Henry Kapono, Jeff Peterson, Raiatea Helm and Kamuela Kimokeo will share the gift of music—and music education—in a concert at Windward Community College’s Palikū Theatre on December 5, 6–8:30 p.m. The concert will be hosted by Davey D and Mele Apana.
Proceeds from the concert will support the Henry Kapono Music scholarships at Windward CC.
“The Henry Kapono Foundation is committed to making music education accessible, whether it is for teachers who want to use music in their classrooms, parents who want to teach their families music, or those who are seeking a career in music performance,” said Kimokeo, Hawaiʻi Music Institute director. “What better way to demonstrate this commitment than with music!”
Kapono and Kimokeo would often discuss the idea of holding a fundraiser concert for scholarships while backstage at various performances. Kapono finally said, “Enough talking, let’s get to work and make it happen.”
Tickets for the concert are $15 (students), $30 (general) $75 (VIP—special seating, pre-show meet and greet, and photo opportunity with the artist). Tickets for live streaming are also available ($15). A portion of general and VIP tickets are tax-deductible.
Tickets are limited and available at palikutheatre.com.
Hawaiian music studies at Windward CC
Helm and Peterson are among the lineup of professional musicians teaching Hawaiian music at Windward CC. The groundbreaking Kaʻohekani Hawaiian music one-year certificate is taught in a series of eight-week online classes by Kimokeo (Hawaiian music), Kawaikapuokalani Frank Hewett (Hawaiian language, hula/composition), Helm (Hawaiian singing) and Kapena DeLima (digital music production). The academic offering from Windward CC is immersive, accelerated and cohort based.
The Kaʻohekani Hawaiian music online certificate can be applied to an associate of arts degree in liberal arts. For information about Kaʻohekani, visit https://windward.hawaii.edu/programs-of-study/kaohekani/.
Kimokeo teaches ʻukulele and slack key guitar. He also performs with Jerry Santos and his own Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning group Hiʻikua. Hewett is a legendary kumu hula, songwriter and recent judge in the Merrie Monarch hula competition. Peterson is a grammy award-winning slack key guitar master. Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning and grammy nominated Helm is known for her powerful vocals. DeLima is part of the group Kapena and is an award-winning sound engineer and producer.
“This scholarship from the Henry Kapono Foundation will really help students have access to a formal music education while connecting them to our own excellent local talent, many who are legendary Hawaiian music artists,” said Kimokeo.
For more information about music programs at Windward CC, contact Kimokeo at kamuelam@hawaii.edu.