Goin to the Islands

Raymond Richards · From: Los Angeles, CA, USA

Hi non-pedal folks,

I'm a pedal steel guy who wants to explore the sounds of traditional Hawaiian Steel Guitar. I'm going to Maui for a week from July 28th to Aug 3rd. Can anyone point out some gigs or some places to learn about this wonderful style in its birthplace?

thanks!
Raymond Richards
the Sid Hillman Quartet http://www.theSHQ.com

Gerald Ross · From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Go to the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association's (HSGA) web site: www.hsga.org

There is a page that lists venues and times where you can hear steel guitar music in the islands.

Also, try to attend the HSGA annual convention in Joliet, Illinois this upcoming October 5-7, 2000. Jerry Byrd is this years guest of honor and will be performing.

[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 19 July 2000 at 12:02 PM.]

Bill Leff · From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA

You might try http://www.mele.com to see a calendar of Hawaiian music.

I'll also second Gerald's advice about HSGA.

-Bill

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

When I was on Maui last year, I was greatly disappointed in the lack of steel guitar on the island. According to the "Who's Playing Where" portion of the HSGA web site:

The "Old Lahaina Luau" steel lineup: Ross Ka'a'a Mondays and Fridays; Ralph Melemai Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays; Sam Ako on Thursdays. 505 Front Street, Lahaina, 5:15-8:45 pm

Henry Allen is featured with his trio at the Wailea Shopping Village, in Wailea every Tuesday, 1:30-2:30, in the courtyard. Free and open to the public!

Owana Salazar plays steel (Rickenbacher frying pan) accompanying George Kahumoku Jr. at the Maui Weston at Ka'anapali Beach several nights a week. Sorry, we don't have the schedule, yet.
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While you're there, try to stop by Tropical Disc. They have a great selection of Hawaiian music and Hawaiian guitars, and they're really nice people.

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Brad's Page of Steel:
www.well.com/~wellvis/steel.html
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Mel Culbreath · From: Waynesville, NC, USA

Raymond,

By all means try to see Genoa Keawe with Alan Akaka @ Hawaiian Regent Lobby Bar, 5:30-8:30.
This lady is an amazing resource. What a voice - and a wonderful human being to boot.

Mel

Bill Leff · From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA

I'm pretty sure the Alan Akaka gig is on Oahu, not Maui.

-Bill

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Mau'i is a bit of a lost cause when it comes to finding steel players. Be sure to seek out Henry Allen who is in Mau'i. He plays a super steel as well as a being a great jazz guitarist. If you want to hear a lot of fine steel players, jump on an ALOHA Airlines inter-island flight and get yourself into Waikiki where all the action is. There, you will see and hear Greg Sardinha who is one of the best around. Also head over to the Halekulani Hotel "House Without A Key" (7 nights a week) and hear a variety of great steel players...guys like Alan Akaka, Casey Olsen, Isaac Akuna, Harold Hakuole and many others. If you are lucky, sometimes Jerry pops around to fill in for any one of the above in their absence...not often, but it does happen. Ask around and find out where Bobby Ingano is playing...he is "Feets" Rogers reincarnated ! If you are looking for serenity, stay on sleepy Mau'i...but if you are looking for great Hawaiian music, ya just gotta get your butt over to O'ahu and into the Waikiki scene.

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

I have been to Hawaii twice and I was sorely dissapointed in the lack of steel guitar any where. I did see Jerry Byrd play, but outside that I found it was a case in futility. All I saw was a lot of Rock and Roll and some psuedo Hawaiian music (NO steel) occassionaly. We asked repeatedly and many did not even know what a Hawaiian or steel guitar was.

Maybe we didn't go to the right places or talk to the right people, but it was a most dissapointing time for me. I had such wonderful dreams and visions. They were never realized except for one night watching JB at the Royal Hawaiian hotel. But he doesn't even play there any more. Or anywhere else I am told except on rare occassion.

It is like here, the kids just don't care for steel guitar. And until the day comes (if it ever does) they start liking it, I don't hold out much hope.

What hath man wrought? May God help us.

carl

John Tipka · From: Reynoldsburg,OH

You're going to the wrong island to hear Hawaiian music played on a steel guitar. You need to get to the Waikiki area on O`ahu.

For lunch, stop by the newly re-opened Willows Restaurant and hear Greg Sardinha with Po`okela. Tableside service played on Greg's Triolian with rhythm guitar, and acoustic double bass accompaniment daily from 11:30AM to 1:30PM. (One afternoon while there, I was talking with Greg while he was playing, when he broke the first string on his guitar. He then asked me if I had a treble string of any gauge with me, which I didn't, so he just continued on with his playing by moving down a couple of strings and up the fretboard for the rest of the afternoon playing only with five strings.) If you want more of Greg, who by the way, right now is the most employed steel guitar player in HAWAI`I) you can find him at the Sheraton Waikiki on Mondays and at the Banyan Veranda of the Sheraton Moana Surfrider Wednesday evenings with Ipo Kumakahi and her stylings or again with her at Duke's Restaurant, I believe on Friday evenings. Plus Greg operates a recording studio all at the same time.

