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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1583 Posts |
 Posted - 03/30/2006 : 09:44:18 AM
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We're having a pretty wet visit to the windward side of O`ahu this year, so we're going kind of low key. With the closing of Kapono's our regular Tuesday night visit to Led Land is kaput. I was really happy to see that Ledward has a new weekly gig at the Kona Brewery in Hawai`i Kai, but it won't start until we leave.
That still leaves the massive fun of the Sunday kanikapila at Honey's. Uncle Eddie Kamae is officially part of the show these days, and it's a thrill to see the double puka `ukulele and the smiling guy in the long sleeve shirt. Analu Aina was travelling, so Ocean Ka`owili switched to "sit down stand up" bass, and Mike Ka`awa covered rhythm and lead, no problem. These days we recognize about half the people at Honey's so we touched base with Ike Ka`awa, Mike's dad and a big fan of the music, and Danny Lopez, composer of the "Hospital Song." Just before the band fired up we got the big surprise, the Man from Kalapana came strolling in with his gig bag on his back.
Eddie, Mike, and Ocean roared through the first set built around those fabulous Sons of Hawai`i songs. Talk about chicken skin, I still get it just thinking about the intro to "Morning Dew." These guys had that vocal blend that brings tears to the eyes.
Toward the end of the set Mike called me up for a number and Uncle Eddie handed me his cable - I told him I couldn't take it, I wasn't worthy ... but I took the plug anyway <grin>. Mike and Ocean are such terrific musicians, and the crowd was so sweet, I forgot to be nervous and had a fantastic time. The guys always mention Taropatch.net when I show up, I'm the guy from the Internet <grin>.
After my numbers they called up Ledward and the three of them just blew up the place. Led has an endorsement deal with Taylor guitars these days, and he was playing a gorgeous 810 that he just picked out at the factory. It sounded fantastic, and really matched his style - it had ALL the notes!!!
After the show we talked with Led and Sharon, whined about missing the first show at the new Kona Brewery gig (we're leaving the morning of the gig), and they invited us to join them at the Aku Bone Lounge to see an exciting group.
Which brings me to the point of this message. The new group is called Pilioha ( http://www.pilioha.com ) and they made me cry. These guys are inspired largely by that fabulous Kalapana/Konanui sound of Hui Ohana, and they really bring that sound to life. Three sweet voices blending, three great musicians propelling the sound, it was an amazing performance. Hearing Ledward whoop, and watching the pride and joy on his face added a lot to the experience, as you might imagine. He told me it was really special to him to know that the sound was being carried on by these guys. We'll definitely be looking for the band to finish their recording, and they'll be on our list of "must see" gigs on future visits.
For their second set, the guys called Led up and the scene kicked up and into orbit. The lounge was totally packed, standing room only, and each number raised the level higher and higher. They ended with an incredible guitar duel on "12th Street Rag/Sweet Georgia Brown" that included overhand chimes, playing with a shoe, playing with a mic stand, playing with a beer bottle, and finally Kamuela picking the guitar with his teeth, Jimi Hendrix style. Led told me after that he has a bridge in front, so he had to let that one go <grin>. I gotta say, this was one of those nights that will always be a memory.
A word about the Aku Bone Lounge - the word is "pupus"!!!!!!! Oh my, folks, this joint has a CHEF in back. Chicken wings, steak on a skillet, and the signature dish, lamb chop pupus. Gotta have 'em, just gotta have 'em.
Fran
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E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key on YouTube
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Edited by - Fran Guidry on 04/03/2006 10:48:13 PM |
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Sarah
`Olu`olu
571 Posts |
Posted - 03/30/2006 : 12:03:05 PM
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Fran, why do you do this to us? 
really matched his style - it had ALL the notes!!!
...and Ledward has a lotta notes!
whined about missing the first show at the new Kona Brewery gig (we're leaving the morning of the gig)
Of course you know, whenever you leave the islands, you're gonna miss some wonderful event...
