Mark Yamanaka and Kulāiwi Performing at Live @ the MACC Free Streaming Concerts

The Maui Arts & Cultural Center is offering two more free streaming concerts, featuring Multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano winner Mark Yamanaka on Nov. 6 and Hawaiian band Kulāiwi on Nov. 13 as part of its Live @ the MACC Saturday night series.

Each event begins at 7:30 pm and will be streamed on the MACC website, MACC Facebook page, MACC YouTube page and on Akakū channel 55.

MACC President and CEO Art Vento said in a press release: “Mark Yamanaka and Kulāiwi are the latest, and perhaps the last, to be a part of the free “LIVE @ the MACC” concerts streamed weekly from the Castle Theater stage during the lengthy pandemic. Now, as infection numbers continue to fall, we are quickly and optimistically approaching the time when we can begin to return to in-person, live performances. Stay tuned!”

Throughout the pandemic, the Live @ the MACC series has been made possible by the generous support of the County of Maui and the Office of Economic Development. The series is designed to bring much needed opportunities for many of Hawai‘i’s performing artists and art forms, in a combination of live/virtual or safe/live in-person events that meet or exceed all current CDC guidelines.

Yamanaka has wowed audiences around the world with his crooning of country ballads, heart-felt gospel hymns and effortless precision hitting the highs of a falsetto melody. Though he is most notably identified with Hawaiian music, he is a versatile artist who can seamlessly cross into other music genres with memorable performances inspired by vocalists like Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston and Peabo Bryson.

In 2010, Yamanaka released his debut album, Lei Pua Kenikeni which won four of the most prestigious honors at the 2011 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards.

In 2013, he followed that success with a second album, Lei Maile, which again won some of the highest Nā Hōkū awards. In 2015, he collaborated with his friends Kellen and Līhau Paik (known as the duo Kūpaoa) on a
holiday album, A Gift of the Heart, which received similar acclaim at the 2016 Nā Hōkūs.

In 2018, Yamanaka released his highly-anticipated third solo album, Lei Lehua, with nine of the 14 songs new
original compositions, most he wrote or co-wrote. He was recognized by his peers in the Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts with five of the most coveted Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards.

Hawaiian band Kulāiwi, which means “land of my ancestors,” is made up of three of Hawai‘i’s leading award-winning performers and musicians — Lehua Kalima (of Na Leo), Shawn Pimental and Kawika Kahiapo. They all are musicians, singers, songwriters and entertainers who formed Kulāiwi to create music that springs from their Native Hawaiian roots.

“We started just playing together, and it was magical,” Kalima said.

With soaring vocals, island harmonies and a folk vibe, along with an easy-going charisma and witty banter, they are committed to telling the stories of Hawai’i – the land and the people – from their indigenous points-of-view. Their talents as lyricists and composers create music imbued with Hawaiian values and ways of seeing and living in the world.

Their original songs and selections of Hawaiian classics are inspired by diverse musical styles and reflect their deep commitment to their islands.

Accompanied by award-winning hula dancer Pono Fernandez, who is also an educator and ethnomusicologist, Kulāiwi created an evening for the MACC audience that expresses their deep emotional connections to their roots and personifies Hawai‘i today.

The MACC is currently closed to the public on a daily basis with the exception of the Schaefer International Gallery. The gallery’s current exhibit, Taiji Terasaki: Reset/Reshape is now open to the public Wednesday through Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm through Dec. 18.

For more information log on to MauiArts.org or call the MACC Box Office Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to 4 pm.