11-16-2007, 03:07 AM
Regretfully there is no formal open kanikapila sessions in Puna that I'm aware of. Frequently on Friday & Saturday nights a bunch of people including Ikaika Marzo and the like will play at Pohoiki but you better know what you're doing if you sit in with them! Andy is president of the Santa Cruz Ukulele Club and is currently building a home in Leilani and when he starts spending more time here we should have more opportunities to get together and play. He's apparently got is mailbox up and it already says "Puna Ukulele Club" or something to that effect! As someone mentioned before there is regular kanikapila sessions held on Wednesday nights at Sam Rosen's Ukulele Gallery in Holualoa from 7 pm to whenever's. Jack Knight leads the group and they get a dozen or more people.
As far as learning to play goes, probably the best deal in town is offered by the Hilo Adult Community College. Keoke Kahumoku frequently teaches for them at a rate of $35 for 6 weeks. Beginning lessons from a Master! Also if you're more serious about learning there is the Pahala Music Camp held three times a year in Pahala. Featuring Hawaii's best ukulele and slack key players the sessions are three to ten days long. Cyril Pahanui, Ledwerd Kanapana, Sonny Lim, Daniel Ho, Herb Ohta Jr, & Brittni Paiva were among the teachers last year. And you can be an absolute beginner to attend. Ask me how I know! Next session begins at the end of this month.
If anyone wants to learn to build their own uke there's a couple of good options that I'm aware of on the east side. One is Gerald Santiago's class held down at the Hilo dock's. A great guy and teacher, the class cost $400 I think, and that includes all the materials to build a koa tenor. You may even consider being a memeber of the Big Island Ukulele Guild (http://www.bigislandukuleleguild.org/) We meet about once a month at one of the member's shops and discuss building ukes, play music, talk story and eat!
Contact me if you want more information on any of the above. I won't be able to respond however until Monday as we are off to Honolulu for the big Ukulele Guild of Hawaii Conference this weekend.
Chuck Moore
Moore Bettah Ukuleles
http://moorebettahukes.com
As far as learning to play goes, probably the best deal in town is offered by the Hilo Adult Community College. Keoke Kahumoku frequently teaches for them at a rate of $35 for 6 weeks. Beginning lessons from a Master! Also if you're more serious about learning there is the Pahala Music Camp held three times a year in Pahala. Featuring Hawaii's best ukulele and slack key players the sessions are three to ten days long. Cyril Pahanui, Ledwerd Kanapana, Sonny Lim, Daniel Ho, Herb Ohta Jr, & Brittni Paiva were among the teachers last year. And you can be an absolute beginner to attend. Ask me how I know! Next session begins at the end of this month.
If anyone wants to learn to build their own uke there's a couple of good options that I'm aware of on the east side. One is Gerald Santiago's class held down at the Hilo dock's. A great guy and teacher, the class cost $400 I think, and that includes all the materials to build a koa tenor. You may even consider being a memeber of the Big Island Ukulele Guild (http://www.bigislandukuleleguild.org/) We meet about once a month at one of the member's shops and discuss building ukes, play music, talk story and eat!
Contact me if you want more information on any of the above. I won't be able to respond however until Monday as we are off to Honolulu for the big Ukulele Guild of Hawaii Conference this weekend.
Chuck Moore
Moore Bettah Ukuleles
http://moorebettahukes.com