kauai and Miss Garden Isle will each receive $10,000 scholarship grants to Argosy

Shops, Restaurants & Services at Ching Young Village:

DARIN MORIKI TGIFR!DAY Paul Hayashi / Contributed photo

Former Miss Paradise Kauai Alexandra Roth passes on her crown to current Miss Hawaii titleholder Stephanie Steuri during the 2014 Miss Paradise Kauai and Miss Garden Isle scholarship pageant.

University. The first runner-up will receive $8,000, the second runner-up will receive $6,000, and the remaining four contestants will receive $2,000. “The thing that I get the most pride in is when they build self-confidence, become strong, young women and pursue their education,�

Dahle said. “I like getting feedback that tells me that the contestants are using their scholarship money to further their education. About a couple of weeks ago, right before Christmas, I ran into a parent of a former titleholder who went on to Miss Hawaii ‌ and was told that she got her master’s degree using every penny of her scholar-

ship money.�

Fernandez hopes every contestant will learn more about themselves throughout the pageant process. “Gaining experience from this pageant kind of allows you to learn more about yourself and teaches you more about what your goals are in life and what you hope to overcome,� Fernandez said. “It made me ask myself, ‘OK, who is the real Topaz?’ It kind of reaffirms who you are and makes you feel proud of who you are. It kind of gives you the inspiration to find yourself a little bit more.�

Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door.

Info: Dahle, (808) 482-0142

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The mouth paintings of Moses Hamilton “Art That Soothes the Soul�

(808) 652-2314 www.mosesart.org Self taught, Moses “Mo� rediscovered his passion for art and started painting by mouth after an accident Join his fan page

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in 2002 left him paralyzed. He paints in an expressive and loose style with a touch of impressionism, using bold colors to create strong, colorful pieces of art inspired by Love of Life and Music. Mo, along with a display of his artworks, is at Ching Young Village Shopping Center on Weekends.

4 | TGIFR!DAY | January 30, 2015

More than a taste

Koloa Rum room full of life, laughter and culture

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f you think the Koloa Rum tasting room is just about tasting rum, you would be wrong.

That’s just part of the experience.

Sure, there are samples of various rums — white, dark, gold, spice and coconut — and you learn about mixing mai tais and other drinks.

But a visit to this tasting room next to the Company Store at Kilohana Plantation includes much more.

Stories about the culture of Kauai, its once-thriving sugar mills, Hawaiian Pidgin English, are delightfully weaved together and shared by rum tender Cale Akuna.

The history of Koloa Rum,

part of it, too. And there’s a final, upbeat message about sharing the good word of Koloa Rum, all packed into an entertaining 20-minute presentation.

“How many are here for the first time,” Akuna asks of the group of seven bellied up to the beautiful bar in the comfortable, warm room.

Several hands shoot up.

Photos by Bill Buley “Welcome to our bar,” Above: A Koloa Rum bottle Akuna said, with a grin. next to shot glasses. Right: He encourages his guests Cale Akuna pours a quarter-ounce of Koloa Rum into a to spread out around the shot glass. bar, then explains that Koloa Rum is the first and only and its commitment to cre- licensed distillery on Kauai. ating a world-class Hawaiian Its first batch of premium Rum, are part of it. Laughter, Hawaiian Rum was distilled and bottled in September smiles and friendships are

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS IN THE HEART OF HANALEI BAY

NEW DINNER ITEMS

BILL BULEY TGIFR!DAY

2009, which coincided with the opening of the Tasting Room & Company Store at Kilohana Plantation.

Koloa Rum, is “handcrafted from the finest sugarcane and the pure, abundant water sources on the island of Kauai. Its premium rums

are twice distilled in single batches.”

Soon, visitors are sipping Koloa rums — a quarter ounce each — and hearing about Kauai’s sugar mills that once dominated the island.

All of their rums, Akuna

says, are award-winning.

“We work hard on each one, all small batches at a time,” he says.

He explains Kauai Gold is usually a mixer with a “subtle sweetness to it.”

“It’s not too often a drink by itself,” he says.

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Akuna maintains a running commentary as he pours rum into shot glasses.

“Careful with that. It’s dangerous,” he says, smiling.

He pours the dark rum, nice and slow, on top of the mai tai mix. The rum stays on top — sunset in a glass, dark rum chased down by a sweet mai tai mix.

“If you do it right, that is what a true mai tai looks like,” Akuna says.

Cathy Farkas of California takes a sip.

