LivingTravelMele Mei

Mele Mei

Mele Mei, a month-long celebration of Hawaiian music will be held throughout the month of May through June in Hawaii. The biggest event, however, is the 2016 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (Hawaii GRAMMY® Awards) on Saturday night, May 28, 2016.

This year, in addition to the many events on the island of Oahu, there will also be events on the island of Hawaii (the big island), Kauai, and Maui.

Begun in May 2011, Mele Mei, (literally translated as May Song) is a celebration of Hawaiian music and Hawaiian music in all its wonderful and unique forms. It is presented by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts (HARA), and more than 30 corporate sponsors and partners.

As explained on the festival’s website, “the events capitalize on the global appeal of Hawaiian music to make the state of Hawaii a destination for national and international participants and visitors.”

Highlights of Waikiki 2016 Events

Mele Mei will host more than 40 events, including workshops, live concerts, and award ceremonies throughout Waikiki at various hotels, venues, and the beach from April 10 to June 18, 2016. You can download a full schedule of Mele events. Mei 2016 in Word format.

Included is a series of four weekly Brunch Concerts in Halekulani featuring multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning artists starting Sunday, May 8. The scheduled artists are: Ledward Kaapana (May 8); Kaiao (May 15); Ho’okena (May 22) and Sean Na’auao (May 29).

The Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort will host a huge BBQ and Blues Festival in Honolulu on Saturday June 18 featuring Kalapana and Kahulanui. The event will be held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Great Lawn and tickets can be obtained by calling (808) 949-4321.

Outrigger Hotels and Resorts will host a five-concert series at the Kani Ka Pila Grille starting Sunday May 1 with Blaune Asing and Brother Noland. On May 8 the artists will be Ben & Maila and Nathan Aweau. Ku’uipo Kimikahi and Mailani will perform on May 15. The concert on Sunday May 22 will feature Lehua & Shawn and Kuanna Torres Kahele. The series will conclude on Sunday May 29 with Kupaoa and Maimalua. Each concert will start at 5:00 pm and end around 9:00 pm

On Sunday, May 8, the A Mother’s Love – Ho’okena’s Mother’s Day Concert Brunch will take place in the Hibiscus Room of the Ala Moana Hotel. Artists will include Ho’okena, Robert Cazimero, Albert Maglimat, and Ben & Maila. Doors open at 10:00 am

On Friday, May 27, the Na Hoku Hanohano Music Festival workshops will be held at the MELE Program at Honolulu Community College from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm The workshops will feature individual sessions with award-winning artists Na Hoku Hanohano , clearance key workshops for guitar, ukulele, haku mele and professional development.

The big event for the month, of course, is the 2016 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. The 39th Annual Hawaiian Recording Arts Academy Awards Ceremony and Dinner Show will be held at the Convention Center. from Hawai’i on Saturday, May 28 from 4:00 pm to 10:30 pm Awards will be presented in 31 categories, including Female and Male Vocalist of the Year, Group of the Year, Most Promising Artist of the Year, Single of the Year, Album and song of the year, and the very prestigious favorite artist of the year.

Highlights of the neighboring island 2016

As mentioned above, this year more than ten events will also take place on the neighboring islands of the island of Hawai’i (the big island), Kauai and Maui.

On Friday and Sunday, April 15-17, the 8th Annual Maui Steel Guitar Festival will be held at the Ka’anapali Beach Hotel, Maui. Concerts are free but there is a small charge for steel guitar workshops.

On Friday, May 9, at 7:00 pm, the Cazimero Brothers will perform in concert at the Kahilu Theater in Waimea.

The Ka’u Coffee Festival Ho’olaulea will take place on Saturday May 21 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Pahala Community Center in Pahala. There is no admission charge. Various Hawaiian music artists will appear throughout the day.

In coordination with the Big Island Film Festival, HAPA will perform in concert on Monday, May 30 at 5:00 pm at the Fairmount Orchid on the Kohala Coast. Tickets range from $ 35-50 for adults and $ 5-15 for children.

Friday through Saturday, June 7-18, the Hawaiian Songwriting Festival will be held at the Hapuna Beach Prince Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii. Friday night’s “Hawai’i Night” concert will feature Raiatea, Paula Fuga, Streetlight Cadence, John Cruz and more. Saturday night’s “Hit Makers” concert will feature Brett James, Tom Higgenson (of the Plain White T’s), Gary Burr, Georgia Middleman, Johnny Clay, Alan Rich and more. Both concerts start at 7:00 pm

On Saturday June 18, the Annual Prince Kuhio Celebration will be held at Price Kuhio Park in Hoai Bay on Kauai. The celebration will include a concert with the Royal Hawaiian Band.

A celebration grows

In 2010 I had the privilege of attending the first ever Na Hoku O Hawaii Music Festival, a four-day festival celebrating the music and musicians of Hawaii.

Little did I realize at the time that soon this festival would expand into a month-long celebration of Hawaiian music in all its wonderful forms.

It is a great time of year to be in Hawaii.

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