E KANIKAPILA KAKOU PRESENTS 12 MUSICAL MONDAY NIGHTS WITH "MUSICAL OHANA" AS THE THEME FOR ITS 22ND YEAR!

E Kanikapila Kakou (Kauai's Little Treasure) Song, Hula and Chant
- the sky's the limit!

E Kanikapila Kakou (it means let's play music) opens its twenty second season on Kauai, this year for the first time featuring "Musical Ohana"(fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, aunties and nephews, uncles and nieces -you get the idea). It's Hawaiian music with a twist - composers teach the audience how to play and sing their compositions.

It's a grass roots program (free, fun and friendly) - that over the years has featured almost every star in the galaxy of Hawaiian music, and this year is no different. Founded by the nonprofit Garden Island Arts Council, the program's goal is to extend the gift of Hawaiian culture through music to current and new enthusiasts locally, regionally and globally.

It works! E-mails filter in from all over the globe from visitors who have attended and residents who have moved away but enjoy hearing a wrap-up on each special evening as they sit in front of their fireplaces, warding off the chill from three-foot snowdrifts.

This year, E Kanikapila Kakou (EKK) consists of 12 musical Monday evenings running from February 7 through April 25. It's held at the Island School auditorium in Puhi, on the edge of the Kauai Community College campus.

On opening night, Monday, February 7, members of the Punua family will lead musical instruction in the first hour, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. for folks who bring instruments, and then they will continue on for two more hours with the general audience, ending at 9 p.m.

The Punua family has been entertaining visitors and residents on Kauai for 50 years.

Patriarch Victor Punua has an astounding baritone voice and is a recording artist. Matriarch and Kumu Hula Kuulei Puna has been teaching ancient and modern hula for 50 years.

Her teachers included Iolani Luahini and Hoakalei Kamauu. She danced in the 1940s and '50s with the Hula Nanis under the direction of Kent Ghirard; with Alfredo Apaka; and she continues to dance three nights a week at the family luau.

Two generations - Punua children and grandchildren - continue to swell the ranks of performing Punuas. Punua children include Victor Jr., John, Kuuleialoha, Wallis and Edward (all adults.)

The Punua entertainment dynasty continues through the grandchildren coming up, all of whom have some performing skill or skills. Whether it's steel guitar, ancient hula, the bass, drums or song, there's a wealth of talent in this multigenerational family.

Likely, entertaining is in their blood. Says son Wallis, "Our Great-grandfather was a composer, John Punua, and he was at one time the assistant master of the Royal Hawaiian Band."

Magic begins when the Punuas take to the stage.

"We are excited to come and share with the people of Kauai and visitors," says Wallis.

E Kanikapila Kakou is a backyard jam - but under a roof. It gets down (and takes you up.

You don't have to know music, play an instrument, or be able to carry a tune. You just have to be - and suddenly, drums appear, and hula dancers.

There's talk story, chanting and more. Each night is a precious cameo, a celebration of culture that takes it to the limit and leaves attendees in high spirits.

Presenters love an invitation to come to E Kanikapila Kakou. Musically, they've paid their dues over the years and delight in passing along the culture in this grassroots program.

Past presenter Frank Kawaikapuokalani K. Hewett says the mole, or the taproot, of Hawaiian music is here on Kauai, at E Kanikapila Kakou.

Throughout the series, each evening is a pleasant surprise, with audience members arriving from as far away as Italy and Germany. Many visitors arrange their return vacations each year to incorporate attendance at EKK.

The price is right. A calabash at the door invites an offering to offset the cost of bringing this program to you.

The ambience is laid back. Sometimes audience members stand and join in the hula.

Often, presenters have ohana on Kauai (or old friends) - and they may show up to jam.

So many stars in the Hawaiian music galaxy. So little time.

But for 12 special nights on Kauai this year, there's a chance to reach for the heavens, and on Monday, February 4, heaven looks a lot like the performing Punuas!

Coming to EKK "Musical Ohana" on Monday, February 14: Dennis and David Kamakahi.

Mahalo to the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the County of Kauai for their most generous support of this very special program.

For information about EKK, contact giac@hawaiilink.net or 245-2733.

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Carol Kouchi Yotsuda
Garden Island Arts Council
PO Box 827
Lihue, HI 96766
(808) 245-2733

website: http://www.gardenislandarts.org
"bringing ARTS to the PEOPLE and PEOPLE to the ARTS"