Two Ukulele Festivals Set To Take Place

KOHALA – Ukulele aficionados have a lot to look forward to on Saturday, when two events celebrating Hawaii’s beloved instrument take place.

We’ll start with the longer running of the two events, the 22nd Annual Ukulele Festival at Hawaii Preparatory Academy. School officials sent this media release:

“Classic Rock” is the theme of this year’s Twenty-Second Annual Ukulele Festival at Hawaii Preparatory Academy (HPA). The event begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 7. The performance, which is free and open to the public, will be held at Gates Performing Arts Center, located at HPA’s Upper Campus in Waimea.

More than 120 students from Hawaii Preparatory Academy, Kealakehe Intermediate School, and Waikoloa Schools will perform under the direction of Dagan Bernstein, Barbara Kopra, and Georgia Poláková (HPA); Gloria Juan (Kealakehe), and Lani ʻOpunui (Waikoloa).

The festival will feature arrangements of “classic rock” songs and dances from the 1960s, ʻ70s and ʻ80s. In celebrating the timeless quality of this music, students will be performing arrangements of some classic favorites from Led Zeppelin, Queen, Santana, Aerosmith, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Deep Purple, Eagles, Steppenwolf, Journey, Cream, Van Halen, Joan Jett, and Black Sabbath. Hawaii Preparatory Academy

Students from Hawaii Preparatory Academy (HPA), Kealakehe Intermediate School, and Waikoloa School perform at last yearʻs ʻUkulele Festival, “One World, One Love, One ʻUke.” This yearʻs ʻUkulele Festival will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, at HPAʻs Gates Performing Arts Center (Upper Campus) in Waimea. The performance is free and open to the public.

That same day, the 15th annual Great Waikoloa ‘Ukulele Festival will be held at the Waikoloa Beach Resort.

Strumming and humming, hundreds of ‘ukulele players and fans, keiki to kupuna, find their way to Waikoloa Beach Resort each year for the Great Waikoloa ‘Ukulele Festival. This year’s 15th Annual event on Saturday, March 7 brings legendary entertainers together with some of the hottest stars in Hawaiian music, for a day full of music from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Roy Sakuma’s traditional free ‘ukulele workshop kicks off the day in a new location, the Monarchy Ballroom at Hilton Waikoloa Village (self-parking $5). And, the beat goes on throughout the day, with ‘ukulele concerts on two stages at Kings’ Shops and Queens’ MarketPlace, emceed by “Mr. Aloha” Danny Kaileikini. The festival includes prizes and ‘ukulele giveaways by sponsoring companies.

Highlighting this year’s festival, the soulful sound of Paula Fuga, a self-described “musician with a mission” to share Hawaii’s cultural voice and rhythm with the world. Fuga secretly dreamed of becoming a superstar as a homeless nine-year-old, living on the beach with her family. Determined, she started playing flute in middle school band, and took lessons from Roy Sakuma, founder of ‘Ukulele Festival Hawai‘i, to help with her singing and songwriting. In 2004, Paula appeared at an “American Idol” audition wearing a “Big Girls Rock” tee shirt, and even though she didn’t make the cut, that experience led to her chart-topping first album, “Lilikoi” and Nā Hōkū Hanohano’s title of Most Promising Artist of the Year. Since then, her secret dream has propelled her into a career that circles the globe and shares the spotlight with superstars like Jack Johnson. Fuga will close out the 2015 Great Waikoloa ‘Ukulele Festival at Queens’ MarketPlace at 6 p.m.

The 15th Annual Great Waikoloa ‘Ukulele Festival is a production of Waikoloa Beach Resort and ‘Ukulele Festival Hawai’i. Sponsors include Queens’ MarketPlace, Roy Sakuma ‘Ukulele Studios, Kings Shops, Kamaka ‘Ukulele, Kala Brand ‘Ukuleles, Koaloha, Ko‘olau Pono Guitar and ‘Ukulele Company, Roberts Hawai’i, Kanile‘a ‘Ukulele and others. For more information on Saturday’s ‘Ukulele Festival visit www.WaikoloaBeachResort.com or call (808) 886-8822.Waikoloa Beach Resort

Here is the schedule of events:

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Monarchy Ballroom, Hilton Waikoloa Village
10:00 a.m.-11:15 a.m.
‘Ukulele Workshop with Roy and Kathy Sakuma. BYOU (bring your own ‘ukulele). Free.

Kings’ Shops Center Stage
11:15 a.m. Kahikina’s Nahenahe ‘Ohana
12 p.m. Kris Fuchigami
1 p.m. Island ‘Ukuleles
2 p.m. Roy Sakuma with Nelly Toyama-Baduria, Daniel Baduria, Tamlyn Tamura and Nick Acosta
3 p.m. Ohta-San and Nando Suan
4 p.m. Brian Pi‘ikea Vasquez

Queens’ MarketPlace Coronation Pavilion
12 p.m. Micah De Aguiar
12:45 p.m. Kahikina’s Nahenahe Ohana
2:00 p.m. Kupa Hale
3:00 p.m. Taimane
4:00 p.m. Roy Sakuma with Nelly Toyama-Baduria, Daniel Baduria, Tamlyn Tamura, Nick Acosta
5:00 p.m. Ohta San and Nando Suan
6:00 p.m. Paula Fuga

Queens’ MarketPlace Island Gourmet Markets Stage
1:00 p.m. Brian Pi‘ikea Vasquez
2:00 p.m. Kris Fuchigami
3:00 p.m. Island ‘Ukuleles
Waikoloa Beach Resort