“Wonderful,” she says.

“I’m a dark rum fan,” husband Robin Farkas says.

Then, Akuna pulls out the Kauai Spice Rum, which he calls one of his favorites.

“Now, it’s time for the strong stuff,” he says.

Spice rum, he says, goes well with egg nog and makes an excellent holiday drink.

“Go ahead. If you’re feeling brave, you can toss that all back,” he says.

Finally, comes the Kauai Coconut rum.

“I think it’s the most versatile rum we have ever made,” he says. “It’s nice and smooth.”

Soon, the samples are done, but Akuna asks a

TGIFR!DAY | January 30, 2015 | 5

favor of his visitors: Spread the good word about Koloa Rum. “You now work for us,” he says, laughing. “Go out there, tell more people about it.”

He shows off the travel sizes of Koloa Rum and says that on long layovers, “these will come in handy.”

The program wraps up with a plate of pieces of rum cake passed around.

Jon and Cari Turner of Ventura, California, have visited the tasting room on prior trips to Kauai and looked forward to their return.

“We love it,” Cari Turner says.

They call the presentation fun and educational, and the rum, “amazing.”

“We’re excited about the coconut rum and we’re not coconut rum people,” she says.

Wayne and Lynette Laessig of California also had a great time.

Above: Cathy Farkas sips Koloa Rum in the tasting room Monday. Left, rum cake is served.

“The rum was wonderful and Cale is really a good presenter,” Lynette Laessig says.

Wayne says it was a few years ago when friends invited them over and they tried Koloa Rum. “It was really good. I said, ‘When we go to Kauai, we’ll try it.’ This was even better,” Tuesday to Sunday - 8:30am to 3:00pm Wayne says.

Closed Monday His favorite is the dark rum, while Lynette opts for coconut rum.

“I knew she would say coconut,” Wayne says, grinning.

First tasting each day begins at 10 a.m.

Sueoka’s Snack Shop Now Open

STEVENSON’S sushi & spirits Poipu’s luxury nightspot.

With live music nightly, traditional style sushi & sake, martinis, tropicals, aged whiskies, cognacs & ports.

Open 5:30-midnight.

Sushi 6-10pm. Music 8-11pm.

Kamaaina receive 15% off food. kauai.hyatt.com.

The trademarks Hyatt®, Grand Hyatt ®, and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation. © 2015 Hyatt Corporation.

All rights reserved.

Old Koloa Town

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6 | TGIFR!DAY | January 30, 2015

REVIEW THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER SHERI LINDEN

‘Boy Next Door’ way too predictable

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o good adulterous affair goes unpunished in Hollywood movies. The latest proof is J.Lo starrer “The Boy Next Door,� a gender-reversing B-movie spin on “Fatal Attraction� that sets suburban family values against that one night of misguided, irresistible passion. An economically told popcorn pic built from horror-movie tropes, the film stars Jennifer Lopez and Ryan Guzman as, respectively, the world’s most glamorous high school teacher and its oldest 19-year-old.

As counterprogramming to awards-focused prestige titles, it offers January moviegoers some guilty-pleasure thrills and laughs, while falling way short of its potential on both the dramatic and the camp fronts. Still, given the star power and the lurid material, the wide release is sure to score at the box office. Set in an unidentified section of Southern California, the movie finds literature teacher Claire Peterson (Lopez) separated from her husband for almost a year but not quite ready to move

on, however much her best friend/ sassy vice principal (Kristin Chenoweth) urges her to do so. Played with typical nice-guy earnestness by John Corbett, repentant cheating husband Garrett is eager for a second chance with Claire.

Soon enough, somebody else wants a second chance with her too — but he’s not asking. Before he reveals his predatory stripes, Noah (Guzman, of the series “Pretty Little Liars� and the “Step Up� franchise) arrives on the scene as a fix-it hero of a new neighbor, offering such incontestable wisdom as “It’s the clutch.�

Nobody (other than the audience) pays much attention to the unlikely highschool senior’s murmured references to dead parents and an accident.

Transferring his know-how from the driveway to the bedroom, Noah gives Claire a night to remember. Her quickness, the morning after, to label their steamy get-together as a mistake proves a major mistake in itself when dealing with Noah, who invests a whole lotta menace in the supposed

compliment, “A woman like you should be cherished.� Have more threatening words ever been spoken?

