Croon a Cowboy Tune
by Desiree Mona
Cruz
Bruddah Smitty
Whether you call it Waimea or
Kamuela makes no difference. The breathtaking beauty of this South Kohala
town is legendary. Waimea remains alluring and fresh, cradled between
majestic Mauna Kea to the South and the Kohala Mountains to the northwest.
Steeped in storied Paniolo history, the lush green rolling hills are
as enchanting as ever, dotted with cows and horses, sheep and goats.
Daniel Thiebaut Restaurant, located in the painstakingly restored, century
old Chock In Store in Waimea, invites Waimea residents, Hawai'i Island
kama'aina and malihini to stay awhile and enjoy a laid back, deliciously
lazy Sunday afternoon with the feel good Hawaiian and slack key stylings
of Bruddah Smitty. Local Hawaiian music legend Dennis Kamakahi says
of Smitty, "the voice, the song, and the Hawaiian soul comes only
from those who are nurtured and embraced by Hawaiian music. Bruddah
Smitty is one of the rare few whose talents are rooted in the traditional
Hawaiian way of music. It is the voice of reality, the song of our kupuna
and the pride of being a true son of Hawai'i."
From 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. enjoy scrumptious pupus while taking in
great local entertainment by one of the best Hawaiian voices on the
island. For more information, call 887-2200 or visit DanielThiebaut.com
If your fast-paced life leaves no room for a leisurely Sunday, pick
up Bruddah Smitty's new CD, Only You, available at hawaiianmusicstore.com
Paniolo Music
Celebrating the 160th Anniversary of Parker Ranch, songwriters-professional
and amateur, local or otherwise-are invited to submit entries for the
Parker Ranch-KAPA radio Paniolo Song Contest.
The winning song will be sung and recorded by Waimea's own Ekolu Mea
Nui, featuring Kevin Kealoha, Kunia Galdeira and Grammy Award-winner
Sonny Lim. Ekolu Mea Nui will debut the song live at the Parker Ranch
Rodeo in Waimea on Wednesday, July 4.
From two acres in 1847 to approximately 150,000 acres today, Parker
Ranch embodies a history that rivals any blockbuster Hollywood film
today and makes the paniolo heritage a natural for talented songwriters
to set to music.
Contest judges include KAPA DJ and Na Hoku Hanohano Awards co-creator
Skylark Rossetti, recording artist and renowned Hawaiian musician Braddah
Smitty, and the members of Ekolu Mea Nui.
Basic rules require only that the song includes Hawai'i Island names
and places and that it celebrates the Big Island's paniolo heritage.
Songs should be no more than five minutes long; lyrics may be in English,
Hawaiian or a combination; multiple submissions are permitted. Each
entry should include a CD or tape of the intended melody. Submissions
are due to KAPA radio by May 31, and may be mailed or dropped off at
Pacific Radio Group offices in Hilo or Kona.
Additional contest rules and information are available at KAPAradio.com.
Chamber Music
Hilo Chamber Music Festival executive director Jennifer Tiboris and
artistic director Lutz Rath are delighted to announce their inaugural
season May 25-27. This first annual event will include three performances
at the historic Palace Theater in downtown Hilo, and will feature some
of the Big Island's best musicians as well as special guests from the
Honolulu Symphony Orchestra and from New York.
Featured musicians include violinists Michael Russell and Jennifer Tiboris;
violist Veronica Salas; cellist Lutz Rath; flautist Susanella Nobel,
organist Dwight Beacham and pianist "Quack" Moore.
Tickets are $15 per show, or $35 for all three concerts. Visit or call
934-7010 for more information or visit orchidislemusic.com
Center Stage Dance
Pier Sircello, director of Center Stage Dance Studio, invites the Hilo
community to the studio's Spring Showcase at the Palace Theater on May
20 at 2 p.m. Seemingly tucked into a perfect space, the studio is located
on Kalakaua Street just around the corner from Kalakaua Park, and provides
a full slate of classes including ballet, jazz, modern dance, Pilates
and children's ballroom classes too. Sircello promises "lots of
talent and lots of different kinds of dance." For more info and
class schedules, visit centerstagehilo.com
Aloha a hui hou as the beat goes on…. n
Reach Desiree at islandbeat@hawaiiislandjournal.com.
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