'Ukulele festival an international affair

By Zenaida Serrano
Advertiser Staff Writer

That four-stringed wonder takes centerstage once again at the 34th annual 'Ukulele Festival in Kapi'olani Park, with local, Mainland and international performers. Festival-goers can learn how to make an 'ukulele, buy discounted 'ukulele and hear plenty of fun music. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser Starbucks 'Ukulele Festival 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sunday Kapi'olani Park Bandstand Free 732-3739 Also: Copies of "Come and Join Us," a CD single benefitting the festival, will be available for $5 each.

The favorite Island grind was just one of several connections the brothers would make with Hawai'i, a state they had never visited. The other tie?

The 'ukulele.

"Israel Kamakawiwo'ole is my god," said 32-year-old Bret Klesk, who along with his brother Pete, 25, are also huge fans of The Makaha Sons and Kapena.

The Mainland duo, self-taught 'ukulele players, are among the featured performers at Roy Sakuma's Starbucks 34th annual 'Ukulele Festival, Sunday at Kapi'olani Park.

"They are just amazing," said Sakuma, founder of Roy Sakuma 'Ukulele Studio.

The elder Klesk, who began collecting 'ukulele eight years ago, attended an uke festival in New Jersey in 2000 and 2001. That's where he met Hawai'i musicians Bryan Tolentino, Asa Young and Byron Yasui, all of whom sparked the Klesks' interest in playing. Yasui eventually put the Klesks in touch with Sakuma.

"Roy heard us play over the phone, asked us to perform (at the festival) and we were thinking, 'Hope we don't disappoint,' " Bret Klesk said. "We were just blown away."

The 'ukulele festival will also feature Grammy award-winning artist James Ingram (see story on Page 16), who will perform "Come and Join Us at the 'Ukulele Festival," which he and Sakuma wrote together last year. The CD single will be available at the event and proceeds will benefit the nonprofit organization, 'Ukulele Festival Hawai'i.

Local acts Keale 'Ohana, Uluwehi Guerrero and Troy Fernandez will lend their talents to the stage. Visiting artists include the Cerritos Senior 'Ukulele Group of California, James Hill of Canada and Yuji Igarashi and Kaoru Kohonoike & KK Hawaiian Groove of Japan.

All the artists will be on hand to pay homage to the Islands' beloved four-stringed instrument, Sakuma said.

"The 'ukulele is such an important part of the Hawaiian culture," Sakuma said. "You say the word ''ukulele,' and you automatically think of Hawai'i."

But each year, Sakuma highlights his students, including the 7- to 80-year-old strummers of his 800-piece 'ukulele band.

Among them are Karly Williams, 12, and her sister Taylor, 7. The 'Ewa Beach girls are second-generation members of Sakuma's band. Their 38-year-old mother, Kathleen Williams, performed at the annual festival between the ages of 7 and 14.

"I think it's neat," said Kathleen Williams, who was a full-time 'ukulele instructor at Sakuma's Kaimuki studio for 12 years. ... "I think music does a lot for one's soul and I think it's been very healthy for me, so I'd like for my children to have that experience as well."

Musical entertainment aside, there will also be "how to make an 'ukulele" demonstrations, a sale of discounted 'ukulele, food booths and a Starbucks booth offering free four-ounce Frappucinos from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Reach Zenaida Serrano at zserrano@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8174.

Tune celebrates uke tradition

Singer James Ingram will perform the 'Ukulele Festival theme song for the first time at Sunday's performance. Advertiser library photo

He strums a little guitar and has been coaxed to learn to play the 'ukulele by none other than Roy Sakuma, the sparkplug behind Sunday's 'Ukulele Festival. He's not ready to haul out the uke for a performance — yet.

"I've performed, as a singer, at the 'Ukulele Festival, thanks to a (decade-long) friendship with Roy Sakuma," Ingram said in a phone interview. This year, however, will be slightly different: Ingram will have a meaningful tune to share, a co-composition with Sakuma titled "Come and Join Us at the 'Ukulele Festival," which celebrates the uke-strumming tradition and serves as a fund-raiser for the annual event.

"It was my wife, Debbie, who kept on telling me and telling Roy that the festival needed a theme song," said Ingram. "Even only for advertisement, a song made sense, because it was something you do once and use over and over and over again."

