Hawaii’s Renaissance Man, George Kahumoku Jr, is a multiple Grammy & Hoku Award winning master slack key guitar and vocalist, songwriter, performer, teacher, artist and sculptor, story-teller and writer, farmer and entrepreneur.George is known for playing slack key on a jumbo12-string guitar because he loves the full sound and the lower bass tones of this guitar.

Go to the Fox website (click here) for tickets, starting at $20. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

George Kahumoku Junior’s website: http://www.slackkeyshow.com/

Fox Tucson Theater is at 17 W. Congress St. (between Stone Ave. and Church Ave.)

And if you want to hear Hawaiian music (and George’s) tune in tomorrow to the Mele O Hawai’i radio show by John Putnam on KXCI Community Radio 91.3 FM, Saturday mornings from 6 to 8 a.m. John’s a “local haole” from Honolulu who loves Hawaiian music and plays a wide variety of “all kine stuff” on his show. I’ve called a few times to request my favorite songs, 520-622-5924.

If you really want to get in the Hawaiian mood, eat authentic “grinds”/dinner first at Lani’s Luau, 2532 S. Harrison Rd. (NW Corner of Golf Links and Harrison) out east. They’re open till 8 p.m. Tuesday to Thursdays, 9 p.m. on Friday & Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday. Lani is from Kona on the Big Island and cooks food that is indeed “some ono” (delicious). Both the owners Zane and Leilani (Lani) know George and have a photo of him with them during his last visit to Tucson.

KXCI community radio website info: www.kxci.org, 91.3 FM radio. Request line is 520-622-5924.

Last week Putnam played favorites by Raiatea Helm, Israel Kamakawiwio’ole, Cyril Pahinui, Mark Yamanaka, Brothers Cazimero, Cecilio & Kapono, etc. I just heard Cyril, Mark, and Lehua play live a few weeks ago at the Hawaii County “Magic of the Season” events. But the best singer for that holiday event was Henry Kapono (of former Cecilio & Kapono duo) who sang “Danny’s Song” and other favorites to a huge crowd in Hilo, Hawaii.

KXCI even lists their programming playlist (click here for January 5 show).

My favorite Hawaiian music station on the Big Island (when I get to go home) is KAPA 100.3/99.1 FM, where the radio hosts speak Pidgin English and have a Hawaiian word of the day for the listeners. And by the way, one of my favorite singers who plays slack key is Kohala local boy/friend John Keawe, who attended the same high school as me. I think I own all of his CDs.

And save the date: February 21 for George Kahumoku, Jr. at the Fox Theater, 17 W. Congress St.

Then after two hours of Hawaiian music, you can head over to Lani’s Luau for authentic Hawaiian food for lunch. They say they “speak aloha” at that restaurant, located at 2532 S. Harrison Rd. (NW corner of Golf Links Rd).

Listen to Mele O Hawai’i tomorrow morning, and every Saturday morning.

Saturday, November 19 (6:30pm) Lani’s Luau (2532 South Harrison Road, Tucson – [520] 886-5828), Tucson’s authentic Hawaiian Restaurant presents:

An evening of Celtic Aloha!

Hawaiian Music Award winner Jamie O’Brien comes from a London-Irish family, but his heart lies across a different ocean. Tonight, he presents an evening of the music he loves: a little bit of Irish, a little bit of Hawaiian … a lot of Celtic Aloha.

Lani’s Luau presents Jamie playing solo from 6:30 to 8:30pm: songs, slack key guitar and ukulele. He has played Irish music for as long as he can remember and Hawaiian for over a decade. Since meeting and teaming up with slack key guitarist and singer, George Kahumoku Jr., to present “Oceans Apart – Islands Together”, Jamie has been making connections between the music and culture of the islands.

Jamie has taken his Celtic Aloha performance to Maui, Oahu, the Big Island of Hawaii, Lanai and Kauai, as well as across the Mainland from Washington State to Washington DC and many places in between. He has played with such musicians as Daniel Ho, Keoki Kahumoku, Ozzie Kotani and many others from the world of Hawaiian music and Aoife Clancy, Danny Doyle, Jim Eagan and many others from the world of Irish music.

