WEST HAWAII TODAY | BIG ISLAND ENTERTAINMENT SCENE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2016 | 9 A jammin’ good time KAHILU THEATRE PRESENTS ANNUAL UKULELE AND SLACK KEY GUITAR FESTIVAL Breakfast all day? Yes way. Available breakfast items vary by location. At participating McDonald’s. ©2015 McDonald’s If it is mid-November and Waimea, it is almost guaranteed that local legends in Hawaiian music will be somewhere in town, strumming a guitar, plucking ukulele, singing, talking story, jamming, teaching, laughing, eating, and giving their all to honor the best of Hawaii’s musical traditions. The 14th annual Ukulele and Slack Key Guitar Festival takes place Thursday through Nov. 19, and will offer concerts, workshops and Kahilu Theatre’s most-inclusive educational outreach for students. This year’s event features treasured festival performers Nathan Aweau, Benny Chong, Ledward Kaapana, Mike Kaawa, Sonny Lim and Jeff Peterson. New to the festival, but not to Hawaiian music, is Hilo-based musician and songbird, Kainani Kahaunaele, and from Waikoloa on steel guitar, Iaukea Bright. The festival includes two days of the musicians traveling from Kona to Laupahoehoe to give free concerts in Hawaii Island schools. Organized by Kahilu Education Coordinator Lisa Shattuck, last year’s festival musicians performed to more than 5,000 students. “It is a delightful confluence of our mission and vision,” said Kahilu Theatre Executive Director Deb Goodwin. “These renown musicians, many who have been regular performers since our very first ‘Ukulele and Slack Key Institute, tell us they look forward to coming together to play music and to give back. Our staff, Board members, and sponsors are all enthusiastic to know Hawaiian music and all the trimmings will once again fill the Theatre and reach out to schools across the island.” Thursday night’s concert will invite audience members who bring their own instrument to come on stage after intermission and play along with the performers in true “kanikapila” style. On Friday, Nov. 18, the evening will feature all of the festival musicians performing new work, as well as playing together in crowd-pleasing, classic collaborations. On the morning of Nov. 19, Kahilu Theatre will offer a slate of workshops led by the musicians and culminate in a final performance of island favorites with some special guests adding to the mix. All of the musicians are active and passionate cultural practitioners and have individually and collectively played at a variety of esteemed public and private events. Tickets for the 7 p.m. Thursday kanikapila are $23, or $13 if you bring an instrument. Tickets for the main concert at 7 p.m. on Nov. 18 range in price from $24-$63 and tickets to the festival finale from 4-6 p.m. Nov. 19 range in price from $23-$63. An array of workshops are also planned on Nov. 19. For more information, including instructors, times and costs, visit the theater’s website. Info: www.kahilutheatre.org. SPECIAL TO WEST HAWAII TODAY Jeff Peterson performs during the 13th annual Ukulele and Slack Key Guitar Festival. PHOTO COURTESY STEVEN ROBY/SPECIAL TO WEST HAWAII TODAY
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