Featured Musicians
Tavana
Tavana is a one-man wrecking crew from Honolulu, who uses his feet to lay down a variety of grooves while simultaneously playing guitar, banjo, lap steel, or ukulele and singing deep-soulful, island-inspired rock and blues. He has performed and recorded with Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam, Jack Johnson, Henry Kapono, John Cruz, and Leon Mobley (Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals), and has been the supporting act for Alabama Shakes, Shakey Graves, Xavier Rudd, Jenny Lewis, Julian Marley, and Kaleo to name just a few. Tavana is a multi – Nā Hōkū Hanohano nominee.
Uncle Benny Uyetake
Benny Uyetake is a Maui treasure who was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. Influenced by his father, brother, and family friend Jesse Kalima, he began playing the ukulele at 9 years old and the guitar at 10. At an early age, Benny listened to Hawaiian, soul, and rock music of the times which started to shape what would become his musical style. Benny knew he wanted to play music and started his musical studies at Seattle University where he majored in humanities and minored in music with classical training on the guitar. At the same time, he undertook jazz training at Cornish College of the Arts and finally attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music. After his studies, Benny returned home to Hilo where he became the Music Recreational Specialist for Hawaiʻi Islands Parks and Recreations and through Dorothy (Aunty Dott) Thompson he was mentored by two of Hawai‘i’s legends, Edith Kanakaʻole and George Naʻope. In the early 80s, he moved to Maui and became a schoolteacher and musician. Over the years Benny has shared the stage with some of Hawaiʻi’s greatest trailblazers like Uncle Willie K and Barry Flanagan of HAPA, as well as the world’s most talented jazz players Les McCann, Russel Malone, and Donald Harrison.
Andrew Molina
Hawaii-based ukulele virtuoso Andrew Molina proves that the ukulele has no limits. His electrifying performances have captivated audiences worldwide including Austria, China, England, Scotland, Ireland, Tahiti, and of course the U.S.A. His 3 albums have all been nominated for “Ukulele Album of the Year” at the prestigious “Na Hoku Hanohano” music awards, (Hawaii’s version of the Grammy’s) and he has also been featured on the cover of England’s Uke Magazine. His music has also been featured in Hawaiian Airlines and Ocean Vodka video promotions. From sweet Hawaiian sounds to Aerosmith’s “Dream On,” Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “Stairway To Heaven” and even the “Game of Thrones” theme, Andrew along with his dad Jay on bass and guitar proves that anything is possible on the ukulele! He is always looking to take the ukulele to the next level and inspire people of all ages by showing them what is possible on this humble little 4 string instrument. Andrew has also launched the Andrew Molina Ukulele Academy, an online video-based instructional course where students can learn how to become much more proficient on the ukulele while working at their own pace.
Guest Musicians
Taimane
Virtuoso and songwriter, Taimane, is best known for her fierce and inventive style of playing the ukulele helping the hapa Samoan (part caucasian and part indigenous Samoan) artist earn four Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards and garner over 50 million video views and nearly 500,000 social media followers to date. Hailing from a musical Polynesian family including her late mother, Palepa Tauiliili Gardner (Miss Samoa 1978), Taimane’s attraction to the four-string island staple began at age 5. By age 10, she regularly performed in public, busking in Waikiki every Friday night with her father holding down security duties and Waikiki Beach Boys (adults whose home & workplace was the beach) serving as her band. By age 13, Taimane landed a position in Don Ho’s show literally playing in the spotlight every week until Ho’s passing. Fast forward to today, and you have an artist who tours the world and has carved out a unique niche in music – merging a wide array of genres, from Bach to rock, flamenco infernos to tribal hymns, summoning a seemingly limitless palette of emotions via an instrument previously viewed as restricted.
Makana
Makana is an internationally acclaimed Slack Key guitarist, singer, composer, and one of Hawai’i’s cultural ambassadors to the world. A student of Hawaiian slack key guitar master Sonny Chillingworth, Makana has been called “The greatest living player” by Esquire Magazine. The New York Times said he was “A dynamic force.” The Seattle Times called him “Master of the Hawaiian slack-key guitar.” In 2012, he was given the Slack Key Legacy Award at the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards. Makana’s songs have been featured on the Grammy-nominated albums Hawaiian Slack Key Kings, Vol. 1 and 2. His music was featured in the soundtrack for the 2011 film The Descendants. He has performed in venues ranging from Asian and European opera houses to The White House. He has opened for music legends including Sting, Carlos Santana, Elvis Costello, Common, Leon Russell, and No Doubt.
