Photo courtesy of Halau Hula Aloha ‘o Pu’uwailani.
By Staff Reports
(Kaulia) — The Harold K.L. Castle Foundation is bringing top Hawaiian musicians and kumu hula and hula halau to the Windward Side in May as part of its continuing free monthly series, “Kanikapila in Kailua” and “I Love Hula.”
On Sunday, May 19 from 3 to 4 p.m. the public is invited to bring their pupus, chairs and mats to the stage area between Pier 1 and Macy’s and sit back and enjoy classic Hawaiian story-telling by dance performed by Halau Hula Aloha ‘o Pu‘uwailani, overseen by their kumu hula Donna Sylvester.
On Saturday, May 25 from 4 to 5:30 p.m., in the Kailua Parking Garage behind Longs Drugs, you are welcomed to be entertained by two award-winning Island musicians, Jon Yamasato on guitar and ‘ukulele virtuoso Herb Ohta Jr.
Photo courtesy of Jon Yamasato. From left, Herb Ohta Jr. and Yamasato
“We are pleased to be able to offer some of the state’s most talented musicians and dancers at these terrific free musical events,” said Terry George, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, which this year is marking 50 years of grant giving in Hawaii. “Donna Sylvester is one more example of Kailua’s amazing wealth of home-grown, talented hula instructors and dancers. Jon Yamasato and Herb Ohta Jr. generate excitement whenever they play together. It’s impossible not to get ‘chicken skin’ when they launch into some of their signature instrumentals.”
Sylvester began doing the hula when she was just 7 years old and eventually danced for Ellen Castillo, the renowned Waimanalo kumu hula who, for 50 years, taught thousands of girls and women a graceful hula style that she was known for. Now a veteran kumu hula, Sylvester has had her share of success with students, including Amber Melelani Lopes, who took first place in the 2010 Miss Hula Oni E (kahiko division) competition.
Ohta learned to play the ‘ukulele at age 3 from his father, ‘ukulele master Ohta-san, began teaching at age 9 and has gone on to become a multiple Na Hoku Hanohano-award winner and one of the most respected ‘ukulele musicians in the world. Yamasato also is a multiple Hoku-award winner who began his musical career as lead singer for the contemporary Hawaiian trio Pure Heart.
Ohta and Yamasato, who is also a successful realtor, have often performed together and caused one “chicken skin” moment when they played an instrumental version of “Itsumo Nandedemo” (“Always With Me”) at the 2011 Slack Key Show – Masters of Hawaiian Music, dedicating the song to the victims of the Japan earthquake and tsunami.
“Kanikapila in Kailua” – founded in partnership with noted Hawaiian composer, producer and slack key artist Kawika Kahiapo – and the “I Love Hula” series are a continuing effort by the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation to present the best of Hawaiian song and dance on the Windward side.
For more information about the shows, call the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation at 263-7073 or check for updates to the 2013 performance schedule online at www.castlefoundation.org.