Her instant guilt coupled with his instant wacko routine deprives the film of any real sense of naughty indulgence, not to mention nuance. But director Rob Cohen avoids sex-scene clichĂŠs and gives the encounter, and much of what follows, energy. Once Claire distances herself, it’s “game onâ€? for studly and strategic Noah, whose first step is to take Claire’s good-natured but timid teenage son, Kevin (well played by Ian Nelson), under his wing and poison him against his father.

Noah quickly turns into a one-note character — the note being “pathological.� In Lopez’s rootable portrayal, Claire is far more complex: conflicted about her marriage, capable of walking out on a disastrous blind date and alive to the possibilities that her handsome young neighbor initially represents, especially when viewed late at night across their rain-streaked bedroom windows.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

Movies currently playing and coming soon films at Kukui Grove Cinema.

American Sniper Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle’s pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and turns him into a legend. Back home to his wife and kids after four tours of duty, however, Chris finds that it is the war he can’t leave behind.

The Gambler Lit professor and gambler Jim Bennett’s debt causes him to borrow money from his mother and a loan shark. Further complicating his situation is his relationship with

one of his students. Will Bennett risk his life for a second chance?

Strange Magic Goblins, elves, fairies and imps, and their misadventures sparked by the battle over a powerful potion.

WILD A chronicle of one woman’s 1,100-mile solo hike undertaken as a way to recover from a recent catastrophe.

The Imitation Game During World War II, mathematician Alan Turing tries to crack the enigma code with help from fellow mathematicians. rrr 1SFWJFXT GSPN *.%# DPN

TGIFR!DAY | January 30, 2015 | 7

Opening a whole new world Mic night at Ha Coffee bar giving all types of artists chance to shine pant as a special guest.�

They wanted to create an environment where anyone is free to express themselves artistically. Ha Coffee Bar is designed for that very purpose and so managers Christian Brooks and Jeff Adams were receptive to the idea and left it to Apalla and Charles to get the word out. “We saw the need to bring our friends to a space where they felt safe to just jam,�

Apalla said. Apalla started her first open mic as a resident assistant at Pacific University. Back on Kauai, she assisted Film ComTom LaVenture / The Garden Island missioner Art Umezu build Roger Jacobs is one of Kauai’s foremost guitarist. what is now known as Da Jam Room in Kukui Grove Center. way to their hotel from the air- of Ha, a Hawaiian word for “The open mic is intended port when they stopped in for breath of life and love. “The idea began and contin- for the residents of the town some coffee recently. When ues to be about love and life,� to continually fill the space they saw it was an open mic, Apalla said. “It is a community with love and life,� she said. the talented couple jumped because we treat each partici- “It’s a call for everyone to on the guitar and the cajon (box drum) to perform.

Another couple in ballroom dance recently performed to the groove of Le Professeur’s music. Dance teacher Andrew Alvin Pascual changed the mood again with his breakdance moves.

One family used the open mic as way to perform MEMBERSHIP FEE $100 together before the daughters returned to college.

DETAILS: “The scene attracts an s !CCUMULATE POINTS s Membership includes a towards one round complimentary Birthday round (may eclectic array of personalities,�

OF GOLF POINTS PER be used anytime during the year) Apalla said.

HOLE ROUND POINT s 4 complimentary guest golf passes FOR HOLES 3UPER s OFF IN THE 'OLF 0RO 3HOP Apalla is a soprano vocalist twilight) including sale items who performed in musical s OFF HARD GOODS IN THE 'OLF 0RO s OFF REGULAR MENU ITEMS IN THE (O@OKIPA 3HOP AND SPECIAL ORDERS theater for several years before CafÊ (excluding nons '(). (ANDICAP returning to her Kauai home. alcohol, alcohol beverages s Driving Range Card She considers herself retired and daily specials) s -EMBER ONLY 1UATERLY 'OLF 4OURNAMENTS as a performer but still enjoys Need to pr presen entt a va vali lid d Ha Hawaii State Drive ver’’s Lice ense to be a Ha'u 'upu Gold Member.

Need to pr presen entt a va vali lid d Ha Hawaii State Drive ver’’s Lice ense to be a Ha'u 'upu Gold Member. taking the open mic stage for special occasions and when 4150 NUHOU STREET • LIHUE, KAUAI HI • 808.245.8756 • PUAKEAGOLF.COM friends call her out in the spirit PU UA 43395 395 PU UA 43395 33 333 95

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family-friendly open mic night that has gained a wide audience for nearly two years continues to grow.

It runs every Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at Ha Coffee Bar in Lihue.

