By JOHN BURNETT
By JOHN BURNETT
Tribune-Herald staff writer
As entertainers go, Kainani Kahaunaele is about as low-key as it gets.
The winner of three Na Hoku Hanohano awards for her 2004 debut CD “Na‘u ‘Oe,” including Female Vocalist of the Year, she said she felt honored but shy accepting the recognition of her peers.
“I think of it as always a team effort,” Kahaunaele said Wednesday. “… I always think of my teachers, I think of the people who inspired the songs. I’m happy for the award, but to me there are a lot of people who have a part in the award.”
Kahaunaele should be a bit more comfortable playing music in the intimate surroundings of the Kalani EMAX on Puna’s Red Road to close the 10-day Puna Music Festival on Saturday, May 26, at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $35 general, $75 VIP, which includes a pre-dinner wine reception with the artist, dinner at the Lanai at Kalani and VIP front-row seating for the concert.
The 10-day festival, May 19-28, will feature top Hawaiian artists, as well as local talent.
An Anahola, Kauai native, Kahaunaele, who is a lecturer at University of Hawaii at Hilo’s Ka Haka ‘Ula O Ke‘elikolani College of Hawaiian Language and Culture, at says she’s never been to Kalani and is looking forward to it.
Her second CD, “‘Ohai ‘Ula,” was released in 2010 and she is in the process of writing material for a third project.
“I don’t have a timeline on it right now,” she said, adding that she is also writing for other artists. Those who have recorded her compositions include Weldon Kekauoha, Aaron Sala and Na Leo.
Kahaunaele travels often to play music on other islands. Also on the horizon are trips to New York this summer and Japan late this year.
“We go to support the hula halau and the halau that are Japan-based,” she said. “For us musicians, it’s a great chance to travel, but for me, it’s a great chance to be with the other Hawaiian musicians who go up. We have staff development discussions, we prepare music together. And with how huge hula is and how huge Hawaiian music and Hawaiian culture is in Japan. Unless you go there, it’s hard to imagine. We know that the Japanese come here for Merrie Monarch and bring the halau here, but when you go there, it’s amazing how many Japanese halau are existence.”
Kuana Torres Kahele, whose Kaunaloa CD is nominated for a mind-boggling 10 Na Hoku Hanohano awards this year, will open the festival Saturday, May 19, at 8 p.m. at the Kalani EMAX. Ticket prices and packages are exactly the same as for Kahaunaele’s concert.
The Pohoiki Open Concert, a free show at Isaac Hale Beach Park is on Sunday, May 20, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Headlining the show will be Oahu’s Paula Fuga, who recently opened for Jack Johnson at the Kahilu Theater in Waimea, and Hilo’s Mark Yamanaka, who won four Hoku awards last year for his Na Pua Kenikeni CD. Opening will be keiki from four Puna schools, followed by a series of groups and performers from Puna.
There’s also a free concert on Wednesday May 23, at 5-10 p.m. at Uncle Robert’s Kava Bar next to Kalapana Village Cafe, and Medicine for the People will play Friday, May 25, at 7 p.m. at the Akebono Theater in Pahoa. Tickets are $15. It’s part of the Pahoa Night of Music, and the shops and restaurants in the village will also feature live music that evening.
In addition, the festival will feature a series of innovative workshops on songwriting, slack key guitar, ukulele and more.
There are festival packages available, some which include lodging at Kalani Oceanside Retreat. To reserve tickets or more information, visit punamusicfestival.com or call Cat at 965-7828.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.