Paul Kim ,who is a super guitar player (another Jerry Byrd product) and also who sings with a great falsetto voice, plays at the Sheraton Moana Surfrider on Monday evenings. He plays with Genoa Keawe on Thursdays at the Hawaiian Regent when Alan Akaka is elsewhere.

The Hiram Olsen Trio (Casey, Hiram, Kaipo) on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings at the Halekulani.

Alan Akaka, Sonny Kamahele, and Kaipo Ah Sing together at the Halekulani on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Alan at the Hawaiian Regent with Genoa Keawe, her sister, and Gary Aiko on Thursday evenings. Bobby Ingano is known to stop by occasionally (he doesn't drive) on Thursdays and just might happen to have a Rickenbacher Frypan with him.

Charlie Fukuba at the Sheraton Moana Surfrider on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings.

If you get up to Lai`e and the Polynesian Cultural Center, there you'll find Steve and Ben Cheney, father and son playing steel guitars.

If you don't get to Waikiki, you're going to be disappointed with Hawai`i`s music offerings.

Most of all, enjoy yourself while you're there!!

Aloha,

John

Raymond Richards · From: Los Angeles, CA, USA

Gosh Carl,

If the kids don't like steel guitar you're calling me an old man at 25!

I've been playing now for a few years & am just now taking the backwards step from pedal steel to lap. Well fellas, (most of all Brad Bechtel) thanks for the posts, I'll be sure to catch Mr. Allen & check out Tropical Disc. As for Oahu, I went there for my High School graduation & it was just so touristy.

Thanks again & Alooooha!

Raymond

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

Looks like I'll be on Kauai at the end of August, so I'll try to catch Ken Emerson while I'm there.

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Brad's Page of Steel:
www.well.com/~wellvis/steel.html
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Seeing Jerry at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel means you were there some 15 years ago. A lot has changed since then. You will find all the steel guitar players mentioned in the above posts plus many others like Kamaka Tom, Soloman Kam, etc. There is lots of steel in Waikiki unlike when I was there in 1970 and found only two...(Jerry had not arrived). Take it from me, (I've been there 21 times) steel is alive and well and yes, Hawaiians have rediscovered "their" instrument thanks largely to the efforts of Jerry. Enjoy paradise and don't be concerned about the so-called "commercialism". After all, Honolulu is a very large cosmopolitan city and all the grass shacks disappeared many, many years ago ! The pretty hula girls are still there in abundance.

John Tipka · From: Reynoldsburg,OH

Keoki,

And the best dancer is Kanoe Miller at the Halekulani House Without A Key.

John

Raymond Richards · From: Los Angeles, CA, USA

Here's one for you guys;
I'm making a tape for the drive to Hana bay & I want it to be all Hawaiian Steel from the 50s-60s era if possible. Any suggestions?

thanks!
Raymond

Lefty · From: Grayson, Ga.

Have fun, my father-in-law says you get layed when you get off the plane.

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Ray...Back in the fifties, a company called 49th State Records turned out some lovely instrumental lp's of Benny Rogers...(using steel, vibes, r/guitar, ukulele and bass). Benny played a delightful simplistic style on those old discs which was so beautiful to listen to especially when driving.

The drive to Hana may appear to be short in Mainland terms, but it will take you a minimum 4 hours (one way) if you drive non-stop. I'd suggest you allow at least 5 hours to enjoy all the beautiful waterfalls and great scenery along the way.

Do try to get over to Waikiki if only for a few days to meet and hear all the fine steel players.

You'll like the beautiful Kanoe Miller who dances at the House Without a Key. I'd also suggest you drop over to the Royal Hawaiian Hotel ("Pink Lady") Mai Tai Bar to see one of Hawai'i's finest hula dancers, Carmen Haugen, the wife of composer/entertainer Keith Haugen. (No steel, but nevertheless it will be a delightful evening of authentic Hawaiian music). They perform only on Tuesday and Wednesday, 5:30 - 8:30 (no cover).

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

I don't remember the frequency or the call letters, but there's a very good Hawaiian music station on the AM band. I was able to hear all sorts of Hawaiian steel guitar while driving around Maui.

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Brad's Page of Steel:
www.well.com/~wellvis/steel.html
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Brad...I think you are probably refering to KPOA FM 93.5 in Lahaina, Mau'i. They do play a mostly Hawaiian format all day. In Honolulu, KCCN was once the favorite "All Hawaiian" station, but sadly, management converted it to an all talk/sports format about 2 years ago with very little Hawaiian music, or any music to be heard. The best station in Honolulu for Hawaiian music is KIPO 89.3 FM. Another is KIFO 1380 AM in Pearl City although it is a very weak station which is difficult, if not impossible to pickup in Waikiki.

Of interest: When KCCN was THE Hawaiian station, every year for the past 10 years at least, I recorded their general programming. I now have some 300 tapes of KCCN of which I have usually 15 in each of my 2 cars. We listen to them as we cruise around the city, or drive onto the freeways. Every month or so, I take those 15 back into the house and bring out 15 more. Sure beats listening to the crap heard on daily local radio! I really never tire of listening to these programs over and over. Always enjoyable.

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