Honolulu, HI, December 20, 2009

Ukulele Picnic in Hawaii Committee announced that the 2nd Annual Ukulele Picnic in Hawaii will be held on Saturday February 13, 2010, at Kaka`ako Waterfront Park. Ukulele virtuosos and legends from Hawaii and Japan will perform on the hilltop stage overlooking Diamond Head, Honolulu Harbor, the ocean and mountains.

Performers from U.S. include the legendary Bill “Tappy” Tapia, Kumu ukulele Ohta-san, Herb Ohta Jr., Pali, Holunape, Manoa DNA, Joy, and the Roy Sakuma Ukulele School Super Keiki. Performers from Japan include Iwao, Kiyoshi Kobayashi & the Ukulele Orchestra of Japan, Sekiguchi Band featuring Kimiko Wakiyama.

The Ukulele Picnic in Hawaii is an offshoot of the Ukulele Picnic that has taken place in Tokyo for the past 10 years and draws crowds of over 30,000 people. Kazuyuki Sekiguchi, the bass player for the Japanese mega group Southern All Stars, has been the driving force behind both the Tokyo event and the Hawaii event and is working toward realizing his dream of having a permanent Ukulele Museum here in Hawaii. Mr. Sekiguchi and other doners, as well as many local volunteers will make this free event possible. The Ukulele Picnic Committee is hoping to grow the Hawaii event each year as its sister event in Tokyo has grown over the years.

Admission to the picnic is free. Along with the non stop main stage entertainment, exhibitors will show ukulele related exhibits and merchandise and food vendors will be selling ono food and drink. Parking is available and a free shuttle service will be provided from Waikiki. There will be inflatables for the kids and all are encouraged to bring beach mats for lawn seating. For the latest event information, please visit: http://www.ukulelepicnicinhawaii.org

The proceed from this event will benefit the Ukulele Foundation of Hawaii, a non-profit organization, whose mission is to help people through educational and cultural activities using charm and power ukulele and its music.

What: Ukulele Picnic in Hawaii
Where: Kaka`ako Waterfront Park
When: Saturday February 13, 2010, Music starts at noon and continues to sunset.
Who: Bill Tapia, Herb “Ohta-san” Ohta, , Herb Ohta Jr., Pali, Holunape, Manoa DNA, the Roy Sakuma Ukulele School, Iwao, Kiyoshi Kobayashi & the Ukulele Orchestra of Japan, Sekiguchi Band featuring Kimiko Wakiyama.

For more information please contact Rick Schneider at:
rick@eventsint.com
808-545-5900

日本語でのお問合せ先：1(国番号)-808-375-8763

Honolulu, HI, December 17, 2009

The Ukulele Legends in Concert at the Waterfront at Aloha Tower Marketplace on Wednesday February 10, 2010 is appropriately named since it will feature three true Hawaiian treasures and bona fide ukulele legends. Performing on stage will be the 102 year old ukulele virtuoso Bill Tapia. He will be joined by 82 year old Eddie Kamae and 75 year old ukulele perennial Herb “Ohta-san” Ohta. Together they posses 200+ years of ukulele experience.

This landmark concert brings together three of the living giants of the ukulele in a concert that’s not to be missed by anyone with an affection for this iconic Hawaiian instrument. It is presented by the Ukulele Foundation of Hawaii and marks the beginning of a four day celebration that ends with the Ukulele Picnic in Hawaii at Kaka’ako Waterfront Park.

Bill Tapia has been entertaining for over 90 years and has built an impressive career as one of the ukulele’s great masters and innovators. He is often credited as the first musician to play jazz on the ukulele and has performed with names such as Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, Elvis Presley and Hawaiian musicians such as King Bennie Nawahi, Sol Ho‘opi’i, and Andy Iona. Along the way he has been the inspiration and mentor for subsequent generations of ukulele performers.

Eddie Kamae is one of those influenced by Tapia and now a living ukulele legend in his own right. He is an ukulele virtuoso, singer and composer and originated unique plucking techniques that forever changed the method of playing the ukulele. After learning to play on a found ukulele in his teens, he gained fame in Hawaii with such groups as Ukulele Rascals and Ray Kinney's Orchestra. With famous slack-key guitarist Gabby Pahinui, he later founded Sons of Hawaii, a now-legendary Hawaiian band. He helped make the ukulele a solo and lead instrument rather than an anonymous member of the rhythm section. Over the past 20 years, Kamae has become known as a primary proponent of the "Hawaiian Cultural Renaissance." In the last two decades, he and his wife have written directed and produced a catalogue of award winning films featuring Hawaiian music and culture.

Herb Ohta, the youngster of this group, is the most prolific ukulele artist ever in terms of numbers of recordings and his exploration of a multitude of styles. For over 50 years Ohta-san has explored the musical possibilities of the ukulele like no other artist and has arguably inspired and influenced more players than any other living ukulele virtuoso. Not only as a performer but as a teacher he continues to have an incalculable impact on the stature of the instrument worldwide.

What: Ukulele Legends in Concert
Where: The Waterfront at Aloha Tower Marketplace
When: Wednesday February 10, 2010, doors at 6:00pm
Who: performing: Bill Tapia, Eddie Kamae, Herb “Ohta-san” Ohta
Presented by: The Ukulele Foundation of Hawaii

For more information please contact Rick Schneider at
rick@eventsint.com
808 545-5900

日本語でのお問合せ先：1(国番号)-808-375-8763