Enjoy a meal at Lani’s Luau, Tucson’s authentic Hawaiian restaurant and enjoy the music of Jamie O’Brien and a Celtic Aloha. No cover charge, but reservations are recommended.

And read my previous blog about Jamie’s latest CD “Chasing Ghosts” (click here), which I listen to often in my car. Lani’s Luau is on the NW Corner of Harrison and Golf Links, and serves delicious (ono) Hawaiian food.

Please come to Lani’s Luau for an Hawaiian hula show/fundraiser luau:

Saturday April 30, 2011, 4-8 PM

Delicious authentic dinner buffet:

Kalua Pig, Teriyaki Chicken, Steamed rice, Macaroni Salad, Lomi Lomi Salmon, Poi (upon request), Haupia, Pineapple Upside down cake, Hawaiian Punch/water

Dance performances by Hula Mai Ka Pu’uwai and Pacific Islanders Dance group.

Entertainment: Ukulele & slack key guitar by Jamie O’Brien & company, and Sierra Vista’s own Pat Tinnell & Company.

Cost: $25 for adults, $12.50 for children (12 and under)

Lani’s Luau is at 2532 S. Harrison Rd. (NW corner of Harrison and Golf Links).

Call Lani’s Luau for tickets at 520-886-5828 (LUAU) or 520-405-1212.

All proceeds go to Lani’s Luau to pay off their debt from rental of kitchen equipment.

One of my previous blogs on the fundraising efforts (click here). Please kokua (help).

UPDATE: This terrific luau raised over $7,500 and now Lani’s Luau only owes about $250 to Arizona Restaurant Supply. Mahalo plenty (as we say back home) to all you participated to “save” Lani’s Luau!

The Big Kahuna Tropical Bash on Aug 21, 2010 (TODAY)
Time: 5-9 pm
Admission: FREE
Location: Tucson’s historic Entertainment District
Address: Downtown, Fourth Avenue and Main Gate Square
Contact Name: Cara Rene
Email: cararene@downtowntucson.org
Phone: 520-837-6504
websites: www.downtowntucson.com, www.Fourthavenue.org

Celebrate Tucson’s “all sand, no water” existence at this family-friendly tropical bash for Tucson’s 235th birthday. Tucson does have a lot of beach sand!

event flyer

“Enjoy music, look alike contests, dunking booths, kids activities, giveaways, water safety instruction, free Old Pueblo Trolley rides, and much more.”

“Think Tucson can’t throw a great beach party? You may be surprised to find an enormous sandcastle birthday cake, Gilligan lookalike contest, Tiki party, hot coconut toss, hula hoop revue, chalk art, dunking booths, giant water slide and live island music among the many offerings.”

Tucson Hawaiian music legend Ernie Menehune will play a special downtown show at 160 S. Scott Avenue. Definitely a lot of fun as former Kauai native “Uncle” Ernie will be performing at the Scottish Rite Temple (7 to 8 p.m. ). I know “Uncle” having been a member of the Tucson Polynesian Society (of which he is President), and he’s a great guy and colorful performer.

Merchants will be offering “235″ specials, presenting items/gifts/food for $2.35, $23.50, etc. in honor of Tucson’s birthday celebration. What a fun challenge to seek out those specials! “Uncle” Ernie’s Polynesian show listed above will be asking for only a donation of $2.35.

P.S. What is a kahuna? A Hawaiian priest. That term was made famous in those “Gidget” and “Beach Blanket Bingo” movies of the 1960s. But it is also a term of respect for a wise priest of prehistoric Hawaii (before the Christian missionaries arrived in 1820).

More detailed info on the Big Kahuna event, click here for an earlier Tucsoncitizen.com entry. Or here for a printable version of the schedule to take along with you and the kids, plus lots of friends.

Surf’s up?