Maui News

The Kokua Festival is back and Jack Johnson is bringing Ziggy Marley, Taj Mahal, Jake Shimabukuro and Anuhea to the Waikiki Shell. To get your tickets first, you can help out the aina and join in on the Kokua Festival and Star 101.9 beach clean-ups going on around Oahu and Maui.

The cleanups will be February 13th from 9:00 am to 11:30 am and there will be three on Oahu, and one on Maui. Check out the locations below!

North Shore clean-up will take place at Malaekahana Beach Park, contact mjneal52@gmail.com for more information.

West Side clean-up will take place at Kea’au Beach Park in Makaha, contact kaimana@hanuhawaii.org for more information.

South Shore clean-up will take place at Sand Island State Park Beach, contact steven.mazur@gmail.com

Maui clean-up will take place at Kahalui Harbor Park by Maui Arts & Cultural Center, contact m_lane@hotmail.com.

Participants will get a special code for the pre-sale taking place Sunday and Monday, the 14th and 15th of February.

For almost 100 years Maui Land has farmed pineapple on the island of Maui.  208 people managing over 2000 acres will loose their jobs and cease production next year.

Maui Pineapple has slowly shrunk over the past 10 years from 6000 acres to 2000 acres and almost 1500 people down to just over 200.  The high cost of doing business in Hawaii, and the increase competition for growing pineapple has caused the company to shrink production, and ultimately, now go out of business.  Maui Land just can’t sustain the losses from it’s pineapple production.  Mainly because it’s other businesses are losing money too.

Maui Land Real Estate Development went from an operating profit last year to a huge operating loss this year, and it’s only been 9 months.  That loss, coupled with multiple straight years of pineapple operations showing losses, means no more Maui Pineapple for the people and visitors of Hawaii.

Maui Land will continue to look for ways to increase revenue while decreasing costs including using some of the agriculture zoned land for other crops or raising cattle.

The crew at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in cordination with the Hawai’i’an Film Festival continue to bring intriguing one of a kind films to the delightful McCoy Studio Theater.  “Heart Strings: The Story of the Kamaka Ukulele” will be shown at 3PM on Sunday October 11 2009.

The film presents the story of Kamaka & Sons one of the few companies capable of claiming nearly a hundred years serving the community of Honolulu, a firm crafting that uniquely Hawai’i’an instrument the Ukulele.  This is a story of hard work, dedication, strength & fortitude, but even more, it is a story about Hawai’i’an ideas and values: Pono, Malama, Aloha, and much more.  It is a film that provides rare glimpse into Honolulu during the 1920s when Samuel K Kamaka started a business in his basement that grew to rival the one time fifteen manufacterers of Ukulele but untimately to survive their demise, thriving to this very day.  To quote MACC press release, “at its heart this film examines how Hawaiian values have shaped the company and how those values reflect a unique worldview and identity.”

Following the film there will be a discussion and opportunity to question the producer Dawn Kaniaupi‘o.  Tickets for this film as a mere $10 and can be purchased via the MACC boxoffice at 242-SHOW (7469) or go online at www.mauiarts.org. “Hope to see you there! Sponsored by an award from the National Endowment from the Arts, County of Maui and KPOA radio.”

Two great sites to check out: http://www.kamakahawaii.com/index.html and http://www.geocities.com/~ukulele/kamaka.html .

Samuel Kamaka with one of his original pineapple

http://www.geocities.com/~ukulele/kamaka.html

A friend found a solution to a perplexing problem: what to do to honor and celebrate his in-laws for their fiftieth anniversary.  Send them to the Maui Arts & Cultural Center (One Cameron Way, Kahului) where three terrific bands will perform on Sunday August 23 2009 in the delightful Castle Theater, at 7:30 PM when Tom Moffat Productions presents Rocking 50′s, featuring The Platters, The Drifters, and The Coasters.

Then my friend’s family & friends found out his plans and realized that they had only recently discovered The Drifters’ “with their top charting hits like “There Goes My Baby,” “Save The Last Dance For Me,” “On Broadway,” “This Magic Moment,” “Up On The Roof,” and “Under The Boardwalk.,” and The Platters singing songs like “Only You,” “Harbor Lights,” “The Great Pretender,” “My Prayer,” and “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes.,” and The Coasters with their fun vocal antics on tunes as diverse as ““Yakety Yak,” “Charlie Brown,” “Little Egypt,” “Poison Ivy,” “Along Comes Jones,” “Young Blood,” and “Searchin’,” They demanded to be included in the celebration.  Hence a rather noisy family reunion will erupt on the Valley Isle.

