Take a step back in time to the late 1930s when The Hawaiian Room was all the rage this Sunday with Amy Hanaialii at Kahilu Theatre in Waimea. ADVERTISING Take a step back in time to the late 1930s when
Take a step back in time to the late 1930s when The Hawaiian Room was all the rage this Sunday with Amy Hanaialii at Kahilu Theatre in Waimea.
Hanaialii, a five-time Grammy nominee and 25-time Na Hoku Hanohano winner, returns to the Big Island this week for the single performance benefiting Ahahui Kaahumanu, Waimea Chapter. She takes the stage at 2 p.m. and has a special show planned for attendees.
“I’m going into residency at the Grand Wailea (Maui). It’s a 4D experience with high tech. I will be featuring some of the songs I will be doing there,” said Hanaialii. “The room concept is where my grandmother (Jennie) Napua Woodd entertained in New York at The Hawaiian Room. I will be doing a lot of featured songs there from that time period, the late 1930s when tutu choreographed Uncle Ray Kinney’s show there. She then went on to Hollywood and choreographed the motion pictures that were Hawaiian-themed.”
Hanaialii will also show some films during the show to bring history to life.
“I show a hula of my a grandmother that Madeline, my daughter, dances along with. Maddy is 10 now. It’s very special. It’s from when she was 18 in New York,” she said.
Hanaialii is Hawaii’s top-selling female vocalist. Her accolades include five Grammy nominations and 25 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for Female Vocalist of the Year, Hawaiian Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Group of the Year, Christmas Album of the Year and Contemporary Album of the Year, among others. Her seventh and most recent album, “Chardonnay,” which features a duet with Michael McDonald, was released in late 2015.
She has also played for sold out crowds in Europe, Japan, China, all across America and French Polynesia. On her 2009 album, “Friends and Family,” she performed a duet with country music legend Willie Nelson; she has also performed alongside artists like Earth, Wind and Fire, Carlos Santana, Boz Scaggs, Diana Krall and Joe Crocker.
Her talent emerges from a disciplined blend of that classical training, fusing powerhouse vocalists, and honoring her family through her worldly heritage and rooted ancestral responsibility. She has spent much of her life, supported by her loving family and friends, honing her skills.
Hanaialii last performed at Kahilu Theatre during February when she held a make-up concert to share her full voice after experiencing throat issues during two concerts she performed in December 2015.
“Kahilu Theatre is one of my favorite theatre’s. I love Waimea,” she said. “The beautiful ladies of Ahahui Kaahumanu asked me. I love what the Ladies represent, how they care for and assist Kupuna and families.”
Ahahui Kaahumanu holds just one fundraising concert each year featuring “strong, talented Hawaiian women who share our love for our culture.” The concert proceeds go into the club’s benevolence fund and also help subsidize club expenses, such as celebrating the Waimea chapter’s 110th anniversary in 2017 and attending other club anniversaries.
“Her talent, combined with her knowledge of the language and her desire to spread the beauty of Hawaiian music, is foremost. She is also a top singing artist and a favorite at Kahilu Theatre,” the organizers said.
The Ahahui Kaahumanu, or the Kaahumanu Society, is a benevolent society comprised of Hawaiian women that was founded in 1863 by Princess Victoria Kamamalu, Chiefess Lydia Kamakaeha Dominis (who later became Queen Liliuokalani), and Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, at a time when Hawaii was struggling with the influence of Western culture. They were especially concerned with the welfare of the Hawaiian women and founded the society with its objectives centered on caring for its sick members, and seeing to a dignified funeral service upon their death.
They named the society after Queen Kaahumanu for her strong leadership qualities as the First Kuhina Nui of the Hawaiian Kingdom and her tireless efforts to protect the rights of Hawaiian women, according to the society. She was an early convert to Christianity in the islands, and the society is Christian-based.
The society’s official regalia (or uniform) is a black holoku or muumuu, in memory of Kaahumanu. The yellow feather lei is reminiscent of those worn by the queen and other alii, and represents the essence of being Kaahumanu — expressing love and unity of heart for eachother, according to the organization.
The Waimea Chapter, active since July 13, 1907, continues to support its sick members and honors its members at funerals. One of four in the state, the chapter members also provide official representation at royal “alii” events. It is also active in health-related community service projects with North Hawaii Community Hospital and the American Cancer Society and contributes regularly to the “Feed A Neighbor” program. They also sew prayer blankets for patients at NHCH.
Since its establishment, there have 357 members; roughly 100 people are still alive and 50 are active members. Members are female, 18 years of age, of Hawaiian ancestry who share an understanding of our mission and are interested in participating in our events, according to the chapter.
Hanaialii said she is proud to have reached a point in her career where she is able to give back to nonprofits like Ahahui Kaahumanu, Waimea Chapter.
“I do a lot of nonprofit work. I love singing for beautiful worthy causes,” she said. “I also sit on two boards. One out of Portland (Oregon) called Native Arts and Cultures Foundation. We award fellowships to native artists that are perpetuating their culture. I’m native Hawaiian and Ojibwe Indian. My fellow board members are native Alaskan and Native American Indian. I am also the vice president of Hui o Wa’a Kaulua. The double hull (voyaging) canoe in Maui that my brother Timmy built, Mo’okiha o Pi’ilani. These both are volunteer (organizations) and bring me so much joy.”
Tickets for the 2 p.m. Sunday show at Kahilu Theatre range in price from $23-$68 and can be purchased at the theater box office or online at www.kahilutheatre.org.
Info: www.kahilutheatre.org, www.amyhanaialiigilliom.com. ■
