Posted on: Friday, April 15, 2005
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Hamakua groups get jazz uplift
By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Columnist
The sugar industry was dying. The future was uncertain. Families were struggling along the lush Hamakua coast. When things got rough in their community, two groups of volunteers stepped up with plans for change.
The North Hawai'i Women and Children's Services was formed by a volunteer board in 1997 with the mission of helping families build better futures for themselves.
The Hamakua Music Festival had a similar mission with a different approach. Volunteer founders of the festival believed that excellent music could inspire optimism in the community. They wanted to bring in visiting artists, offer music lessons to kids, even fund music teacher positions at local public schools. The Hamakua Music Festival began 11 years ago, though its first-ever concert, at Christmas of 1994, looked like it was going to be a bust until the very last minute when crowds started to line up at the ticket window. The festival has been growing ever since.
This Mother's Day, the two community groups are combining forces to offer a special "Great Ladies of Jazz" concert to raise money for both organizations.
On Sunday, May 8, the program will start at 3 p.m. at the Fairmont Orchid Resort Grand Ballroom. The list of performers includes Hoku-winning jazz singer Mihana Souza, the daughter of legendary songwriter and performer Irmgard Aluli. Also taking the stage will be jazz pianist and singer Dena DeRose; Roberta Gambarini, known as a rising jazz star from Italy; and flutist Holly Hofmann.
Holding the event on Mother's Day works thematically on several fronts: The concert is being marketed as a great gift to give mom as part of a weekend Neighbor Island getaway; the performers themselves are mothers and mentors who have dedicated their lives to inspiring musical expression in others; and the mission of both North Hawai'i community organizations is to raise and nurture strong, healthy, well-rounded children and families.
Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.
Programs through NHWCS include a teen pregnancy prevention curriculum offered through local schools, a summertime ocean day camp for elementary school kids and the Hawai'i Student Success Services, which provides individual learning assessments, profiles, and lesson plans for students who need it most.
MOTHER'S DAY CONCERT