Fortunately for a concert with such high caliber legendary performers the prices are more than reasonable. “All seats are reserved and are priced at $25, $35, and $45. Tickets go on sale to MACC annual donors at 10 AM on Saturday, July 25th at the MACC Box Office with public tickets on sale Saturday, August 1st. Charge by phone at 242-SHOW or order online at mauiarts.org. Annual Donor Discounts available.”

Though Lahaina is a wee bit away from Kahului, my friend and extensive family plan to stick with the 50s Rock n’ Roll theme by visiting the Cool Cat Café at 658 Front Street, Lahaina (at the Wharf Center Cinema), for burgers that have been voted the best burgers on Maui for five years in a row. Cool Cat Café pays homage to the rocking 50s with red & white vinyl chairs & booths, shiny chrome, posters & signage. Cool Cat Café has a reputation for great food, modest prices, and terrific drinks. Their burgers are “made fresh daily our signature 6.5 oz. Burgers are 100% Certified Angus Beef ® & seasoned with our special blend of spices. Add seasoned fries, onion rings or side salad.”

Cool Cat Café is more than burgers, offering an extensive menu with complete entrees, vegetarian items, seafood, and an old fashion soda fountain offering Root Beer Floats, Shakes, Malts, and much much more. My friends’ father & mother in law are looking forward to celebrating with ‘drinks’ (firewater); Cool Cat Café has “Daily Drink Specials; Just $3.00 Every Day! Sunday, Bloody Mary, Monday, Mango Margarita, Tuesday, Tropical Monkey, Wednesday, Blue Hawai’i, Thursday, Margarita, Friday, Mai Tai, and Saturday, Pineapple Splash.”

Cool Cat Café offers live music every day so my friend & his family & friends will get an extra treat, in addition to the fabulous concert at The Castle Theater, at the Cool Cat Café they get to experience “Live Music every night, 7:30 PM to 10PM; Sunday, The Whaleshark, Monday, Erin Smith, Tuesday, Luxury Cruise (Live Jazz), Wednesday, Howard Ahia, Thursday, Junior & Orin, and Friday and Saturday local legend Dave Carroll.”

So, treat yourself and friends/family to an escape to Maui the weekend and into the week, around the Rocking 50′s concert at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center Sunday, August 23 2009.  The concert begins at 7:30 PM.

Chris Lee

            The local economy is tanking, pigs are spreading the flu, most of your favorite television shows are airing their finale episode of the season and football season is several months away.  The prescription for these and other woes is Laughter.  Fortunately the comedic duo of Cheech & Chong have reunited and are on tour set to touchdown on O’ahu at The Waikiki Shell on Thursday May 29 2009 and on Maui at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center at the Castle Theater.

            Cheech & Chong’s Light Up America Tour was launched in 2008 and has carried the duo across the United States and Canada.  Their stoner humor and wry observations about life are a welcome tonic during these troubled times.  Tommy Chong a native of Alberta, Canada, a multi-talented musician and natural funnyman started an improvisational comedy troupe in 1966/67 in a Vancouver BC nightclub because, “It was a topless joint and I didn’t have the heart to fire the strippers,” recalls Tommy Chong “so when I turned the show into a comedy troupe known as ‘City Works,’ I put the girls in the skits. We had the only topless improvisational theatre in Canada.”

            Cheech true/name Richard Marin, born in the barrios of East Los Angeles, found his way to Canada and joined City Works, at a tremendous salary of $60 a week!  After two years the troupe disbanded and the two found that they could easily entertain an audience without an ensemble of strippers.  They made their way to Los Angeles where they became a fixture at the famous Troubadour Club where they were swiftly signed up by a record executive who soon had them recording their first comedy album, their self titled record Cheech & Chong debut in 1971 and was swiftly followed by Big Bambu in 1972, the Grammy Award Winning Los Conchinos in 1973, The Wedding Album in 1974, and many more to follow.

            Cheech & Ching successfully transferred their smoke fueled fun to the big screen with the 1978 film Up In Smoke followed by a slew of hilarious films including the grossly underrated The Corsican Brothers (1984). 

            Cheech and Chong are scheduled to perform at The Waikiki Shell on Thursday May 29 2009 at 7 PM.  Tickets are available via any number of sources, and prices have varied so it is best for you to research your best bargain, one option is via their website http://www.cheechandchong.com/.  

