NUKOLII — “A Legacy of Hawaiian Song and String” with Raiatea Helm and an ensemble of Hawaii’s top musicians, including Ian O’Sullivan, Duane Padilla, Scott Robert Villager, Casey Olsen and Kapono Lopes, will close the 8-week E Kanikapila Kakou series on Monday at the Outrigger Kauai Beach Resort.
In addition to closing the EKK series for 2025, the event is the second of an 8-concert tour that will bring Helm and the ensemble to Maui; Irvine, California; Richmond, Virginia; UC Davis in California; San Francisco; and other locations on the mainland.
“Join us for an extraordinary evening that unites the past and present in a heartfelt celebration of Hawaii’s enduring legacy,” said Carol Yotsuda of the Garden Island Arts Council, host of the EKK series. “Raiatea Helm will present an unforgettable evening showcasing her critically acclaimed album, ‘A Legacy of Hawaiian Song and String,’ a tribute to the troubadours of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.”
Raiatea, accompanied by the ensemble, breathes new life into these timeless compositions, honoring the composers and storytellers who shaped Hawaii’s rich musical history, a press release states.
Raiatea is one of the last keepers of traditional Hawaiian music, setting the standard to ensure the quality and authenticity of this cherished art form are preserved and honored, the release states.
Through her interpretations, she carries forward the legacy of these mele, bringing to life the voices and stories of a once-flourishing nation.
Deeply connected to Hanapepe where her mother is a native, Raiatea was born on Oahu, raised on Molokai, and is a two-time Grammy nominee and multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner. She is known for her clear leo kiekie, or high voice, and her mastery of leo haihai, a uniquely Hawaiian vocal style where the intentional breaking of the voice reflects the deep emotions embedded in the poetry of folk songs.
Joining Raiatea and her ensemble will be Kilin Reece, the founder and executive director of the Kealakai Center for Pacific Strings, whose mission is dedicated to the research, restoration and celebration of Hawaii and the Pacific Region’s enduring legacy in the musical arts.
In addition to donating a steel guitar for the lucky number giveaway, Reece will be sharing in-depth information about the musical instruments played by early troubadours.
Well-versed in Hawaiian music, jazz, popular music and the ukulele, O’Sullivan is the director of guitar/ukulele at Kamehameha Schools Kapalama. He will be leading the ukulele circle before the main performance starts Monday.
Violinist extraordinaire Padilla will share his decades of performance as an orchestral musician, classical chamber musician, recording artist, jazz performer, and opener for jazz giants from the mainland.
Villager is with the Royal Hawaiian Band where he is the principal flute and woodwind specialist, and Olsen has played for many years at the Halekulani Hotel’s House Without A Key, and at various venues throughout Hawaii, Japan and the mainland.
Lopes has Kauai roots with the Kauahi family from the West Side. Presently residing in Kona on the Big Island, Lopes welcomes every opportunity to perform on Kauai with his extended family in the audience.
For more information, or advance ticket sales, visit the Garden Island Arts Council website at www.gardenislandarts.org. The E Kanikapila Kakou series is sponsored by the Outrigger Kauai Beah Resort &Spa, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and Southwest Airlines.
