After a full-day of festival festivities, there was a full-on Hawaiian lû`au with entertainment -- hula by Nâ Wahine Nani o ka Hui o Nâ Kûpuna to the music of the Da' Hawai`i Club musicians, followed by a concert featuring King Kukulele, Jim Beloff , Uncle Henry "Kalana" Kamae, Hâlau Kau `Ike `O Lani, and the legendary Bill Tapia.

Through it all, Susan's smile and good nature never left her.

Wilma with her walkie-talkie made sure that the crowds remained ruly.

 There were no riots, no melées.  No `ukulele bashes.

Fely, along with Hilda, served as Chairs of the Lû`au and the Arts and Crafts Committee.

Al Chun served as the festival's  Treasurer/Accountant.

George and Meiling served as Da' Hawai`i Club representatives.

 While Ellen and Max manned the sound board, Karl's brother took care of the mics onstage.  He got lots of exercise.

Liz and Dick were among the first festival participants to arrive.  That Dick has the coolest T-shirts.

Dr. Ellen Chen and Janice checked out the goods at the vendors' booths. Chairs of the Vendors Committee were B.J. and Guy Forrest.  The booths provided unlimited temptations for these `ukulele lovers.

As far as the eye could see, there was a sea of  festival participants.  

Most of them had two things on their minds: `ukulele and their Aloha for it. A few of us had Spam musubi on ours.

The `Ukulele Guys: Dick, Al and Cal.  

They attended the workshops.  They listened.  They learned. They were inspired by 94-year old Bill "Tappy" Tapia.  The light bulbs went off in their minds. If they live as long as Bill, why, they've only just begun with YEARS of `ukulele enjoyment ahead of them. "May as well get good at it," they thought.

The master of the `ukulele, Ohta San, now has some serious competition.

Ken and Helene

Behind every great woman is a great man.
 ~ Italian proverb

Hilda, D, Liz and Meiling

Hotcha babes.

Ken talking story with Uncle Henry Kamae:
"So wot, you going geev me yo' uke o wot?"

Richard the Bassist 
with Chika Nagata's Band

Hotcha dude.

Giving credit where credit is due: Most of the following biographical information on the Da' Hawai`i Club concert stage entertainers and workshop leaders, collected and compiled by Susan McCormick, came straight from the Festival's extensive program.

Pas and Lolly

Pas was born on Maui and raised on the North Shore, O`ahu. Playing since 7, he performed on the radio stations KGMB in Honolulu and KTOH on Kaua`i with his brothers. He plays all kinds of music, entirely by ear.  His wife, Lolly, accompanies him as percussionist.

Max and His Golden Strummers of Da' Hawai`i Club:
George, Meiling, Pat, Evelyn, Fely, Hilda and Max

Performing for 5 years, the group plays Hawaiian, Asian, children, religious and Tin Pan Alley music. Their performances include vocals, instrumentals on guitar and `ukulele, hula, line and party dances.

Terry: Slack Key Guitar Workshop

Terry was born and raised on the island of Hawai`i; he is a professor at Cal Poly University. 

His Grandpa Bill was a guitar player, as is his father.  He has been playing `ukulele since he was a kid; guitar, from his teen years. He began playing kî hô`alu (slack key guitar) during the Hawaiian Renaissance in the early 1970s. 

Terry's  favorite slack key guitarists are his mentors-kumu kîkâ, Keola Beamer and Ledward Ka`apana.  

Helene:  
Beginning & Intermediate Hula Workshops

Born on Maui; as a child, studied under kumu hula, Auntie Lum Ho. Later, she studied under kumu hula Emma Kapi`olani Farden Sharpe at the University of Hawai`i, Mânoa. Studied with others on the mainland. She danced with a hula troupe that entertained U.S. troops on Maui and in Indiana while she attended college there.  

Helene danced and taught hula to children while in Indiana and California.  A retired school teacher, she now teaches hula to seniors on a volunteer basis  -- from a heart of Aloha.

Darleen : Beginning Hula & Hula Implements Workshops

Darleen is known for her graceful, flowing movements in the hula.  

She has also taught classes in Hula-cise.

Pete :  Hawaiian Steel Guitar Workshop

Pete's career goes back 48 years and started on the island of O`ahu.  He specializes in playing traditional Hawaiian instrumental music on the `ukulele, slack key and steel guitars. 

Some of his major appearances include: Lilo and Stitch at the Red Carpet and El Capitan Theatre, Secretaries' Day at Disney's Burbank Studio, annual Ho`olaule`a in Gardena, performer at the annual Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association convention, May Day Program at Kapi`olani Park, Honolulu, and the Cerritos Performing Arts Center. >> More info on Pete

Meiling and Hilda :  Arts & Crafts Workshop - Fabric Lei

Both Meiling and Hilda are from Hawai`i.  Proficient in many of the handicrafts of the islands, they demonstrated the making of a fabric lei, one that remains lovely with time. 

Eric : Hula Kâne Workshop

An extraordinary individual who caters lû`au, including this festival's (which was so `ono and generous in its portions!), sings, plays music and teaches hula kâne (men's hula). Originally from the island of Hawai`i, Eric is fluent in Hawaiian.  

He sings  and plays music for any kind of celebration.  He plays regularly during brunch at Duke's at Huntington Beach.

That's BU with the `ukulele.  Look for him in 2003! He has one of the best `ukulele web sites:  Bradda BU's `Ukulele Heaven.  A labor of Aloha for the `ukulele. 

To see (many) more pictures of the `Ukulele Festival, 
including the vendors, entertainers and the crowd,
check out the album:

Photo Album:  1st Annual Southern California `Ukulele Festival

 I suggest using the slideshow option.

To bring together people from different communities and cultures to promote and foster friendship and the spirit of unity among all people by promoting the exchange of information through music, workshops, songs, dances, arts and crafts, entertainment and cultural demonstrations.