“All things ukulele” filled the Kukui Grove Center food court area to overflowing on Sunday where the Ohana Niihau opened the event with the unique Niihau style music.
“This is truly God’s gift,” said Mary Lardizabal, the director of the Kapaa Middle School Choir and Ukulele Band who were on the agenda to perform. “They don’t have time to practice, they do this naturally. It’s truly a gift from God.”
The audience — along with the entourage of vendors, various ukulele-related crafts, and the legacy Niihau shell jewelry and accessories — got an unexpected surprise when award-winning musician Melveen Leed appeared. After borrowing Aldrine Guerrero’s ukulele, Leed joined Kimo Hussey and Ned Dana on stage for a number.
According to Queenie Pezario, who was chaperoning, Leed came to Kauai for the Ke Akua Mana with the Rev. Wayne Vidinha Benefit Luau and Hoolaulea on Saturday.
Following a stop at Tip Top to enjoy Leed’s favorite oxtail soup, she had time to stop by the Ukulele Festival where she met up with Ohana Niihau for some gifts for her grandchildren.
“You know how it is,” Pezario said. “One person recognized her, and then another. The next thing, she’s on the stage doing at least one number for her admirers before we have to be at the airport.”
Guerrero, who doubled as the festival emcee, group leader, and with partner Aaron Nakamura, entertainer, led the audience with a “Beginner Ukulele Lesson” that came with an open invitation for audience members to play along kanikapila style.
The entertainment lineup included a lot of groups like the Poipu/Kalaheo/Westside Ukulele Ohana that are known for their appearances at the Poipu Beach Park and the community centers.
Na Kani Lea with Joanne Parongao and most of their members playing ukulele they created themselves with the help of Pololu Ukulele and Doc. Paul Arrington perform regularly in front of The Storybook Theatre during Friday Night Art in Hanapepe.
Loke Sasil co-directs the Kapaa Middle School musical group with Lardizabal that earned silver at this year’s World Strides Music Festival in Anaheim, California.
The Koloa Center Kupuna Ukulele group, that started with just six kupuna abiding by the COVID-19 guideline of seating 6 feet apart, is now more than 25 members strong and performs for the Garden Island Care in Lihue on the last Friday of the month.
Award-winning ukulele player Guerrero and the AG Ukulele Academy is a group of students that meet in-person for ukulele lessons, and the AG Ukulele Academy previewed the performance by Guerrero and Aaron Nakamura who agreed to perform for the upcoming Koloa Plantation Days hoolaulea in July.
The Kauai Ukulele Festival was presented by Jamba Juice with support from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, The Kanikapila Project, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, AG Ukulele Academy, Kukui Grove Center, Special Events Hawaii, and Kala Foundation.
