On Jan. 23, approximately 225 patrons of The Grammy Museum were treated to a hefty dose of Hawaiian culture — without ever having to set foot on a plane.
Mele Mei in LA, an annual event held at the Grammy Museum at LA Live in Los Angeles, took place three days ahead of the 62nd annual Grammy Awards, for which several Hawaiian artists were nominated in the Best Regional Roots Music Album or the Best Classical Solo Vocal Album categories. (Note: The 2020 Winners of the Best Regional Roots Music Album and Best Classical Solo Vocal Album were jazz quintet Ranky Tanky and Joyce DiDonato, respectively.)
Named for Hawaii’s Mele Mei (Songs of May) event, a month-long musical celebration in Hawaii, Mele Mei in LA paid tribute to the music, hula and culture of the Aloha State, while also spotlighting this year’s Grammy nominees. This year’s event included a private, musician-led morning workshop that taught attendees about the state’s local music and instruments, along with an evening concert and reception.
During the evening performance, which took place in the Grammy Museum’s Clive Davis Theater, event-goers were treated to performances by Grammy nominees Kimie Miner, Kathryn Schulmeister and Amy Hanaialii, in addition to two-time Grammy winner Kalani Pea and Na Hoku Hanohano winners Bobby Moderow Jr., Streetlight Cadence, Jeff Peterson and more. (Na Hoku Hanohano is the Hawaiian equivalent to the Grammy Awards.)
The concert was broadcast on four Hawaiian television stations, and Hawaiian Music Live provided internet radio streaming and Facebook live video streaming. It was presented by event sponsor Outrigger Hotels and Resorts.
Immediately following the performance was a rooftop VIP reception at entertainment complex LA Live that honored Hawaii and Hawaiian music and drew media, music- and travel-industry professionals and their guests.
During the rooftop reception, Sean Dee, chief marketing officer for Outrigger Hospitality Group, thanked the musicians, travel industry guests and sponsors for making the event a success.
“The vision for this event was to celebrate and honor Hawaiian musicians who make our lives so spectacular and to come together with the travel industry, which helps support Hawaii so well, specifically [event sponsor] Delta Vacations,” he said.
Additional sponsors included The Grammy Museum, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Duke’s Waikiki, Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts, Oahu Visitors Bureau, TravelAge West and more.
“Sharing music and culture is at the heart of our business — it’s what we call a Signature Experience,” Dee said. “We delight in bringing Hawaii’s most gifted musical artists to the stage not only through our sponsorship of Mele Mei in L.A., but every night at home from Blue Note Hawaii to Kani Ka Pila Grille.”
Meet the Nominees
Imua Garza
- Garza is a Grammy-nominated producer, vocalist, musician, recording engineer and composer.
- He released his first professional music at age 11.
- Garza received a Grammy nomination for 2020 as the producer of Hawaiian Lullaby (Various Artists) in the Best Regional Roots Music Album category.
Amy Hanaialii
- Hanaialii is Hawaii’s top-selling female vocalist of all time.
- She has accumulated six Grammy nominations for Best Hawaiian Music Album and Best Regional Roots Music Album.
- Hanaialii has received 18 Na Hoku Hanohano awards.
- For 2020, Hanaialii’s album, Kalawaianui — Amy Hanaialii, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Regional Roots Music Album.
Kimie Miner
- Miner is a singer-songwriter, a music producer and a publisher.
- She has written and co-produced four albums, along with serving as the owner of Haku Collective, a music, audio and talent production group.
- Miner produced Hawaiian Lullaby (Various Artists), which received a Grammy nomination for Best Regional Roots Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.
Kathryn Schulmeister
- Schulmeister, an orchestral musician, is a new member of the Elision Ensemble and is currently working toward a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Contemporary Music Performance.
- Schulmeister was a 2020 Grammy nominee for Best Classical Solo Vocal Performance for The Edge of Silence (Various Artists).
The Details
Hawaii Tourism Authority
www.gohawaii.com
Outrigger Hotels and Resorts
www.outrigger.com
