Kaleponi

I hope folks have been visiting my YouTube page because I’ve been quite remiss in updating here. It’s way past time that I share a couple of videos I shot while Ledward Kaapana was visiting Walnut Creek back in October of 2017. (more…)

Here comes some more big fun for fans of Hawaiian slack key and `ukulele. Ledward Kaapana is returning for a quick trip around NorCal and I’ll be opening for him. (more…)

Michael Chapdelaine is one of the great guitarists, a teacher, performer, recording artist, arranger, composer, wedding musician. Like many guitarists he enjoys fine guitars and gathered a few, along with recording gear for his CD production. In March of this year Michael suffered a burglary and loss of his guitar collection and recording equipment.

Stevie Coyle is opening up his Mighty Fine Guitars shop and performance space for a benefit concert to aid Michael. This event will take place on Saturday, August 12, at 8 PM. Fingerstyle guitarists from around the Bay will join Michael and legendary luthier Ervin Somogyi for an evening of music. I’m honored to be included in this event, I hope you’ll be able to join us.

Led has been busy since he left Hawai`i at the beginning of July. He performed at the Library of Congress and at Kennedy Center. We’re lucky enough to have a video of his Kennedy Center show along with a list of upcoming shows in the greater SF Bay Area.

(more…)

We’re back in Kailua, O`ahu, enjoying views of the Ko`olau, the gorgeous skies of the windward side, and the beaches, lakes, and streams all around us. And on those lakes, streams, and beaches we see paddlers – stand up boarders and kayakers and outrigger canoe racers pushing themselves and their conveyance along.

Lena Machado wrote a song about paddling, Holo Wa`apa, which tells us to row forward then back, and feel the gentle swaying of the waves. She was clearly quite a fan of boats (grin). The chords are a classic swing progression, rolling around the circle of fifths on its way to a traditional Hawaiian vamp. I’m not sure how the song popped into my head, but once I tracked it down I knew I needed to catch some canoe video with some slack key guitar. (more…)

I was taken by surprise when I realized that I haven’t posted a video since we left Hawai`i last year, and now we’re almost ready to go back. So I set up the gear in the guest bedroom to take advantage of the interesting light and the tropical pattern cover on the futon, and played a taropatch slack key version of Beautiful Kaua`i by Randy Farden. (more…)

It’s cold here in Northern California but it’s about to get warmer at our house. Led Kaapana is featured at the annual Southern California Slack Key Festival along with a roster of great artists, then he heads to Walnut Creek to begin a NorCal tour to celebrate the release of his new CD, a solo `ukulele extravaganza titled Jus’ Press Vol. 2. I’ll be opening at these shows and hope you’ll be able to join us for some big Hawaiian music fun.

Thursday, Jan 19 – 6:30PM
Harlow’s
Sacramento, CA

Saturday, Jan 21 – 7:30PM
The Cue
Concord, CA

Wednesday, Jan 25 – 7:00PM
Kuumbwa Jazz Hall
Santa Cruz, CA

Saturday, Jan 28 – 7:00PM
San Luis Obispo Museum of Art
San Luis Obispo, CA

Friday, Feb 3 – 8:00PM
Armando’s
Martinez, CA

Saturday, Feb 4 – 7:30PM
Pacifica Performances
Pacifica, CA

Friday, Feb 10 – 7:30PM
The Old Steeple
Ferndale, CA

We’ve been enjoying our preview copy of this new CD and it’s a treasure. Led pulls so much music out of his custom `ukulele you need to see it to believe it. I hope you’ll take advantage of this opportunity to see a master at work.

Our stay here on Enchanted Lake is coming near its end, and those last couple of weeks tend to get very busy, so this may be the last bit of video from Ka `Elepulu this year. (more…)

Lynn has always been our travel manager, choosing the destinations, getting the best deals on flights, and finding places to stay. She has found us some wonderful residences over the years and she just keeps getting better. (more…)

We’ve been visiting Kailua for quite a few years now and we’ve made some wonderful friends. This year some of those friends invited us to a celebration of Easter Sunday at Kailua Beach, and it turned out to be one of those special days. Local folks are known for their hospitality and it was certainly on display this day. Combined with the dramatic scenery and perfect weather, this one will be hard to top. (more…)