Berger is the editor of the second edition of Hawaiian Music and Musicians, the definitive one-volume 1000-page encyclopedia on Hawaiian music and musicians published by Mutual Publishing in 2012. He is also a Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning liner notes writer.
Berger’s career as an entertainment journalist began in 1972 when he became a full-time contributor to Sunbums, Hawaii’s ‘70s era equivalent to Rolling Stone. An invitation from Kamasami Kong in 1977 to become part of Kong’s radio show was the start of an 18-year career in local radio that included eight years as a member of Michael Qseng’s Morning Maddness Crew on KQMQ. He has also appeared as an entertainment news reporter on local television stations co-promoting the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Jeff Pang, 69, is generous with his produce, and with cuttings from his plants that lucky recipients can transplant in their own gardens. Ask “how-to” questions and he’ll share his knowledge. Read more
Native American residents of the islands will be joined by dancers and musicians from the mainland to celebrate the traditions of their culture. Read more
As a professional musician for 25 years and counting, the ukulele virtuoso has gone from local stardom to international acclaim. Read more
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Welcome to “Mendokusai,” Big Island playwright Eric Stack’s compelling contemporary drama about culture and conflict. The production, which opened Aug. 17, is now playing at the Kumu Kahua Theatre in Honolulu. Read more
Cecilio Rodriguez and Henry Kapono Ka‘aihue played together for the first time at a dinner party in 1973 after a mutual friend suggested that they might like to make music together. Read more
Aipolani credited his sister with introducing him to the music of Jamaican reggae superstar Bob Marley in 1979, and with that, he became a fan of Marley and reggae music. Read more
All proceeds from ticket sales, monetary donations, donations of supplies and nonperishable food items, and proceeds from the silent auction, will go to the Lahaina Keiki Relief Fund. Read more
The Hawaii Symphony Orchestra and a star-studded roster of Hawaii recording artists will be taking the stage Sunday to raise money for relief efforts in the wake of the Maui wildfires. Read more
The Wiwoʻole Maui Benefit Concert is set for Saturday, while Hawaii Theatre will host the Hana Hou Music Festival in September. Read more
The musical, which will open Aug. 25 at KOA Theater, chronicles the lives of the patients through song. Read more
Darren Benitez, Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning falsetto vocalist, died Thursday. He was 57. Read more
Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning entertainer Paula Fuga is donating 100% of the ticket proceeds from her shows at the Blue Note Hawaii this Saturday and Sunday to the Hawaii Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund Read more
‘Growing” is a great title for a record album or a concert tour, but for Paula Fuga it’s a way of life. Growing is what she is doing, personally and professionally, as an entertainer, recording artist and Polynesian businesswoman. Read more
In Hawaii alone, there were more than 20 Japanese publications between 1893 and 1942. Read more
Ron Artis II will never forget his first guitar. Read more
Frederick Ku Kamaka Sr., president of Kamaka Hawaii Inc., the oldest ukulele manufacturing company in Hawaii, died July 23. He was 98. Read more
Growing up is rarely easy for American teenagers even in the best of circumstances. Read more
The festival came about after Roy Sakuma announced in 2022 that he was retiring after 52 years as the founder and producer of the Ukulele Festival Hawaii. Read more
The Hawaii Shakespeare Festival presented its first season in the summer of 2002. Read more
A new year of island theater begins Friday with the Hawaii Shakespeare Festival’s nontraditional production of “Measure for Measure” opening at The Arts at Marks Garage, and KOA presenting “Collective Rage,” the conflicts of five women named Betty. Read more
Imagine a time when Chinese people were considered so unusual that Americans would pay to see a Chinese woman wear traditional attire, eat with chopsticks, sing songs in Cantonese and display her tiny bound feet. Read more
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