Thanks for the great review, Fran.
aloha,
Sarah |
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Auntie Maria
Ha`aha`a
USA
1918 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2006 : 05:00:31 AM
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Pilioha will be the next big deal on the Hawaiian music scene. All 3 members of the band are fluent in the Hawaiian language, are great musicians, singers and composers. Here in the islands we've been watching the group for a few years and kinda held our breath when they had a personnel "change up" last year -- but the "new" trio is even better than its predecessor. Visit their site for more info about each of them as individuals...great, great young men.
Good news to add -- they've been in the studio off and on since late last year, and they hope to release their debut CD before summer. |
Auntie Maria
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My "Aloha Kaua`i" radio show streams FREE online every Thu & Fri 7-9am (HST)
www.kkcr.org - Kaua`i Community Radio
"Like" Aloha Kauai on Facebook, for playlists and news/info about island music and musicians!
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1583 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2006 : 10:22:08 AM
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Sarah, believe me, I tried to restrain myself from triggering frustration and yearning in my fellow TPers. But this group is so special that I felt your pain was worth it <grin>.
Auntie Maria, my brief exposure certainly bears out your prediction. About 1/3 of the tables at the Aku Bone were filled with 20somethings and they were just as enthusiastic about this music as the Led Heads at our table. I can really see Pilioha making a big splash.
Fran
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E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key on YouTube
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chunky monkey
Ha`aha`a
USA
1026 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2006 : 06:23:14 AM
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| Hey Fran, I have a favor to ask. We're looking into getting Led to do a home concert or a workshop in San Diego in July when he's here with the Hapa/Barefoot Natives gig. If you see him, could you mention this. I've tried going through the website, but I can't get an answer. I'm also going to try to go through Patrick. If Led's up for it, have him contact me. I'll send my address and phone through your email. Thanks. |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1583 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2006 : 09:05:23 AM
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I'll be glad to help, Terry, shoot me your info. I tried to send you email through the TP mail tool and it didn't go yet, so either the hotel internet here is messing me up, or something else is busted.
You can get to me at fguidry @ yahoo.com (I already get all the spam in the world, I'm not worried!)
Fran
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E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key on YouTube
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rodv18
Aloha
USA
34 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2006 : 1:36:40 PM
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wow...what an experience...nice to see that my old neighbor from
ewa beach, Danny Lopez is out and around...talk about kanikapila...we use to have fun in his garage in the mid 70's...
rod |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1583 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2006 : 4:13:01 PM
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Hey, Rod, we met Danny the first time we went to see Led at Kapono's, and we've been running into him and Ike Ka`awa ever since. Both sweet guys and a lot of fun. It's like the party can't start without them.
Fran |
E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key on YouTube
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Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2006 : 7:23:23 PM
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OK Fran, I want addresses for these places, just in case I'm in the neighborhood. 
Julie |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2006 : 7:42:06 PM
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Fran,
I always enjoy when you post your adventures. I've still never made it to Honey's but hope to make it one of these days.
Thanks for the heads up on Pilioha. Look forward to hearing their music. |
Andy |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1583 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2006 : 11:12:38 PM
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Hey, Julie,
The current Honey's is a kind of tribute to the original Honey's. It's now located at the Ko`olau Golf Course, in Kane`ohe, where H3 crosses Kamehameha Highway. http://www.koolaugolfclub.com/location.cfm Check the Honolulu Advertiser TGIF listing to make sure the gang is not on the road. The regular schedule is 3:30 to 7 on Sunday. Get there no later than 3 to get a table. Bring your uke. Introduce yourself as a taropatch.net regular. Tell the guys Fran sent you, and give them my aloha.
Led's new gig is at the Kona Brewery in Hawai`i Kai, Koko Marina. Sunday evening, starts at 7, goes to 9. http://kokomarinacenter.com/stores/Kona_Brewery/
You can see that this is a dreadful overlap. I'm almost glad we're not there so I don't have to figure out what to do about getting to both these shows.
