Weekend Brings Hapa, Hula, Makana and More

By Vanessa Wolf

Image courtesy Wikipedia.

Holy Cannoli, it’s the weekend again!

Does anyone actually say holy cannoli or did we just make that up?

No matter. Growing up in a household that employed all kinds of goofball curse-free exclamations like “Shoot Molasses!” and “Jiminy Cricket!” we’re predisposed to cry out all kinds of nonsensensical Disney-esque expletives at the drop of a hat/egg/glass of milk.

Sleepwalk Down Olinda Road

Hapa. Courtesy image.

Don’t do that.

We’re just mashing up Hapa song titles as the duo plays Friday in the MACC’s Yokouchi Pavilion Courtyard.

Barry Flanagan and Ron Kuala’au are said to evoke a sound that many people have referred to as “heavenly.”

Expect to hear what promoters call “hypnotic, liquid guitar runs woven around clear, tenor Hawaiian vocals and immaculate harmonies driven by poetic lyrics exulting the rapture of the Hawaiian landscape, history and mythology.”

That’s probably putting it a lot better than we did.

The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 and $45 for premium seats.

Catch the News From Violet Lake, Where All the Women Are Tan…

The Aloha Players. Courtesy image.

On Saturday, Jan. 18, you can participate in the pilot program of a new radio series, produced for public broadcasting (think HPR) and the AH-Station online radio by being part of the studio audience.

In the spirit of “Prairie Home Companion,” Aloha Radio Theater features interviews with Maui’s luminaries, music of the island and “cosmic comedy sketches.”

The 
Aloha Player are comprised of Blaine Tinsley, Mary Omwake, Michael Dawson, Haiku Helen, Pricilla Sanders and Tom Althouse with special guests Lei’ohu Ryder, George Kahumoku, Jr. and Alan Cohen.

The show itself is from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Unity Church in Wailuku and will be immediately followed by an after-party from 4 to 6 p.m. at the same location.

Tickets are $15 at the door.

The Great White Whale Shall Escape Your Lens No More

Image courtesy Douglas J. Hoffman.

Also on Saturday, international award-winning photographer Douglas J. Hoffman will be sharing his experience photographing whales and offering tips to the public on how to get better whale watching images. Douglas is a master photographer and his whale images have been featured in galleries, museums, magazines, books, and as well as by organizations like Whale Trust.

For the last 10 years Douglas has led groups to Tonga to observe, photograph, and snorkel with Humpback whales which alone makes him an interesting guy to listen to (or so we imagine).

Anywho, the talk is at 5 p.m. at the Maui Art Expo in the Harbor Shops at Ma’alea and is free to the public.

Halau O Kekuhi Presents Hi‘iakaikano‘eau: Say That Three Times Real Fast

The brand new hula work Hi’iakaikano’eau explores the creative center of the Hawaiian sense of practical beauty: that all things should be made to be both useful and beautiful.

This full-length hula work recreates movements done in the process kapa-making and distills messages from mele (songs) about kapa.

The MACC reports that “Hālau O Kekuhi will be dressed in traditional clothing, some made of kapa designed and made by kapa practitioners especially for this performance. Strict traditional guidelines were set out for the making of the kapa garments, with all pā‘ū, malo and kīhei and belting to be made of kapa, with panels sewn using natural fiber cordage or thread in the Hawaiian fashion of old.”

The show starts at 7:30 p.m. in the MACC’s Castle Theater.

Tickets are $12, $32 and $34.

Double Your Makana Pleasure

Makana. Courtesy image

Internationally acclaimed slack key guitarist, singer and composer Makana will be playing not just one, but two shows at Stella Blues on Saturday night.

The first includes a four course dinner option which begins at 5 p.m. and will run you $60.

The associated show – for which you can purchase tickets only for $30 – starts at 6 p.m.

The second show starts at 8 p.m. and is also $30.

Call 808-874-3779 for reservations.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Kapa, but Were Afraid to Ask

On Sunday, Jan. 19, a symposium on kapa will be offered from 1 to 3 p.m. in the MACC’s McCoy Studio Theater.

Kapa: The Makers’ Journey features panelists Nālani Kanaka‘ole, Kekuhi Keali‘i kanakaole, Marie McDonald, Roen Hufford and Lisa Shattenburg-Raymond. They will discuss the history and Hawaiian values of kapa along with the botanical aspects of plants and natural dyes, the function, diversity and future of the customs and practice.

There will also be demonstrations by Solomon Apio (tool-making), Dalani Tanahy (traditional technique), Denby Freeland (contemporary presentation), and Kaliko & Jon Spenser ‘Ehā Pictures (video documentation).

Tickets are $10.

When That’s Done, Cruise on Over to the Castle Theater

There you can enjoy “Broadway Pops: Dancing and Romancing” from 3 to 5 p.m.

Broadway stars Joan Hess and Kirby Ward bring their thrilling “Dancing and Romancing” program to the Maui Pops. This tribute to the 1930s was inspired by Fred and Ginger and features the music of Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern and George Gershwin

The Pops Orchestra will be in full swing and will also perform a few of its own Broadway favorites.

Tickets are $15, $30, $40 and $50 and half that for students under 18 if they buy in the $30 and up section.

Groovin’ on a Sunday Afternoon

Finally, on Sunday Om Zone Maui presents a Motown Tribute to the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, and Smokey Robinson.

Adisa Omar, Curtis Love and the Rare Vibration Band will be presenting the tribute along with a special Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. salute on Sunday, Jan. 19 from 5-8 p.m. at Kono’s on the Green in Kihei.

We bet you can get there from the Maui Pops show in time to catch some “My Girl” if you want it bad enough.