It’s been quite a busy — and successful — year for local singer Anuhea Jenkins. She’s already been to the mainland on tour once, attended the annual South by Southwest Music Festival for the second straight year and taken home two Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for her self-titled debut album.

Next month she’ll hit the road again, this time as the Hawaii representative on the Resin Music Surf Roots Tour 2010 alongside San Diego’s Stranger and Australian band Tamarama. Backed by local reggae band the Green, she’ll kick things off July 21 at the Roxy in Los Angeles before spending time performing up and down the Southern California coast. After stops in San Francisco on July 30 and Lake Tahoe on July 31, the tour will continue in Oregon, Washington state, Idaho, Utah, Colorado and Arizona before wrapping up in Las Vegas on Aug. 15.

"We’re still pushing as hard as we can," Jenkins said earlier this week. "I’m going to try and breathe some new life into my originals, and I’m gonna try a couple of covers that I wanted to learn."

Jenkins is on Kauai today to perform at the Green’s CD release party; she’ll be back on Oahu tomorrow for appearances at a benefit concert in Waimea Valley (7:30 to 8:30 p.m.) and the 50th State Fair (9 to 10 p.m.). Visit www.anu heajams.com for more …

THREE DIFFERENT ohana on Oahu are still hurting following the loss of Walter "High Chief XL" Saole this month.

Saole, 37, who worked since 2002 as a bouncer at Ala Moana Center’s Mai Tai Bar in addition to serving as a counselor at Kaimuki High School, died suddenly on June 9. His passing was a shock to co-workers at the bar, according to general manager Francine Cekada.

"I still can’t think about it too much right now," she said on Monday. "Everybody just loved him. He had such the best way of looking at things."

In an effort to help ease the financial burden on his family, staff at the Mai Tai Bar donated all tips collected during the course of business June 16. The fundraiser got a boost that night when Nesian N.I.N.E., Hot Rain and Kawao headlined a full lineup of music at the bar where Saole would program the music played between sets.

"We raised $16,150 that day for his family," said Cekada. "All the bands that came and played did it for Walter. … We had the backline donated, and all the bands donated their time. So many customers called here to pay their respects, too."

For this columnist, my fondest memories of Saole come from the Hawaii hip-hop scene. The Aiga Family member was one of the most talented local MCs I knew, with a flow reminiscent of classic Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E., yet still rooted in Hawaiian culture. He was also one of the nicest, most respectful bouncers I have ever come across while covering Clubland, and the insight he would provide late at night while cruising outside a venue was always something I could count on to provide another perspective, both professionally and personally. Rest easy, my friend …

In the Mix drops Fridays in TGIF. Contact Jason Genegabus by e-mail at jgenegabus@staradvertiser.com or phone at 529-4766. Check out TGIF on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TGIF808.