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Topic: Alan Akaka's 4th annual Waikiki steel show - July 20th |
Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 22 Jun 2013 12:06 pm |
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I can't find a link for info or remember it's proper title but the show will be from noon to around 5pm on Lewers St. fronting the Outrigger Hotel and should be another good one. Alan and his students, plus Bobby Ingano will be there, probably Greg Sardinha, but who else? It's the best gathering we have now representing Hawaiian steel guitar in Hawaii and the later starting time will help in summer heat relief.
Be there!
5-0 |
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Don Kona Woods
From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
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Posted 22 Jun 2013 11:12 pm
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The name of the event is the Waikiki Beach Walk Hawaiian Steel Guitar Hoolaulea.
Are you kidding, Ron? The noon to around 5pm time should provide some very hot, humid conditions. But some relief could come via the Pacific Trade Winds as long as you stay in the shade. Auwe!
It should be a great show!! |
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Jack Aldrich
From:
Washington, USA
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Posted 23 Jun 2013 10:57 am
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Rats! I won't be on Oahu until 1 August.
_________________
Jack Aldrich
Carter & ShoBud D10's
D8 & T8 Stringmaster
Rickenbacher B6
3 Resonator guitars
Asher Alan Akaka Special SN 6
Canopus D8 |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 23 Jun 2013 3:38 pm
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I never kid around about the sun, Don.
At least it won't be completely during the hottest hours of 10am onward like the last years. It got brutal at times, this will give some afternoon shade nearer the shops. |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 12 Jul 2013 6:46 pm
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| Casey Olsen is said to be included. |
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Don Kona Woods
From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
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Posted 14 Jul 2013 8:51 pm
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Mark Prucha will be playing also. He is Alan's student. Has been taking lessons for two years. Already he is a very accomplished steel guitarist with a lot of natural God-given talent.
He just finished playing at the Aloha International Steel Guitar Convention in Winchester.
He was amazing and already sounds very professional. In fact, he is now playing professionally at the Tiki Terrace in Des Plaines, near Chicago.
Go hear him and you will see what I am talking about, Ron! It is coming up this week. |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 16 Jul 2013 3:33 pm
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| While I'm deffinitely not looking forward to more students sucking up valuable air at the last steel event worth bothering with on Oahu, Don, I'll check him out and report back. |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 16 Jul 2013 4:21 pm
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| Mark Prucha will blow your socks off ... He's the total package !!! |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 16 Jul 2013 4:58 pm
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| If he's the kid I saw a few years back that held so much promise then I'll be looking forward to what he's become. He was leading Alan's pack and I've not seen another who was close. |
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Don Kona Woods
From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
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Posted 16 Jul 2013 9:22 pm
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| Ron, the student that you have identified will not be the student. Mark Prucha has only been playing two years. However, do not let this fool you. This young man is very gifted and he is already a seasoned player. For example, he played Whispering Lullaby at Winchester for his second performance number. How many steel guitarist would tackle that song in the second year of their playing? Additionally, he played some very fast picking old Hawaiian numbers in the old style. He is well advanced even arranging his own songs. It is amazing. Make sure you go and hear him. You will not be wasting your time. |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 18 Jul 2013 2:21 pm
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| Sound's promising, Don, I'm still trying to get a clean runthru of Whispering Lullaby. I recalled the other kid's name and have already reforgotten it, good there's another filling his shoes. 2 days to go! |
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Wally Pfeifer
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 19 Jul 2013 6:59 am
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 Ron,--do try to make it to the Beachwalk thing. You WILL NOT be disappointed with Mark's playing. As Don said,- I agree 100%.
He did some terrific playing at Winchester.
Call Frank & Donna and tell them to be there, too.
I didn't realize that Mark would be in Hawaii at this time or I would have told Frank when I talked to him last Wednesday evening. He said he had seen you a couple times where Jeff plays.
 Wally |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 19 Jul 2013 4:15 pm
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I'll go, Wally, if just to break his fingers like I forgot to with Jeff.
FnD should be there, it's the only game in town except for Jeff AND HIS NEW QUILTER AMP. |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 20 Jul 2013 12:41 pm
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http://www.honolulupulse.com/2013/07/hawaiian-steel-guitar-festival-2013/
Today's article sez things kick off much later than I noted, it'll start around 3pm and I dbl. checked w/Bobby, meaning plenty of shade for all, but no seating so bring something other than your butt. I hope Alan, Casey, and Greg will bring their frypans/Bakelites instead of whatever else. |
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David Soreff
From:
North Las Vegas, NV
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Posted 20 Jul 2013 1:42 pm
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If past performance is an indication, Alan will have his D8 Canopus, Casey might have his frypan, (Billy Hew Len's old one) and Greg will have his Chandler. But I have been wrong frequently.  Enjoy the show...wish I could get over there today. |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 20 Jul 2013 2:00 pm
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Vog and frog doesn't equal a steel ho'olaule'a, David, but at least you're in Hawaii. I'm guessing Casey will have his Canopus single, as usual.
