Music

Stories regarding Molokai’s music scene

Virtual Concert Brings Kalaupapa Music to Life

Wednesday, October 7th, 2020

Virtual Concert Brings Kalaupapa Music to Life

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Music has a long history in Kalaupapa — a history of healing, bonding, and yes, quarantine. A virtual concert, “The Music of Kalaupapa,” sponsored by Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa, will bring that music into listeners’ homes on Oct. 17, offering tribute to the settlement’s often-forgotten musicians and composers of the past.

“I have long been amazed at how music has been such a constant thread throughout the history of Kalaupapa, from earliest days to now, and I believe it helped people to heal,” said Valerie Monson of Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa, a nonprofit of Kalaupapa residents, their family members and friends honoring the legacy of those who were exiled to the settlement.…

Catch Lonomusic Online

Wednesday, September 9th, 2020

Lonomusic News Release

We miss you all and hope you are doing well this season. Just putting out a heads up on some of the things that are happening with Lonomusic.

We are doing a live interview with local comedian Andy Bumatai on Thursday, Sept. 10 on YouTube. The show goes from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Hawaii time. We will be on at 4pm. So here is your invite to get caught up with Lonomusic and the things that have been going on with us. So if you are able to, please join us and enter the chatroom with your questions or thoughts.…

Youth Symphony Comes to Molokai

Wednesday, June 20th, 2018

Hawaii Youth Symphony News Release

The classrooms of Kaunakakai Elementary School on Molokai will be filled with the joy of music during the Hawaii Youth Symphony’s string workshop held at the school on Saturday, June 23 through Sunday, June 24. 

“The Hawaii Youth Symphony is thrilled to share more of the opportunities and wonder that music education has to offer with students on Molokai,” said Randy Wong, president of the Hawaii Youth Symphony. “Music is a right, not a privilege, and we look forward to inspiring these enthusiastic young students to further develop their skills and have fun while learning.” 

In partnership with Kaunakakai Elementary School teacher and bassist Bob Underwood, the Hawaii Youth Symphony will teach Molokai students the fundamental techniques of string instruments, general musicianship skills and the opportunity to rehearse as an orchestra. …

Melveen Leed Honored

Thursday, January 25th, 2018

PPSEAWAH News Release

Molokai musician Melveen Leed will be honored with the  Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Pan Pacific Southeast Asian Women Association of Hawaii (PPSEAWAH) in a ceremony on March 24.

Leed is being honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award, only the second recipient from Hawaii in PPSEAWAH’s 90 years of service in the Pacific. PPSEAWA-Hawaii’s Lifetime Award honoree is selected from a list of distinguished Pacific iconic figures. Leed has made her marks in myriad of ways in education, television, entertainment, indigenous issues, her philanthropic charity work in the past 50 years, as well as a positive role model for young people in the Pacific and the USA. …

Ukulele Ohana Molokai to celebrate Mele O`o 

Friday, May 27th, 2016

Full Heart Productions News Release

This coming Memorial Day weekend, May 27-31, the sounds of the happiest instrument on earth will once again fill the lodge at Pu`u O Hoku Ranch as the Ukulele Ohana Molokai workshop and its teacher Lono, return for the fifth year.

The theme this year will be Mele O`o or powerful music.  Participants will learn the deep roots of Old Style Hawaiian music with Lono on their ukulele, and to experience the vibrant community of Molokai. When asked what inspires him to write and teach Lono says, “The line between the past and the present, through our ancestors, prepares us for the future.…

Heal Yourself With Music and Aloha

Friday, January 22nd, 2016

Heal Yourself With Music and Aloha

Community Contributed

By Ayda Ersoy

I am hugely grateful to be a part of the amazing Tuesday Kanikapila jam group up at Coffees of Hawaii. It had such an effect on me, seeing how much joy and aloha is shared by such a beautiful group of people just getting together to make music, that I had to write about it!

The group’s founders Waipa Purdy, Roy Horner and Bill Perdue kindly shared their interpretations of Aloha, and I wrote the article for my Huffington Post blog.

Here’s a short excerpt, you can read the full article online, and see photos and a short video of the group, at huffingtonpost.com/ayda-ersoy/

After 11 Years, Molokai Dances in Merrie Monarch

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2015

Molokai hula dancers and vendors spent months rehearsing and crafting with a specific purpose in mind: sharing the stories of Molokai at the 52nd Merrie Monarch Festival.

After a decade-long absence from hula’s premiere annual event, Moana’s Hula Halau traveled to Hilo for the weeklong hula and cultural festival from April 5-11, along with 10 Molokai businesses. Twenty-four halau from Hawaii and the mainland came to compete in solo and group competitions, bringing their own unique take on Hawaii’s renowned method of storytelling.

“It’s not about being pretty,” said Kumu Hula Valerie Dudoit-Temahaga of Moana’s Hula Halau. “… It’s not about the beauty of being on the stage.…

Ukulele Ohana Molokai Returns

Friday, April 10th, 2015

Fullheart Productions News Release

This coming Memorial Day weekend, May 22-26, the sounds of the happiest instrument on earth will once again fill the lodge at Pu`u O Hoku Ranch as the Ukulele Ohana Molokai workshop and its teacher Lono, return for the fourth year in a row.

The theme this year will be Mele O`o or powerful music.  Participants will be coming from around the world to learn the deep roots of Old Style Hawaiian music with Lono on their ukuleles, and to experience the vibrant community of Molokai. When asked what inspires him to write and teach Lono says, “The line between the past and the present, through our ancestors, prepares us for the future.…

Heritage Rodeo Tickets Available

Friday, April 3rd, 2015

Molokai Ranch News Release

Molokai Ranch will be hosting the Molokai Ranch Heritage Rodeo on Saturday, April 25 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Molokai Ranch in Maunaloa. In addition to the wide range of rodeo festivities, there will be a special live performance by Hawaii music icons and Grammy Award-winning artists Henry Kapono, John Cruz, and Brother Noland, who together call themselves the “Rough Riders.”

Pre-sale tickets are now available from various Molokai locations. The price for advance tickets is $10. Tickets will be $12 at the door the day of the rodeo.

Pre-sale ticket locations:

Molokai Ranch Office, (808) 552-2444, Contact: Kalak Bicoy

Hikiola Cooperative, (808) 567-6774, Contact: Tina Tamanaha

Rawlins Chevron Kaunakakai, (808) 553-3214, Contact: Lori-Lei Rawlins-Crivello

Kualapu’u Market Ltd., …

Wind Quintet Coming to Molokai

Thursday, March 26th, 2015

Chamber Music Hawaii News Release

Molokai will get a musical treat on March 30. The Spring Wind Quintet, recognized as one of the country’s leading wind quintets, will be playing a concert at Kaunakakai Elementary School Cafeteria at 6 p.m.

The Spring Wind Quintet has been a major force in the development of chamber music in Hawaii, and many new works have been composed and arranged especially for the group. The quintet has an extensive and varied repertoire earning several national grants and offers educational programs for all ages.

Please join us for an exciting program featuring a variety of music including Hawaiian Songs, Songs from the World War 1 era, and late romantic/early 20th century music for the Wind quintet.  …