When Ingram was last in Hawai'i last fall, to perform with the Honolulu Symphony Pops, that goal of writing and recording a theme song was realized.

"My wife really set it up," said Ingram. "We're going to Hawai'i and you're going to write a song," she encouraged him.

And for the first time this Sunday, the tune receives its premiere live performance before thousands who'll gather and share and applaud the joys of the uke.

"It wasn't that hard to do," said Ingram. "We went to Roy's studio, his office, and played piano and 'ukulele, banging around an idea or two. Before we left, we had a nice melody. Then we finished it."

"It's just wonderful, what James is doing for the ('ukulele) kids," said Sakuma. Sales of the single will benefit the festival, a performance outlet for Sakuma's 'ukulele students. "He wanted to do something for the kids; and I helped get the Kamehameha Children's Choir. I was floored (by his generosity)."

Sakuma first met Ingram a decade ago at the track field at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, where Ingram had been working out. The singer was in town for the Pro Bowl; only when Sakuma saw the football halftime show, with the performing Ingram, did he realize he had met a music-industry big-wig.

"I just didn't know who he was at the time," said Sakuma.

Ingram recalls the 'ukulele when he was growing up. "I used to see Hawaiian entertainers with it," he said. "I thought it was a guitar at first, but found out later it was much smaller, with four strings."

On earlier visits to the Islands, Ingram remembers a number of local performers who played the uke or always had one in the combo or band.

"It's at the heart of Island music," he said.

As a tribute to his local pal Sakuma, Ingram took the liberty of including Sakuma's name in the lyrics.

The words express the joy of the uke and how its spirit permeates Island life "where the magic is in the music and the love that we share."

Because he no longer is bound to a record label, Ingram is a free agent who can decide what he wants to do and when.

"There's none of that slave/master thing of the past; I've owned my own label the last four years," he said. And the CD single of the uke tune has been released on Intering Records, a partnership between Sakuma and Ingram.

Sakuma's Roy Sakuma Productions produced the session, which features Jiaya Ingram, 9-year-old daughter of the singer, along with the Kamehameha Schools Children's Choir, directed by Lynell Bright. 'Ukulele and guitar virtuoso Daniel Ho also participated in the session.

Shimabukuro shows he's unparalleled on 'ukulele

Renowned 'ukulele player Jake Shimabukuro, who has released his first DVD, is off to Japan as part of his mammoth summer tour. Advertiser library photo

It's too bad he's not in town for Sunday's Starbucks 'Ukulele Festival — he's off to Japan, continuing his mammoth summer tour — but we caught up with him before his departure, when he had a brief breather between trips (he was on the Mainland for a tour with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones as well as a series of solo gigs).

Here's what he had to say:

On a big turn-on: "Near the end of my Mainland tour, which ended in New York, I was totally blown away; I got to perform with Les Paul, a huge inspiration when I was growing up, and it was totally unexpected." (Paul, of Les Paul and Mary Ford fame, is a noted guitarist).

On his trepidation over performing abroad: "I cannot believe the appreciation and acceptance of the uke in the places I performed. I was a bit hesitant in Kansas, Nebraska and Maryland, where you'd never think they'd be familiar with the instrument. But after the show, the folks came up to say how they really enjoyed the show — which built up my confidence. A lot of people thought of it as a novelty, you know, Tiny Tim; but after experiencing my performance, they see the potential and unlimited possibilities."

On his pending itinerary: "I'll be in Japan through Aug. 15, then go straight to Florida (Tampa and Ft. Lauderdale). I come home briefly, then leave for a West Coast tour — Seattle, California. It's busy, and I'm having such a good time."

On his regimen: "I try to get a lot of rest, drink a lot of water, take advice from family and friends. What I regret is that I no longer have time (to teach) classes; I haven't done that in a couple of years, and I thank my younger brother (Bruce), who's taken over."

On why the 'ukulele is appealing: "It's such an inviting instrument; small, not intimidating. And it's also Hawai'i; I mean, it has so many positives — you hear the uke and think of our weather, our beaches, the sun. And it's so much fun to play, it's part of me now. I used to tour with one; now, I travel with two. And yes, I hand-carry on the planes."

On what he misses while on the road: "Plate lunches from Rainbow Drive In; I go there first after I come home. Then Lanikai Beach. Then Kapi'olani Park. I really miss those things."