            Cheech & Chong are scheduled to perform at 7:30 PM at The Castle Theater at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, One Cameron Way, Kahuli, Maui.  Tickets are $59.50 and are available via https://www.mauiarts.org/tickets/ or call via 808-242-SHOW (7469)

Since the winds have been 20+ miles per hour for the past month, it only seemed right to visit one the best places in the world for windsurfing on my recent trip to Maui.  Located on the north shore of Maui off the Hana Highway in the town of  Paia, Hookipa Beach is where to go for excellent windsurfing.  This is also the site for two major world class windsurfing competitions.  Hookipa Beach is ideal for windsurfing because of the large well-shaped waves and strong winds.  Because of the powerful winds and strong currents this beach is not a place for beginners.

There are four distinctive surf breaks on Hookipa Beach.  The two breaks on the left closer to the lifeguard stand are  H’Poko and Lanes.  These breaks are reserved for the windsurfers.  Pavillions and Middles are usually reserved for the surfers off the lookout parking area on the rightside of the beach.

On my day as a Maui tourist, I got to see both windsurfers and surfers going at it.  The waves were chest high for the surfers there were lefts and long rights to be had.  On the otherside of the beach there were about 8 windsurfers taking advantage of the strong wind gusts.  I saw photographers out and many sightseers watching the action.

Windsurfers

Surfers

Whew! So much to do on Maui at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center that it takes three articles to list all of them. For tickets & more info check out their website http://www.mauiarts.org/ or email them boxoffice@mauiarts.org or call 808-242-SHOW (7469).

Dance is on tap, literally, at 7:30PM on Thursday March 19th when The MACC Dance Series presents “India Jazz Suites: Chitresh Das & Jason Samuels Smith,” a unique collaboration between Chitresh Das one of India’s foremost Kathak masters and Jason Samuels Smith tap dancer extraordinaire whose fast flying feet have earned him an Emmy. Together they “converge in the intricacies of each other’s footwork! The result is high entertainment which crosses all boundaries of age, race and culture, a blast of incredible speed and power, grace and beauty, epic storytelling, and the pure joy of dance. Both are traditionalists, yet both are innovators, and together they bring the house down!” Tickets range from $12 to $22 to $37, with special half price admission for youth under age eighteen. (Supported in part by National Endowment for the Arts, State Foundation for Culture and the Arts County of Maui, Capezio Ballet Makers Dance Foundation, Inc., Jhamandas Watumull Fund, and KISS Radio)

On Saturday March 21 2009 at 7:30 PM Grammy Award Winning singer/pianist Diane Krall will enthrall the audience with her alluring voice and “strikingly sensitive piano playing.” Diane Krall has more fourteen CDs to her credit with her newest, ‘Quiet Nights,’ to be released at the end of March. Diane has a gift for rediscovering songs, bringing Jazz classics into the 21st Century with a seductive energy that is utterly captivating. This is one concert you will not want to miss (in my humble opinion). Tickets are Tickets: $55, $65, $85, $125, $150. (Supported in part by National Endowment for the Arts, State Foundation for Culture and the Arts, County of Maui and KAOI Radio Group.)

After a night of Jazz & Pop, a return to dance at the Castle Theater at 7:30 PM On Sunday March 22 2009 when the Tau Dance Theater presents “presents SLAM 2009 5th Annual Hawai‘i-Japan Youth Exchange Concert, “Raiatea Helm headlines an exciting showcase of dance and music with the youth dancers of Tau (y2), HITS Dance Space, Yuko Anami Ballet from Japan, Kapolei Choral, Tau Dance Theater, and the winners and competitors of the 4th Annual Earnest T. Morgan Choreographers’ SLAM.” Tickets are a terrific deal, $20 or $10 for students, military, and senior citizens.

Chase away the Monday Blues with an Incredible Journey on Monday March 23 2009 at 7:30 PM at the MACC Amphitheater when veteran band Journey lands on Maui with their new lead singer, Filipino sensation Arnel Pineda who joins a line-up that includes founder guitarist Neal Schon, keyboardist Jonathan Cain, bassist Ross Valory, drummer Deen Castronovo. Arnel Pineda made his debut in February 2008 and with the release of the CD Revelation in June of 2008 Journey has had a resurgence that affirms their standing in the Hierarchy of Rock n’ Roll. Reserved seat tickets on the lawn: $55, $65, $75, $125 (plus applicable fees).

Just when one might think that the crew at the MACC has exhausted the list of big name acts and ran out of Maui this March!

For those seeking a good excuse to run away to Maui there are plenty of reasons to be found at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center located at One Cameron Way, Kahului, Maui. Throughout March 2009 there are a tempting array of concerts & comedy & film.

