For 33 years, islanders have honored their best and brightest musicians during the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, the biggest annual entertainment event in Hawaii. Now, they are taking that celebration to a new level with the first annual Na Hoku O Hawaii Music Festival, slated for May 27-30.
Taking place at the Hawaii Convention Center and throughout Waikiki, the special event promises to celebrate the underlying power of Hawaiian music and arts and crafts through workshops, demonstrations, exhibitions and performances.
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Jake Shimabukuro is one of the artists appearing at the Na Hoku O Hawaii Music Festival // (C) 2010 Na Hoku O Hawaii Music Festival/Ruben Carrillo
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“Created to invigorate and uplift the music industry in Hawaii while honoring Hawaii’s artists and the positive impacts of Hawaii’s music on day-to-day life, the festival will be the must-attend event in Hawaii in 2010,” said Dawn Kaniaupio of Four Miles, which is presenting the event.
Kaniaupio anticipates an attendance of 5,000 people from Hawaii and around the world and from a spectrum of backgrounds.
Mike McCartney, Hawaii Tourism Authority president, sees the festival not only as a way to boost travel to Hawaii during a typically slow season, but also as a way to showcase Hawaii’s creativity on a global scale.
“Through this festival, visitors and residents will have an opportunity to experience and develop a deeper understanding of Hawaii’s rich musical and artistic heritage,” McCartney said.
The first day of the festival includes a cocktail party with welcome remarks from the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts, government officials and presenting sponsors. The opening ceremony is on day two, and day three brings the Lifetime Achievement Awards luncheon, honoring five recipients who have become Hawaiian musical legends.
Clients can attend dozens of workshops each day, and then listen to live music in the evenings on satellite stages across Waikiki. The festival concludes with the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, which is broadcast live in high definition and distributed via the Web.
“Ultimately, the entire festival serves as a forum for learning while promoting global networking opportunities,” said Kaniaupio. “Traditional ways of producing, promoting and distributing musical works and music events will be complemented by new media tools and emerging technologies to broaden the festival’s reach.”
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The Details
Na Hoku O Hawaii Music Festival
www.nahokufestival.com
Na Hoku O Hawaii Festival
Songs will fill the air on Oahu for four days in May during the Na Hoku O Hawaii Festival, a new annual event created to honor the tuneful traditions of the islands. Clients looking to take part in the May 27-30 celebration can buy tickets, book special packages and stay at host hotels for the optimum experience. Here’s the scoop on tickets, travel, accommodations and what’s happening during the festival.
Event Tickets (priced per person)
All Events Pass: $605
Opening party: $85
Festival speakers, panels, workshops: $330
Lifetime Achievement Awards Luncheon: $85
Na Hoku Hanohano Awards Show: $85
After Party: $60
Awards Show and After Party Combination: $125-$160
To buy tickets: www.nahokufestival.com
Travel Packages
Pleasant Holidays is offering air-inclusive packages including accommodations and event tickets
www.pleasantagent.com
Hawaiian Airlines is serving as the festival’s exclusive airline partner
www.hawaiianairlines.com
Hotel Sponsors
Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel
www.astonhotels.com
Halekulani
www.halekulani.com
Hilton Hawaiian Village
www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com
Outrigger Hotels and Resorts
www.outrigger.com
Starwood Hotels Waikiki
www.starwoodhawaii.com
Festival Schedule
May 27
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Registration
5-8 p.m. Opening Reception
May 28
8 a.m.-5 p.m. Vendors and exhibitors, general sessions, workshops
Workshops include slack key guitar, electric contemporary bass, steel guitar, composition, touring, musical arrangements, meet the artists, CD production, vocal training, slam poetry, drums, keyboards, jam sessions, digi design, social media, easy music, traditional instrumentation, music and healing, chant and hula
6-8 p.m. Live entertainment on 25 stages in Waikiki
Locations include Banyan Courtyard (Moana Surfrider); Chai’s Island Bistro; Duke’s Waikiki and Hula Grill (Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach); Helumoa (Royal Hawaiian Center); House Without a Key (Halekulani); Jimmy Buffett’s at the Beachcomber (Ohana Waikiki Beachcomber); Kani Ka Pila Grille and Shore Bird (Outrigger Reef on the Beach); Kuhio Beach hula mound; Mai Tai Bar (Royal Hawaiian); Pakele Lounge (Ala Moana Hotel); Pikake Terace (Sheraton Princess Kaiulani); Rum Fire and Edge of Waikiki (Sheraton Waikiki); Tiki’s Grill and Bar (Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel); Tropics Bar and Tapa Bar (Hilton Hawaiian Village); and Waikiki Beach Walk.
May 29
8 a.m.-5 p.m. Vendors and exhibitors, general sessions, workshops
11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Lifetime Achievement Awards Luncheon
6-8 p.m. Entertainment on 25 stages in Waikiki
May 30
8:30 a.m.-noon Vendors and exhibitors, general sessions, workshops
5:30-7 p.m. Pupu Party
7:30-10 p.m. Na Hoku Hanohano Awards
10 p.m.-midnight After Party