It is typically a free-flowing jam session that never ends.

On nights when there is a large group, they use a sign up sheet.

The event was founded by Juno Apalla and Joey Charles. “What keeps us going?�

Apalla said. “We weren’t told to keep it going, we just do because Ha Coffee Bar Open Mic community brings passionate people together over fun, laughter, love and life.�

Featured performers are as young as a 19-month-old boy shaking his rattlers to kupuna with a lifetime of stories in song.

Kauai musical legends that stop by time to time include Danyo Cummings, Aldrine Guerrero, Casey Kamakane, Aowl Owens, Daphne Sanchez, Dr. Addison Bulosan, and Mark Baldonado, to name a few. More frequent guests include theatre orchestra and stage performers Paul Koulbanis, Mike Odo, Shanda S. Rego, Isaac Worth, Alan Van Zee, and Liz Kauai. “Others come whenever they’re home from college, like our dear prodigy Kyle Furushio,� Apalla added.

But the heart of the open mic centers around the unknown amateur and the spontaneity of seeing something special for the first time.

A couple visiting from the Pacific Northwest were on the

participate in life on their own accord.�

Joey Charles, a singer, songwriter and president of Le Professeur Music, said the open mic has changed his life and given him the courage to launch a career.

Charles began performing at a young age but confidence and ability was hindered by the anxiety of performing in front of large audiences for extended periods of time. While in Guam, he discovered a coffee shop had recently started a Thursday night open mic, and so he began performing and coming back every week. “Through those two years, I saw so many people come out of their shells just like I had done that Thursday night in 2011,� Charles said. “I started several open mics after that and some are still running to this day.�

TOM LAVENTURE TGIFR!DAY Open mics give people the opportunity to grow and improve. A community forms to encourage, to lift, and to push each other toward new heights they never thought possible, he added.

Charles now plays several area venues and special events and has recorded albums available online. This all stems in some way from the encouraging support of the open mic community, he added, and the Kauai open mic is developing that same spirit. “It was a place that I could play my originals and get feedback,� Charles said. “It’s a place for networking and a place to inspire the creativity of future generations.

Ha Coffee Bar is located at 4180 Rice Street, Ste 101a, in Lihue.

3022 Peleke Street, Suite 8 Lihue, HI 96766

808-643-2100

8 | TGIFR!DAY | January 30, 2015

CHECK DA SCENE Mark Jeffers, Jeanne Russell, Toby Christensen

Danny Hashimoto

Karen Ikemoto, Patricia May

Jerilyn Puamana Guyang, Eva Cariffe, Patricia May

Mark Esposito, Karen Hiranaka

TGIFR!DAY | January 30, 2015 | 9

Gratitude for being well

DENNIS FUJIMOTO TGIFR!DAY

W

ith a theme of “Mahalo, Gratitude and Appreciation,” the 11th annual Kauai Wellness Expo opened its doors to a variety of information and exhibits at the Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall.

“I had a scratchy throat and I am due to be a speaker,” said Patricia May on Saturday, taking in the help of Eva Cariffe of the Twin Design Shop in Eleele in utilizing a Tibetan hand-hammered bowl to alleviate her ailment.

“This year’s theme highlights the importance of being thankful for all we are blessed with,” said Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. “When you focus on gratitude, it actually brings more joy and laughter into your life.”

Comic Frank DeLima,

Mardi Maione, Nico Maione

described as one of Hawaii’s best living legends — laughter is wellness — headlined the event Saturday with a

Mark Munroe, Toby Christensen

Vicky Ramos

Bethany Crouse, Debra Comstock

Dr. Alice Ogawa, Dr. Leia Melead, Dr. Shanhong Lu, Judy Sweet

special performance at the event hosted by the Kauai Health and Wellness Association.

10 | TGIFR!DAY | January 30, 2015

Dances of aloha

Hoike hula concert Feb. 7

Doors for the recital open at 6:30 and the recital begins at 7 p.m. with multiple ince the days of ancient dances and songs from the Hawaii, hula dances Hawaiian, Tahitian and Maori have been used to excultures. The concert will be press stories of love, war and divided into two halves with an intermission. the legends of the islands.

“All of the songs will feaAnd ever since she was 3 years old, Kumu Hula Leilani ture our men, women, our children and our kupuna,” Rivera Low has embraced Low said. the art of the dance. EsThe first half of the tablishing the 2015 Hoike concert will showcase “hula Hula Concert, she hopes to kahiko,” which is an ancient share the beauty of Hawaii with others during the 23rd hula form, and “hula auana,” which is a more modern annual Hoike Hula Concert.