Throughout March on Wednesdays, the 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th, 5PM and 7:30PM, The Maui Film Festival presents ‘Candlelight Café & Cinema’ at the delightful Castle Theater. Though titles are ‘to be announced,’ one film that is quite buzz-worthy will be shown on March 4th. ‘Two Lovers’ might be the very last film to feature Joaquin Phoenix, it has already snagged the attention of critics who praise Phoenix and co-stars Gwyneth Paltrow & Vinessa Shaw for their riveting performances in a film hailed by the New York Times as, “Admirably Bold! There’s something grand about the film’s sincerity and the intensity of its emotions.” “For more info: 808-572-3456 or www.mauifilmfestival.com. Tickets: $12 single; tickets on sale one hour before each screening or Value Packages: MFF “4-click/$40 45-Day Passport” or “3-click $24 30-DayPass” Light dinners, desserts & beverages available at Candlelight Café 4:30 – 7:30 pm, Founders’ Court.”

Tuesday, March 3, is an opportunity to enjoy the ‘Lei of Stars Maui Choral Festival’ featuring ‘The Concordia Choir,’ seventy-two voices singing a cappella under the direction of renowned composer-conductor Dr Rene Clausen, they will have ventured from frigid Minnesota to join their voices with the Maui Choral Arts. Tickets are quite a bargain; $15, $25, and $35. The concert will be in the Castle Theater at 7:00PM, with food & beverages on sale before the concert beginning at 5:30 PM. Contact https://www.mauiarts.org/tickets/ or 808-242-SHOW (242-7469).

Thursday, March 5, at 6:30 PM at the Castle Theater, is a night for film and chat with author Dr Wayne W Dyer who will present his new film ‘”Ambition to Meaning: Finding Your Life’s Purpose, a compelling portrait of three modern lives in need of new direction and new meaning. In his first-ever movie (written by Kristen Lazarian and directed by Michael Goorjian), Wayne Dyer explores the spiritual journey in the second half of life when we long to find the purpose that is our unique contribution to the world. The powerful shift from the ego constructs we are taught early in life by parents and society—which promote an emphasis on achievement and accumulation—are shown in contrast to a life of meaning, focused on serving and giving back. Dyer appears in the film as himself and also stars Edward Kerr, Shannon Sturges, Michael Deluise and Portia de Rossi. Special appearance by Louise L. Hay. CommUnity- sponsored event. Tickets: $20”

What better way to celebrate Pau Hana Friday, March 6, with great Hawai’i’an Music? Venture to the McCoy Studio Theater where father Sam Ahia & son Howard Ahia share their many talents, songwriting, singing, guitar playing, as part of the on going MACC Mele Generations Series. Food & Beverage available from 5:30 PM, the concert begins at 7:30PM, the tickets are a terrific bargain, only $25.00, half price for the keiki twelve & under; https://www.mauiarts.org/tickets/ or 808-242-SHOW (242-7469). This terrific concert made possible in part by the support of “Endowment for the Arts, State Foundation for Culture and the Arts, County of Maui and KPOA Radio.”

Return to the McCoy Studio Theater the next night on Saturday, March 7 at 7:30PM for an eclectic stew of R & B, Blues, Folk, Latin and New Orleans Funk dished up by Mojo Gumbo featuring Steve Grimes, Ken Kennell, and Cliff Collins and Kerry Sofaly, and Latitude 21 N “A trio of Maui’s hottest jazz musicians (Bob Harrison, bass; David Choy, sax; Sal Godinez, piano)  will be joined by percussionist Estaire Godinez and drummer Stokley Williams for some great jazz, Latin and R&B. Tickets: $25.

Finally on Sunday, March 8, check out the Maui Pops! Spring Fest at 3:30PM at the Castle Theater. “From Rock to Rachmaninov, the Maui Pops Orchestra presents its Spring Concert under the baton of guest conductor Jim Durham. “Las Vegas” comes to Maui with a magician, an Elvis Presley contest, and the best of Frank Sinatra, all accompanied by the Maui Pops Orchestra. With the superb piano talents of special guest artist Hyperion Knight playing the beautiful and romantic Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2.. Join us at the Maui Pops! Tickets: $10, $21, $26, $36, half price for kids 12 & under”

Plenty of reasons to run away to Maui and that is only the first week of March! Once again for ticket info check out https://www.mauiarts.org/tickets/ 808-242-SHOW (242-7469).

The fine folks at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center are stoked that the Steve Miller Band will be performing at the A & B Amphitheater on Saturday February 28 2009. The A & B is a delightful outdoor venue providing the perfect ambience to enjoy one of rock n’ rolls true treasures. Though Steve Miller and band have been performing since the 1960s they have lost none of their drive & energy and are always looking to the future.

