Posted on: Sunday, June 27, 2004

'Ukulele stars tune up for festival

Advertiser Staff

When the 34th annual 'Ukulele Festival unwinds from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on July 25 at Kapi'olani Park bandstand, the popular free summertime music event will have a new title sponsor: Starbucks.

And the Starbucks 'Ukulele Festival will feature some familiar names, including a repeat visit from James Ingram, the Grammy Award-winning rhythm 'n' blues singer, of "Somewhere Out There" fame, who will be accompanied by a 400-member children's 'ukulele band.

Ingram also is known for such hits as "Just Once," "I Don't Have the Heart" and "One Hundred Ways."

Roy Sakuma's 800-piece 'ukulele band will also perform, along with Herb "Ohta-san" Ohta, the Keale 'Ohana, 'Uluwehi Guerrero, Troy Fernandez, Rocky Brown and several out-of-town artists, including James Hill of Canada, Yuji Igarashi of Japan, Kaoru Kohonoike & KK Hawaiian Groove of Japan and the Cerritos Senior 'Ukulele Group of California. Danny Kaleikini is emcee, Roy Sakuma is organizer.

For information, call the Roy Sakuma studio: 732-3739.