CTA brings smile-worthy oldies show to Kahilu
If you owned a radio in the last century, chances are Chicago’s classic rock hits are still permeating your music memory banks. Founding member and original drummer for the band (1967-90), Danny Seraphine brought his tribute ensemble CTA (California Transit Authority ) to the Kahilu Theatre on Oct. 7 as part of his tour called Take Me Back To Chicago.
Gayl Jones, Tommie Smith among National Book Award finalists
NEW YORK — Gayl Jones’ “The Birdcatcher,” a short, lyrical novel about a writer’s trip to Ibiza and the gifted, unstable couple she stays with, is a National Book Award finalist for fiction.
Silent films to live on in movie theater lobby card project
CONCORD, N.H. — “Missing Millions” is a 1922 silent film with a darkly prescient title — like the vast majority from that era, the movie all but vanished in the ensuing century, survived mostly by lobby cards.
Local Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival turns 25
The 25th annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival took place Sept. 18 at the Outrigger Kona Resort featuring a line-up of the state’s most talented players.
Kamuela Philharmonic performs Sept. 25 at Kahilu Theatre
The Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra will perform live at Kahilu Theatre for the first time in nearly two years on Sept. 25 with “A Dynamic Return.”
Waipuna’s future has roots in the past: Successful trio expands contemporary island music
With their 15th anniversary on the horizon, the award-winning trio Waipuna can’t help but acknowledge its rich musical heritage. The Sept. 10 Kahilu Theatre debut marked another milestone in the group’s journey of spreading their blend of neo-traditional Hawaiian music.
Crossing Rain delivers Hawaii’s newest genre – ‘H-pop’
Following in the footsteps of successful, trendy J-pop and K-pop acts like BTS, Hawaii has now crafted its own genre of popular mainstream music called H-pop, and Crossing Rain (affectionately known as “XR”), a six-member boy band based on Oahu, is leading its charge.
Crossing Rain on Hilo’s weekend radar
For five members of Crossing Rain, Hawaii’s burgeoning boy group, Saturday evening’s concert at Hilo’s Palace Theater is a foray into uncharted territory. But for Jorden Kealoha-Yamanaka, it’s a triumphant homecoming.
Keola Beamer comes home: Slack-key master opens Kahilu Theatre’s 42nd season
Raised at his grandfather’s ranch in Waimea, legendary Hawaiian musician Keola Beamer and his wife kuma hula Moanalani returned home to kick off the Kahilu’s 2022-23 season in grand style.
Julia Keefe expands the jazz spectrum
Growing up on a reservation in Kamiah, Idaho, Julia Keefe’s journey into jazz began in her formative years. At four, she was captivated by Billie Holiday’s signature vocal style, especially the song “No More,” from her mother’s CD collection. Later, when Keefe started singing in the choir and high school events, her family encouraged her to broaden her musical horizons.
ʻUkulele-powered jam-band Kanekoa makes its Kahilu debut
Hitting the 25-year mark is a milestone for any group these days, especially for the tight-knit jam band Kanekoa.
Cabaret is a musical masterpiece: EHCC theater transforms into Berlin’s Kit Kat Klub
Any time you see Director Larry Reitzer’s name on a play or musical, you can bet it’ll be a winner, and his latest gem, “Cabaret,” is no exception.
Stars come out for Bruddah Waltah tribute: Father of Hawaiian Reggae honored with 3-hour concert
It’s been nearly a year since Bruddah Walter Aipolani’s doctor diagnosed him with advanced liver cancer. “He gave me less than one year to live,” the award-winning musician sadly announced at last Friday’s benefit event at the Hilo Palace Theater.
‘Hair’ is a hit: HPAF let’s the sun shine in
Grooooovy, man. Psychedelic. As the audience trickled into Waimea’s Kahilu Theatre Saturday night, the stage was slowly filling to the brim with bell-bottomed, tie-dyed, head-banded hippies, meditating or writhing sensuously. Smoke wafted lazily across the scene. It was 1968 again. The scrim at the back of the stage featured a 1960’s vintage Peter Max style design that then left the scrim and panned across the “tribe,” lying prostrate on the stage floor. Then the light show left the stage and panned across the audience pulling us right into the action.
‘Orpheus in the Underworld’s’ two-show run a success
Hawaii Performing Arts Festival (HPAF) fans are thrilled that fully staged opera is once more part of paradise. At the Kahilu, temperatures are taken, and masks are worn, but the bar is open, seats are filled, and generous patrons (for this opera, Michael Thompson and Marilyn and Carl Bernhardt) have again stepped up to give the Big Island community what it so craves: sets, singers, an orchestra in the pit and a full show to come.
‘As One’ Opera: A moving take on gender identity
This year’s Hawaii Performing Arts Festival (HPAF) theme is “A Season of Self-Discovery” and that was reflected in last weekend’s two performances of “As One,” a story about Hannah, a young transgender woman. Through 15 songs and a three-part narrative, the opera reveals Hannah’s experiences from her youth in a small town to her college years, and then traveling to Norway.
Stanley Jordan to play Honokaa People’s Theatre
“An Intimate Evening with Stanley Jordan,” a retrospective solo performance from the beginning to the Jimi Hendrix experience, is coming to the Honokaa People’s Theatre this fall.
Aloha Theatre to screen ‘Waterman’ documentary
The Aloha Theatre will present two free showings of the original documentary “Waterman ” this weekend.
Waimea Arts Council presents ‘Huaka’i, The Hawaii Island Juried Art Competition and Exhibition’
The public is invited to attend the Waimea Arts Council’s newest show, Huaka’i, The Hawaii Island Juried Art Competition and Exhibition at the Firehouse Gallery.
Elevated spirits: ‘Opera on the Rocks’
Imagine you’re in a cozy little cabaret, maybe in Paris. Sitting at small tables, with the bar open for business, you can look straight into the eyes of the singers performing just feet away from you. Well, the Hilo Palace Theater lobby transported us there for the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival’s “Opera on the Rocks,” one of my favorite musical events of pre-COVID years, and now, finally, back again! This is theater up close and personal, with the resonance of the voices injecting an electric charge into the atmosphere that reverberates to the bone. You don’t just hear the music; you feel it.
