KoAloha Ukulele, one of Honolulu’s popular manufacturers of ukulele, has ramped up its ties with emerging stars from the uke universe.
Four strummers — with enviable credits elsewhere — will become the new faces of the Alvin Okami family’s KoAloha brand:
>> Nix, a New York-born YouTube sensation. Her real name is Nicole Tan, and she has become a “player,” thanks to her cover of Nicki Minaj’s “Superbass” hit in 2012. Truly one to watch.
>> Kainoa Kamaka, a Hilo native from a family of performers. He has ties to both the Big Island, where he grew up, and Kauai, where he had a performing career. He strums his uke in San Antonio and the University of Texas, where he is director of the Texas Science and Engineering Fair.
>> Daniel Ward, an ukulele teacher at U-Space and McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Los Angeles. With a growing reputation in such countries as Mexico, China and England, he also is known for his virtuosic command of flamenco and Latin guitar.
>> Kalyn Aolani, a 17-year-old musician from Southern California. The teen has performed here with many Hawaii artists such as the Genoa Keawe ohana, Cyril Pahinui, Jeff Au Hoy, Peter Moon Jr. and Ho‘okena and also played on the mainland with Robert Cazimero, Jerry Santos and Kawika Kahiapo.
“We are very fortunate enough to meet some great people through our trips abroad,” said Paul Okami, senior vice president of KoAloha, whose parents, Alvin and Pat Okami, founded KoAloha. (Paul’s brother Alan also is with the company.)
Of Nix, Paul Okami said, “We discovered her via YouTube and thought she would be a nice fit with our ukulele … and (she) is awesome to work with.”
KoAloha will soon relocate next door to Iolani Sportswear amid the newly developing Kakaako district near Ala Moana Center. The new site will include a factory, currently in Kapalama, plus a showroom for KoAloha artist-partners and other musicians — a likely destination for the lucrative Japanese market. …
NAMES ’N’ FACES: Hollywood director Roland Emmerich (“Independence Day: Resurgence”) and his isle pal Chris Lee, a Honolulu- based producer and director of the University of Hawaii Academy for Creative Media, found time to relax at Sky Waikiki with an entourage that enjoyed the VIP bottle service. …
At the Remember Overflow jazz concert July 1 at the Hawai‘i State Art Museum, sponsored by the Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights, a surprise congratulatory message from President Barack Obama was read by Emme Tomimbang. A poster of the late Jimmy Borges and some of his friends by Friends artist John Nichols also was unveiled.
Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights co-chairwoman Faye Kennedy revealed she signed an agreement with a Los Angeles producer to shop for a movie about the life of her late sister, Flo Kennedy, a civil rights attorney and feminist. Flo represented the estates of jazz legends Billie Holiday and Charlie Parker, to ensure fair treatment following their deaths. …
Dwayne Johnson, currently starring in the film comedy “Central Intelligence” with Kevin Hart and soon to be heard as the voice of Maui the Demigod in Disney’s “Moana” animated feature, is one of a cluster of film notables scheduled to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2017. Others awaiting a sidewalk slot: Amy Adams, Jason Bateman, Goldie Hawn, Chris Pratt, Brett Ratner, Ryan Reynolds, George A. Romero, Mark Ruffalo and Rita Wilson. …
For a lad of 14, Aidan James is swiftly building up his credits. He’ll be the youngest headliner to perform at Blue Note Hawaii when he takes the stage at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Monday at the showroom at the Outrigger Waikiki. He’ll have a young band performing with him, just as he did when he played at the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards in May. His momager (that’s Angela LaPrete, his mom-manager), says James will share songs from his album along with covers, originals and an acoustic set.
Further, he’ll take his show on the road to Turtle Bay Resort’s Surfer, the Bar at 10 p.m. Friday. When he’s back in Honolulu, he’ll be part of Roy Sakuma’s Ukulele Festival on July 17. …
And that’s “Show Biz.” …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com. Read his Show and Tell Hawaii blog at staradvertiser.com.