Side note; very often Gary Aiko backs up steelers on bass, and he has just been honored with an Hawaiian Music Lifetime Achievement Award. Gary was the first male vocalist to ever win a Na Hoku Hanohano Award (Hawaiian Grammy), back in the days when they were called the Nani Awards, he melds emotions with his deep, silky baritone singing, and superb ukulele playing. Gary began his professional career in 1957 as a singer performing four shows a night at the Waikiki Sands Restaurant. He soon joined the band at Honey's, playing upright bass behind Don Ho, Sonny Chillingworth, Kui Lee, and an occasional Gabby Pahinui. He went on to become an internationally touring singer, with engagements from Brazil to Hong Kong and New York's Carnegie Hall. Currently a solo singer with the Honolulu City and County Royal Hawaiian Band since 2004, Gary also performs weekly at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort. He is the eldest son of the great Genoa Keawe, and has backed most all of Hawaii's Golden Era musicians since the '50s.
I hope Gary is there today to congratulate for his considerable addition to Hawaii's music and acknowledgement. |
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Wally Pfeifer
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 21 Jul 2013 10:34 am
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Hey, Ron,- was I right or was I right?? I know you were there since I was talking to Frank & Donna as the show was going on. In fact, I got to listen to Casey a little bit. Frank said you had been talking to him but had disappeared.
Told Frank to tell you all "Hello".
Wally
P.S. Ed Punua and Mark Prucha will be in Joliet in
October. See www.hsga.org |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 21 Jul 2013 1:23 pm
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oh oh, my cover's been blown! Here, I thot FnD were my friends... When The sun went away I moved down next to them and we had a fine time.
Mark acquitted himself well, Wally, and even tho he got little play time it's obvious he's on his way, plus his dad said all the right things as I talked to him afterwards, a very proud papa. In fact, all of Alan's kids did well, and this is the first time I've been able to say that, so overall I was pretty happy with the new breeds. A few names were Quincy Mataawawa(?), Sidney Pang, and a girl with the last name Ching, but the best was Genoa Keawe's great grandaughter, VERY young (like 9) and yet she already has the stage presence and command as learned from her Mom, Mandi, to truly capture an audience, and that she can actually play the steel well enuf after only 2 months of teachings lends a ton of hope for the future of steel. I hope somebody has video of her yesterday, she's already a star.
As for the old futs, Casey busted out a vintage Excel as seen in the pic from another thread, and his tone was Jerry Byrd perfect. Seeing his Dad, Hiram, backing him as usual and still in fine form was quite nice. Greg Sardinha had a black refin Fender 6, instead of the Chandler as another nice suprise. Bobby was Bobby, Jeff was Jeff, both backed by Kaipo Ah Sing and Gary Aiko in typically awesome form. Alan played better than I've heard him in a long while, and has his event gaining in stature and enjoyment every year. It has me anxious to video next years event which I'm extremely happy to say may well have an all Rickenbacher theme. Alan picked up on my suggestion and he knows most all the name players have frypans and/or Bakelites collecting dust as well as many of the younger players who now know about their qualities, so fingers crossed for an exceptional 5th annual show. Congrats to all involved, well done! |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 21 Jul 2013 3:04 pm
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| How could I forget Timi Abrigo?! The young man really brought the goods yesterday, the best I've heard him yet, and those that have heard him know that's saying a lot, he's making his late teacher, Ronald Kanahele, very proud. The family has become Hawaii's reining family of the backyard style/Rogers family jams with all the kids growing up and into their respective rolls now with their Mom on bass, it's fun watching them become something rather special. |
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Don Kona Woods
From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
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Posted 21 Jul 2013 3:59 pm
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| Quote: |
| Mark acquitted himself well, Wally, and even tho he got little play time it's obvious he's on his way.... |
If Mark got little playing time then you cannot begin to appreciated the breath or depth of his talent. You may need to check him out further at the Marriott on Thursday with Alan. I am sure that Alan will give him more playing time.
I am so sad that you did not videotape this years event.  |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 21 Jul 2013 4:23 pm
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I think I'm dialed into his abilities from the little I saw, he displayed many virtues but no doubt has more up his sleeve and will keep learning, he's obviously into it, and that's the key.
| Don Kona Woods wrote: |
| I am so sad that you did not videotape this years event. |
Well, a million times bitten, twice shy. After a decade+ of bad steel guitar at every turn I'm more than a bit disillusioned with what will be featured at any event. Thankfully, Alan's venture is paying dividends that are inspiring, now I'll be anticipating good steel again and make use of a nice cam so you too can enjoy what's happening, Don. This year wasn't without it's glitches but I think next year's show will be well worth the effort to video. By then I'll have a much needed tripod and the tech experience to make it worthwhile. Stay tuned! |
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Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
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Posted 22 Jul 2013 5:11 am
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| Mark is phenomenal! I only wish we got to hear a full set of him (he played a fantastic rendition of "Honolulu March" and took a handful of swinging "horn" solos during the ending jam). He plays with the tone, precision and sensitivity of the old masters. Can't wait to hear more of him! |
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