Live Aloha Hawai‘ian Cultural Festival – 10 September 2023

Live Aloha Hawai‘ian Cultural Festival – Seattle Center – 10 September 2023

Wow, packed day, never took a break from non-stop sketching, bouncing between the two performance stages. So didn’t have a chance to scarf until all was over, and by then the food vendors had sold all the good stuff and were packing up. I’m pretty much out of touch with what’s happening musically in Hawai‘i, so all of the musical acts were new to me. The pall of the Lahaina fire disaster rallied the community of Seattle Hawai‘ians and sympathizers in solidarity and support, even had me opening wallet.

To my ear, the trios ‘Uhu‘uhene and Hi‘ikua are steeped in the Gabby Pahinui Hawai‘ian Renaissance tradition, deservedly cherished. Musical pedigrees abound. In addition to performing with Hi‘ikua, Kamuela Kimokeo serves as head of the Music Department at Windward Community College. Chin is one of those modern uke slingers who does not accept hackneyed clichés about his instrument. Yes he’s got the traditional down, but embraces varied non-Hawai‘ian influences as well; at this gig, he busted out a dynamite instrumental “Girl From Ipanema” in tribute to the departed Astrud Gilberto. Wehilei’s website touts her as “a Kohala girl lost in her island reggae world”, a stylistic departure from the aforementioned acts, more world-music oriented, and perhaps more for the young-‘uns, not so much the hula dancers.