Congratulations Lady Lunas State Basketball Champions

Congrats to the Lady Lunas-STATE CHAMPIONS!  Here are photos for your keepsake...taken at airport
upon their arrival (Sat, 2/20 @9:30am) and their joyous ride in a limousine (surprise for the girls coordinated
by Aunty Noe and Uncle Tommy Akima with Coach Hano Ganer as driver...and thanks to Armijo Limo for the
kokua) back to Lahaina.

PS: We hope to have a 'RED LETTER DAY RALLY" in celebration of their State title, as well as boys varsity
basketball MIL championship (by two in closing seconds), and pending Wrestling MIL title.  For now I
am planning a lunch recess assembly (@12:30pm)  in the gym (the Band will be there too!) ... WE NEED
TO CELEBRATE AS ONE SCHOOL!!  I MUA LAHAINALUNA!

Eo Maui Grammy Winners

Los Angeles – Hana Hou for the Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Concert Series! At the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, their CD, Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Volume 2, received the Grammy Award for Best Hawaiian Music Album. The five compilation CDs produced by the renowned weekly Maui show have now been honored with five nominations and four Grammy Awards. Today, CD producers Paul Konwiser and Wayne Wong, producer/artists Daniel Ho and George Kahumoku, Jr., and artist Jeff Peterson came up on stage to accept the award in Los Angeles. They are deeply honored to receive this award again. The pre-televised awards were streamed live today on the grammy.com site, and the presentation will be available for viewing for one month.

Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Volume 2is a compilation of live performances from weekly concerts (going on for seven years now) at the Napili Kai Beach Resort. Featured on the CD are master slack key artists George Kahumoku Jr., Dennis Kamakahi, Jeff Peterson, Owana Salazar, Sonny Lim, Keoki Kahumoku, Kawika Kahiapo, and Daniel Ho; with special guests falsetto legend, Richard Ho'opi'i, and lap steel great, Bobby Ingano. Also included are the young next-generation nephews and show regulars Peter DeAquino and Sterling Seaton.

On Friday, January 29th, prior to the awards, George Kahumoku, Jr. hosted an educational program with Los Angeles area high school students in the morning. Later that evening all of the Hawaiian Grammy nominees performed at the Grammy Museum.

From George Kahumoku Jr., to Maui Advertising Company from his IPhone on January 30th…

Yesterday was a full day of events. We had a special morning presentation with Leutzinger high school from the LA area at the Grammy Museum on Figuora St in downtown LA. Dean Pitchford, a 1968 St Louis HS grad shared a DVD video presentation that included songs he wrote the lyrics to, such as Footloose, Bambi, Lady & the Tramp & many many others. Then I came on with Daniel Ho and did my original song called Ho'okupu about Pele & Kamapua'a from our Grammy nominated CD Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Vol 2, and we had the whole roomful of high schoolers singing and grunting & making pig noises. We then did Aunty Edith Kanakaole's Ka Uluwehi O Ke Kai (the Seaweed Limu) song which was danced by 19 year old Puanani Edgar, one of my hanai nieces from Ventura CA. Then Daniel Ho & I did a version of my mosquito song that brought the house down! Next up were Tia Carrere and Daniel Ho with Amy Stillwell, and they did 3 songs from their Grammy Nominated Album, He Nani! The event ended with everyone joining hands & singing Hawaii Aloha.

We then broke for lunch, waited in line with Beyonce's personal assistant for our Grammy tickets & then Paul Konwiser, Sandy Wales, and I had lunch at the Farm of Beverly Hills with Javier Cano who was the CEO heading the Grammy LA District's newest Ritz-Carlton skyscraper building project. Mr. Cano was the GM @ the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua where the Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Concert Series started over 7 years ago!

The evening event at the Grammy Museum featured all Four Hawaiian category Grammy nominees, myself, George Kahumoku, Jr & Daniel Ho, and Jeff Peterson performed from our Grammy Nominated Masters of Hawaiian Slack key Guitar Vol 2. Then Daniel Ho & Tia Carrere showcased their CD, He Nani. Manu Boyd and Glen Smith from Ho'okena performed as a Duet, and Amy Gilliom finished the night off with her brother Eric, & John Cruz, taking turns singing duets backed by her guitarists Chino Madera and Jeff Peterson. – George Kahumoku Jr

Lahaina Girls 2009 B Division State Champions

Busy weekend for the Lahaina Girls 14 & under softball team.  They went undefeated through out the tournament weekend playing against some tough teams.  The championship game was played against Na pa'ani  with a final score of Lahaina 7, Na pa'ani 0.

Team members are:

Shelby Uwekoolani

Kennedy Casco

Hali'i Vierra

Brena Nakamura

Amanda Murphy

Nia Pasikala

Lyla Talaroc-Kaniho

Tea Smith

Mehana Chang

Jina (pronounced Jenna) Miyamoto

Keku'u Haake

Jessica Wallace

Haley Nakamura

Kaua Arcangel

Taylor Niezman

Bridget Joy

 

Coaches: Cy Miyamoto, Ekolu Wallace, Joshua Wallace, Lei Nakamura & Nolle Smith

 BIG Mahalo to the girls and the coaches.  We are proud of YOU!