Steve Miller has been a professional musician since his teens during an era of musical turbulence when the music of his parents generation was swept away by the flood tide of rock n’ roll. Steve Miller’s father was a prominent proctologist whose patients were most often friends and many of them were famous musicians, among them Les Paul & Mary Ford, T Bone Walker, and Charles Mingus. Encouraged to dive into music, as long as he kept up his school studies, Steve Miller formed his first band at the age of twelve and by his teens was performing for dances & parties, along with a boy hood pal, Boz Skaggs.

Steve Miller continued to juggle music with school, attending college, attaining a solid grasp of what was truly needed to succeed in business, which remains the basis of success in the musical world. Steve Miller avoided many of the pitfalls befalling musicians, steering negotiations with several record labels before signing with Capitol Records in 1967. Money is wonderful but Miller wanted something much more elusive, creative freedom. “We were in a perfect position. The record companies, typically not understanding anything about the music, were given instructions to go to San Francisco and sign those acts,” he said in Rolling Stone. “They knew that we were one of the four popular groups…. They wanted to sign the phenomena.”

Steve Miller and band began releasing albums in 1968 and many of those early songs sound just as awesome in 2009. Deceptively simple lyrics interlaced with solid musicianship grace his songs. ‘Living in the USA,’ “Gangster of Love, ‘Quicksilver Girl’ and ‘Space Cowboy’ among his earliest tunes to spill from the radio in an age when radio was king. In the Centennial Year of 1976 Steve Miller Band released an album that contained one gem after another including the title track, a song soaring high thirty years further on, ‘Fly Like An Eagle.’

Steve Miller and Band are road testing tracks for an upcoming album, or in modern parlance, CD, and there is no place finer to experience Steve Miller and Band than on Maui and what is really terrific is that you can follow the band back to O’ahu since they will perform at the Blaisdell Arena Sunday March 1!

As for the show on Maui, I will let the Maui Arts & Cultural Center have the final word, “The Maui Arts & Cultural Center, in association with Ron Gibson and the Diamond Head International Festival and Conference, announce the first mega show to hit Maui in 2009! THE STEVE MILLER BAND will play the Maui Arts & Cultural outdoor amphitheater on Saturday, February 28 at 7:00 pm …. and it is destined to be a great night in rock-n-roll history on Maui! With songs such as “Take the Money and Run,” “Rockin’ Me,” “Jet Airliner,” “The Joker,” “Fly Like An Eagle,” “Livin’ in the USA,” “Abracadabra,” and “Jungle Love” to his credit, blues/rock singer/songwriter/guitarist Steve Miller is one of the cornerstones of classic rock. On this tour, Steve Miller is flanked by icon harmonica player Norton Buffalo and an incredible line up of top level musicians that make the Steve Miller Band one of the all time great Rock and R&B bands in history.

Tickets are for reserved seating, available at $55, $65 and $85 with a limited number of $125 premium seating tickets available. (plus applicable fees)”

MAUI ARTS & CULTURAL CENTER One Cameron Way, Kahului, HI 96732 www.mauiarts.org, 808-242-2787×232 or direct 808-243-4232.

Yup, you read that right.  Fans of Aerosmith are suing the band due to their cancellation of their sold out concert that was supposed to be held on Maui on September 26.  Why you ask?  The fans cited that Aerosmith bailed out of their sold out concert to their fans in favor of a larger concert in Chicago and a “lucrative, private concert for Toyota car dealers” at the University of Hawaii’s Les Murakami Stadium on Oahu (Source: Honolulu Advertiser).

I think this is a legit enough reason to be mad at Aerosmith, since they apparently are looking out only for themselves and not the fans who got them to where they are today.  To cash out a bigger paycheck and singing for Toyota car dealers versus actual fans, some of whom flew over to see them, is just plain wrong.  According to the Honolulu Advertisers, the cancellation cost the ticket buyers somewhere between $500,000 and $3 million.  The costs include travel costs, handling fees, and a variety of nonrefunded costs according to the suit against Aerosmith.  That’s right, people flew from other states, as well as interisland flights to see the band.

This is horrible people.  I think fame has gotten to the heads of the Aerosmith band.  Why would you cancel a concert, a sold out concert nonetheless, for the thousands of fans who were looking forward to their arrival?  And of all places, Maui hardly gets any popular bands flying in to perform for them.  Money shouldn’t be the primary concern, but as you can see, for Aerosmith, it is.  It’s just a slap in the face when they fly somewhere else to do another concert and even performing for Toyota dealers ON THE SAME WEEK they were supposed to perform in Maui.

This is just a low class act by Aerosmith.  The respect I did have for them has just got thrown out the window.  I hope the local fans get what they deserve, and more.