Pilioha plays Wednesday at the Aku Bone Lounge. Their show is 8 to 10, the lounge is located at Pensacola and Kona streets. Get there early for a seat and a parking place. Save your appetite for the pupus. Seriously, they do some terrific food.
Of course, this is just scratching the surface. We use the Honolulu Advertiser TGIF to track down musicians, and when the weather is nice we could be out every evening enjoying great music. This year I really blew it by not checking in advance. As a result, we missed Herb Jr. and David Kamakahi at Hilton Hawaiian Village, due to Herb's Japan tour. You know how talented these guys are, it's just amazing that you can sit beach side and hear them for free. Now if the food were as good as the Aku Bone!!
I hope you get to the neighborhood when these folks are in town, it's a feast for fans of na mele.
Fran
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E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key on YouTube
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1583 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2006 : 11:31:23 PM
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Aloha, Andy,
You would certainly love the experience of Honey's. On any night anybody could show up. The audience is sweet and warm, there have always been dancers from the audience, the food is nice (ummmmm, not quite as good as the Aku Bone, I'm afraid), and the band is GOOD. I mean, obviously Uncle Eddie is not going to hook up with some slouch players but these guys are soooooo good.
You absolutely should bring your guitar and introduce yourself to the guys. It's just so fantastic to play with musicians of this caliber, you'll never forget it. If you have a rental car, it's way easy to get to the Ko`olau Golf Club, just take H3, get off at the Kane`ohe exit toward Kane`ohe, immediately cross the road and take the left.
Fran
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E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key on YouTube
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MahinaM
Lokahi
USA
389 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2006 : 6:50:53 PM
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Mahalo, Fran for always tuning us in on your amazing musical journeys (and how to get there, too)! I definitely will go to Honey's, the Aku Bone Lounge, and other places listed in the Honolulu Advertiser TGIF next time I'm on Oahu. What a great source of wonderful music to hear on the island.
Mags |
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Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2006 : 10:38:49 PM
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Mahalo for the info, Fran. In the early 70's I had a sweetheart who lived in Lanikai, not far from Kane'ohe, and we had the chance to go to several concerts. Sadly, I missed a chance to see Gabby because I did not know a whole lot about him then. Back then there was not an awful lot of slack key available for your listening pleasure.
I don't often get to O'ahu nowadays as it feels so busy and insane to me. You know, those mountain folk have a hard time sleeping with lots of sirens and drunken tourists and such. Waikiki was a VERY BUSY place when we went there 2 years ago, mainly because my son wanted to see it. But thank you for the journey log, fascinating as always.
Hugs and aloha, Julie |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1583 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2006 : 11:00:29 PM
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Maggie, have a great time.
Julie, ahhhh, Lanikai. We splurged a few years ago and stayed for a month in a house on the beach in Lanikai. Truly heaven by the sea. These days we rent a cottage or a room in Kailua. Costs less than a hotel room, we're way off the drunken tourist path, no sirens, no high rises. With H3 completed it's easy to get to the big city if we need to, and it's even easier to enjoy a day of walking Kailua Beach and munching kimchee burgers at Big City Diner.
Check with this lady http://www.taropatch.net/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3854 if you want to spend some very sweet quality time on the windward side. She's a sweetheart, she has some lovely rentals available, and she loves musicians.
Fran
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E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key on YouTube
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Kiwini
Lokahi
USA
203 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2006 : 5:26:57 PM
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Hi Fran,
We've been missing you in the bay area lately but it's good to know you were out having a blast! Margaret and I are leaving next week and plan to spend about a month on Oahu (visiting our new grandson and his parents), so we couldn't be more appreciative of you sharing your travels. Your timing is impeccable. I'll tell everyone you said "Aloha, again!"
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Me Ke Aloha,
Steve |
Edited by - Kiwini on 04/07/2006 5:27:45 PM |
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