'Ukulele fest performers two of a kind — almost

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

•

'Ukulele Festival Presented by Appliance Parts Co. 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sunday Kapi'olani Park Bandstand Free 732-3739 Featuring: Ohta-san, Kilinahe, Ernie Cruz Jr., Keoki Kahumoku and Herb Ohta Jr., Lyle Ritz, Jim Beloff, Kazuyuki Sekiguchi and Iwao Yamaguchi from Japan, Nihon Ukulele Association, Samoan Ukulele Group from Japan, Langley Ukulele Ensemble from Canada, and Roy Sakuma's 800-piece 'Ukulele Band Also coming up Besides Sunday's 'Ukulele Festival at Kapi'olani Park Bandstand, there are several other uke events over the next few days: 'Ukulele wizards Lyle Ritz and Herb Ohta will be joined by Jim Beloff, a Mainland master, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center's Hibiscus Court Stage. The appearances, coordinated by the Ukulele House, coincides with the publication of "Jumpin' Jim's Ukulele Masters: Lyle Ritz Solos" and "Jumpin' Jim's Ukulele Masters: Herb Ohta" books/CDs, which will be available for purchase and signing. "Ukulele! The Legend Continues" concert at 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at The Royal Hawaiian hotel's Monarch Room, is a Honolulu Rotary Club presentation, hosted by Brickwood Galuteria, and featuring stylists Herb Ohta, the Langley Ukulele Ensemble and James Hill from Canada, Herb Ohta Jr. and Kazuyuki Sekiguchi and Iwao Yamaguchi from Japan. $25, includes two drinks. Doors open at 7 p.m. 923-7311.

For starters, they just released a "duo" CD, "Treasures of Aloha," on which the pair share some of their favorite island music.

They're both 31.

They both have famous musician fathers. Keoki's is George "Keoki" Kahumoku, a master singer, composer, guitarist and story-teller; Ohta's is Herb "Ohta-san" Ohta, the undisputed wizard who helped popularize the 'ukulele as a solo instrument.

And they will perform together — Kahumoku on slack-key guitar, Ohta Jr. on 'ukulele — at Sunday's Appliance Parts 'Ukulele Festival at the Kapi'olani Park Bandstand.

"I also think we have the same passion for music — and sharing of that music," said Ohta. "I used to play music in a band that did contemporary music, but when I met Keoki, it was my out — he got me into Hawaiian music, making it No. 1 on my list. I've never played music with anyone quite like him. He has so much expression, so much emotion in what he does."

But there are differences in their musical profiles, too.

Kahumoku is married and has two children; Ohta is single.

"He'd better hurry up and get married and have kids, so my kids have playmates," quipped Kahumoku.

Kahumoku lives on Maui but also spends time on the Big Island. Ohta lives on O'ahu.

"Basically, I do most of the singing, and I play ki ho'alu," said Kahumoku, who turns 32 in September.

"I guess I'm more like my dad — I do play from my heart, but (on stage) I'm the same way as my father ... a little stagnant," Ohta said of his general restraint. "I mean, I let my playing express how I feel; Keoki's the one who does all the waving, the dancing, the story-telling."

"We do have a love for Hawaiian music," said Kahumoku. "I play the old style; Herb is on the cutting edge of 'ukulele-playing. He makes traditional Hawaiian music more appealing to the new generation of listeners. And of course, he's a master, like his dad."

The new CD, on 'Ukulele Festival organizer Roy Sakuma's Roy Sakuma Productions label, was recorded to coincide with the annual event, which draws thousands of young and old strummers and fans to Kapi'olani Park.

Sakuma said that younger talent like Kahumoku and Ohta Jr. have already made an imprint, and the 'ukulele also has become "the" instrument in Japan.

One of Japan's top stars, Kazuyuki Sekiguchi, who will be at the festival, also is part of the reason, said Sakuma.

"He's a member of the Southern All-Stars, a Top 20 group for the past 20 years, and he plays bass with the band and is called Muku-chan by his fans.

"He's taken a fascination to the 'ukulele and recorded a uke album. He got the young people of Japan involved with the uke, too. His biggest hit was 'Tsunami,' which Herb Ohta Jr. recorded, and it was No. 1 in Japan. When I went to Japan and did a uke workshop there, he showed up and introduced himself. We invited him to come over for the festival, and he's doing that. On a whim, I called Japan radio stations to mention that he was coming, and they responded so fast, with interviews. He's really big."

Both Kahumoku and Ohta acknowledge that their fathers have been trail blazers in island music.

"My dad paved the way for me," said Kahumoku. "I've met great artists and people in the biz, so I've never had to go through some of the troubles he went through trying to get established. That's why I believe in sharing my passion for music through my recordings and teaching."

"His dad is a hustler," Ohta said of the elder Kahumoku. "He got us a Lincoln Center gig, so we're playing there shortly. As for me and my dad, I think I've been doing this long enough to separate myself from comparisons. It's too much stress to worry about it, but when I hear myself play (on tape or recordings), I do hear my father in me. I think Keoki goes through the same thing, but we have to move ahead with our own careers and forget comparisons."

Kahumoku never imagined a career in music, even if he was surrounded by it, small-kid time.

"I thought my life would be in farming, or working construction," he said. "I did the 4-H livestock thing. But my first experience with Hawaiian music was awesome, when I went with my dad when he was working on Edith Kanaka'ole's last album. For most of my life, I listened to pop, rock, heavy metal ... until I was 19. Then I came back to Hawaiian music, listening to Eddie Kamae's Sons of Hawai'i, Kahauanu Lake Trio, Genoa Keawe."

Ohta is looking forward to his second appearance on the 'uke fest bill. "I played with the kids for the first time last year, and it was such a treat ... 800 kids strumming together."

"Chicken skin," Kahumoku said of that magical en-masse moment.