“It’s our lifestyle,” Low said, form of the dance. The first half will also end with “to teach our cultural heritage in order to keep it alive.” “Aparima,” a dance from Tahiti. After intermission, the Doors for the festivities open at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. second half of the concert will kick off with dances 7 at the War Memorial Confrom the islands of Tahiti and vention Hall where guests can enjoy dinner in addition Maori. The Maori culture will to a Hawaiian craft fair, with also be performed to pay tribute to Valetta Jeremiah, more than 20 vendors.

S

who taught Low’s halau the culture five years ago.

“Aunty Valetta passed away and before she passed away, she asked her daughter Kulani to continue teaching our halau,” said Low. “At the end of the show, we’re going to do a farewell to aunty.”

The performance will also feature four additional halaus from Japan along with songs composed by Low’s father Larry Rivera and uncle Michael Keala. Guests will also experience dances from the women of Niihau with their kumu hula ‘Ehu Kanahele.

“There’s a lot of people that learn our culture but there’s also a lot of people who don’t take the time to see what we can do,” said Low. “If they would take the time to come and see our show, they would see how

The spirit of jazz Feb. 6-8, which concludes with a jazz mass, “Spirit of the Blues.” “It is the most exciting and spiritual event, I’ve ever been to.”

The service will run at t’s a combination of tradi8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday, the tional musical styles that can leave a listener floored. final day of the three-day celebration. It will feature It’s the blending of agea host of all-star musicians, old church hymns with including a 24-boy choir, roaring jazz music during a and a different twang on special mass at St. Michael otherwise traditional hymns. and All Angels Episcopal Surrounding the sermon Church, and the result can delivered by Father Bill Miller, blow an audience away. the traditional songs will “It is one of the greatbe played with in a bluesy est things I’ve ever seen,” way, but newer jazz songs said Beth Debrey, parish administrator, who is helping will also accompany the messages. coordinate the church’s “It’s really touching,” Deninth annual Jazz Festival

Ninth annual music celebration set for Feb 6-8

I

brey said of the weekend’s curtain call performance in the roughly 300-seat church, 4364 Hardy Street, in Lihue. “It’s just amazing.”

A brunch will follow the free, 11 a.m. musical mass.

But besides Sunday’s finale, the celebration will feature two jazz concerts highlighting top-flight talent coming in from around the world to perform.

“We got the blues” kicks off at 7 p.m. Saturday and will feature one of the great guitarists and blues musicians, Eric Bibb, from Finland, and Valerie Duke, a former vocalist from the Glenn Miller Big Band who

AVERIE SOTO TGIFR!DAY important and beautiful our culture is.”

Tickets are $20 for adults and $25 at the door and tickets for individuals ages 5 to 14 are $10 and $15 at the door while children ages four and under are free. They may be purchased at Larry’s Music in Kapaa, the Ukulele Store in Koloa, the Hawaiian Music Cart at the Coconut Market Place, Foodland in Princeville, Island Soap and Candle in Koloa, JJ Ohana in Hanapepe, and at the Kauai Cultural Center in Coconut Market Place. Seating is limited. Proceeds will go to benefit Low’s Low’s nonprofit hula school, Halau Hula ‘O Leilani.

“It helps to support our hula school so we can continue to perpetuate our culture and it’s important for our families to see what we have learned,” said Low. Kumu Hula Leilani Rivera Low

Averie Soto / The Garden Island

TOM HASSLINGER TGIFR!DAY

ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro and popular vocalist Amy Hanaialii. Shimabukuro has been praised in Rolling Stone, and performed on television shows like Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel and the Today Show.

“There are no bad seats,” Debrey said of the church’s quaint, comfortable atmoAmy Hanaiali will be performing at the concert. sphere for the musicians their island vacation around who have performed in hails from Chattanooga, much larger houses. “A the show.

Tennessee.

“People from really all over venue like that doesn’t come It’s not just the musicians the world come to see it,” coming from far and wide. that often.”

Debrey said.

The ninth annual event is Saturday’s concert costs Which explains why the billed as Kauai’s longest $40 in advance, or $45 at the running jazz celebration that Friday night kick off concert, door.

“A Tribute to Hawaii,” is attracts 1,000 people each Info: http://stmichaelsalready sold out. It features year, so many people plan kauai.org or 245-3796.