 

 

 

 

Mahalo Mr. Lindsey, from a student

Mahalo Mr. Lindsey, from a former Student:

I thought I heard wrong yesterday and then I heard your morning news about Mr. Lindsey. Please send my aloha to his ohana and can you play the song that goes "e alu like mai ka kou, e na o'iwi o Hawaii na pua mai ole". I know that it's not a sad song or may not seem appropriate, but it's the song that he had us sing for our Na Mele O Maui Competition when we were in the 8th grade at Iao School in 1988 (21 years ago OMG!). I still remember that, but I don't know what place we came in! I have so many awesome memories of that year because of all the activities that he made possible for us!

Reminiscing my 8th grade year, again, in 1988. He took us to the Kaanapali Beach Hotel to put on Hawaiian displays for the tourists like Ti-leaf lei making, poi pounding, ukulele playing, flower lei & haku lei making, and simple hula lessons. We had so much fun, but the best was the bus ride there and back. That was when everybody found out that Billy Kekona & Rodney Keahi (aka Rod da Fiyah) could sing. I remember all of us on the bus hearing people singing and everybody got quiet. We looked in the back of the bus and there they were…Billy with his little ukulele, and for a moment, it was like….they forgot themselves and was just singing away & I know that everybody was thinking "WOW". And Mr. Lindsey sat in the front of the bus with a great big smile on his face like he just took a great big breath of fresh air.

And that's my memory of Mr. Lindsey! Thank you akua for blessing us with his knowledge and care!

From the Maui News: Edwin "Ed" Lindsey Jr., "a steadfast champion and leader in protecting Maui's aina and its important cultural landscapes," died Wednesday morning at his family residence in Lahaina. He was 70.

The Maui County Council honored Lindsey in May with a ceremonial resolution as a "beloved Maui treasure" who served in numerous roles, including kumu, kupuna, uncle, tutu, brother, dad and husband.

Auntie Patty Nishiyama of Na Kapuna O Maui, an organization of Hawaiian elders she actively participated in with Lindsey, described him as "a warrior, a strong warrior."

"He will be missed," Nishiyama said.

Lindsey was a founding member of Hui O Wa'a Kaulua, an organization with activities including the building of a sailing canoe, Mo'olele. He also was president of the Ohana Coalition, organizer of Kilakila O Haleakala, co-founder of the Maui Nui Marine Resources Council, member of Na Kupuna O Maui and a participant in the Kaanapali 2020 planning process.

Lindsey spearheaded ongoing native habitat restoration projects such as Malama Honokowai Valley, Malama Ukumehame and Malama Kaheawa-Hanaula.

Boy Kana'e

I don't know about you guys, but I think it's time for a Boy Kana'e Moment. I really missed him this past April Fool's Day. Those were his high holy days. He did everything from calling in sick from another island to blocking all parking spaces around our building. This year my April Fools was uneventful... too peaceful. I'd trade my peaceful day for another moment with him. Alakai

1st Pa'ina with Poki: Willie K

PA'INA WITH POKI:

The premier of the new Hawaiian Music Series was awesome. The KPOA studios were flooded with phone inquiries..........It's raining, is it going to happen? Of course it is was our reply and it did happen. Let me explain that KPOA now lives in Kahului in Central Maui where it rains more.  It drizzled a little bit in Lahaina in the morning, but that was a Hawaiian blessing. Our west side Ohana knew better and showed up in droves.

WHO ELSE COULD DO THE PREMIERE EDITION, BUT.... our own Willie "Willie K" Kahaiali'i . He was the perfect Hawaiian Man, taking pictures with the keiki, being his excellent self, and don't get me started on his musical prowess. Mahalo nui loa....Willie K and ohana.

This exciting new Lahaina event is free and will be held on the second Thursday of the month from 11:00am-12:30pm on the Baldwin Home Museum lawn. Presented by Lahaina Restoration Foundation, the 10 month program will be hosted by Allen Pokipala "Braddah Poki" of Pacific Radio Group.

KPOA LOVE'S JAKE SHIMABUKURO

Mahalo nui loa e Alaka'i you Morning Goddess you,

I had a wonderful wonderful time at the Jake Shimabukuro show. First
time I see him in person, live on stage... I gave my two free tickets
to my grand-son and hanai son. I bought my ticket and chose to sit
upstairs on the MEZZ row B-24. of course never had room down there,
was all full up... OMG he was sososo good, especially his piano guy,
the drummer I fell in love with and the bass guy. What a team, even
the lighting guy who displayed the whole stage with such brilliant
colors according to the tunes of all those guys...ho even the sound
systems guy, What a show! ! I will always cherish.

I am so grateful with the couple who sat next to me. They clued me in
about Jake because they saw his shows before but first time they saw
his new team (piano, drummer, and bass)
They were awesome.

mahalo piha, I love you all KPOA Ohana!!!
kupuna from Halau Na Kupuna o Lokelani

Alaka'i,

I just had to say Mahalo Nui Loa for the free tickets to see Jake. It
was an amazing concert. He is awesome, awesome, awesome! And his
rendition of George Harrison's , While My Guitar Gently
Weeps........OMG! Jake is so humble, sweet, cute. I am looking
forward to purchasing his live cd available in April.

Again Mahalo Nui Loa!