Kaapana awarded National Heritage honor

Master slack-key guitarist Ledward Kaapana was honored Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol by U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka, D-Hawaii, and U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, when he received the 2011 National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Fellowship Award, which comes with a $25,000 prize.

At the ceremony, Hirono said, "Hawaii is rich in musical heritage, culture and talent, and Ledward Kaapana exemplifies the finest we have. For more than four decades, Led has brought great joy to so many lives with his musical talents and his fun-loving sense of humor. Through his teaching, he’s shared the sounds of Hawaii with a new generation of people around the world."

The NEA National Heritage Fellowship Awards recognize recipients’ artistic excellence and continuing contributions to the country’s traditional arts heritage.

The Kalapana native joins a prestigious group of previous recipients from Hawaii, including Eddie Kamae (2007), George Naope (2006), Kaupena Wong (2005), Genoa Keawe (2000), Sol and Richard Hoopii (1996), sisters Nalani and Pualani Kanakaole (1993), Clyde "Kindy" Sproat (1988), Raymond Kane (1987) and Emily Kaui Zuttermeister (1984).

Singer McKnight making isle appearances

R&B singer Brian McKnight is returning to the islands for a couple of concerts, Nov. 3 at the Blaisdell Concert Hall and Nov. 4 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater.

McKnight last performed on Oahu Feb. 14, 2010.

The singer recently released his 14th album, "Just Me." He will be joined onstage by his brother, Claude McKnight of the vocal group Take 6, and sons BJ and Niko, also known as BRKN RBTZ (Broken Robots).

Tickets are $45, $55 and $65 for both venues. Buy them for the Honolulu concert at the Blaisdell Center box office, Ticketmaster outlets at Walmart stores and the Sports Gear Warehouse in Windward Mall; charge by phone at 800-745-3000 or online at ticketmaster.com. Tickets for the Maui show are on sale at the MACC box office; charge by phone at 242-SHOW (7469) or online at mauiarts.org.

IONA turns to ‘Quetzalcoatl’ for fundraiser

"The Return of Quetzalcoatl" will be the theme of the annual fundraising banquet for IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre Oct. 8 at the Sheraton Waikiki’s Helumoa Pool.

IONA, an innovative dance group that fuses Eastern and Western dance traditions, will present a program with more than 30 dancers, a living fountain, tumblers and other characters based on the legend of Quetzalcoatl, a half-man, half-serpent who developed mathematics and the Mayan calendar. Prophecies say he is supposed to return to Earth in 2012.

The menu featuring Latin-themed food such as ceviche, mole and cornmeal churros was created by Sheraton Waikiki senior executive sous-chef Colin Hazama, a semifinalist for the James Beard Rising Chef Award. The event starts at 6 p.m., with a silent auction at 7 p.m. Single tickets are $250 per person; sponsor tables are available for $2,000, $3,000 and $10,000. Tickets are tax-deductible. Call 262-0110 or visit iona360.com for information.