TGIFR!DAY | January 30, 2015 | 11

Calling all scribes WIT looking for plays to produce

W

CHRIS D’ANGELO TGIFR!DAY

Taj Mahal, left and Pancho Graham, right will be performing at the event.

SLACK & BLUES

A

merican blues musician Taj Mahal, a two-time Grammy Award winner and ninetime nominee, is up for yet another award this year.

He and Greg Allman have been nominated for Best American Roots Performance for their rendition of Blind Willie McTell’s “Statesboro Blues.”

However, instead of the attending the awards ceremony Feb. 8, Mahal will be here on Kauai performing alongside the likes of Ledward Kaapana, Mike Kaawa, Pancho Graham and many more.

“I’ll do anything for Kauai,” Mahal said by phone.

He’d rather miss the Grammys — and perhaps receiving a third gold-plated trophy — than disappoint his Kauai fanbase.

Mahal is no stranger to the Garden Isle. He was a resident here for two decades, where he raised his children.

“We just came to be a family in a situation where family was highly respected, something we didn’t find on the Mainland,” Mahal said.

In 2006, however, the last of Mahal’s family moved away, which is why the 72-year-old, Harlem, New York-born singer-songwriter jumps at any opportunity to come back.

“I love the people of Kauai, man,” he said.

Mahal is among the featured artists for the SLACK & BLUES concerts, taking place at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7 and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8. Both shows are at the Courtyard Marriott at

Coconut Beach in Kapaa.

This concert-concert event will feature members of Mahal’s unforgettable Hula Blues Band, including Pancho Graham, Pat Cockett, Kester Smith, Roger Glenn and special guest lap steel player, Bobby Ingano. Joining the group will be one of one of Hawaii’s finest guitar players, The Legend and Slack key Master, Ledward Kaapana and 12-string player Mike Kaawa.

Concert promoter Ken Levine, owner of Kuleana Music in Kalaheo, said he’s been listening to Mahal’s music since 1968 and has admired both his attention to historic sources that turn his ear and dedication to audio quality for his audiences.

“He is an icon of the Blues but much more than that,” Levine said. “It has been such

Pair of shows Feb. 7 and 8, features Mahal, Kaapana

a pleasure working with him for the last several years as we worked out the how, when and why these slack and blues concerts should occur.”

Levine added that having this much talent performing together on one stage is “staggering.”

“This is a combination of new musicians to merge with and some amazing longtime members of his Hula Blues Band from 20 years ago,” he said. “I fully expect to be blown away at the two concerts. They will likely be unforgettable.”

Mahal said he and all the other performers are fired up for the shows and that the audiences are in for two great nights of slack and blues.

“When I fly in, it’s like I’m flying home,” he said of Kau-

ai. “This is a home that has reached their arms out and brought me in close.”

And Mahal promises to return the love.

“I don’t disappoint Kauai,” he said.

Tickets cost $50 for general admission, $75 for Golden Circle. They can be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets. com/event/904575 or kuleanamusic.com, or at the following retailers: The Wine Shop, Koloa; Scotty’s Music, Lihue; Kalaheo Cafe & Coffee Co; Pictures Plus, Kukui Grove; Kauai Music & Sound, Kapaa; Hawaiian Music Kiosk, Coconut Market Place; Hawaiian Music Kiosk, Princeville, and from the concierge at the Courtyard Marriott at Coconut Beach.

Information: 332-5101 or bestslackkey@gmail.com.

omen in Theatre is looking for entries for the 2015 Kauai Shorts — its fifth biennial, 10-minute play festival.

Submissions are due March 23.

“So sharpen your pencils, buy some fresh midnight oil, rack your brains and send us your mini-magnum opus,” said Romey Curtis, the festival’s chair and director of Women in Theatre.

The guidelines are simple: Playwrights may write about any subject that is suitable for a general audience. However, plays that have been previously or professionally produced are ineligible. Additionally, the cast should be small — no more than six actors — and keep the set simple, no water features, curving staircases or chandeliers.

About 20 plays (plus two alternates) will be chosen for production by the selection committee.

The entry deadline is March 23. No application fee for Hawaii residents, and a $20 fee per play for non-residents. All authors will be notified of WIT’s decisions by June 1.

To enter, visit www.

WomenInTheatre.org and fill out the entry form by March 23. For questions, call Romey Curtis at 8269755.

12 | TGIFR!DAY | January 30, 2015

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