Kenneth Makuakāne

Main Stage
Sunday May 6, 12:00 pm
Performing in the Singer-Songwriter showcase with five news songs of Honolulu

Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities Pavilion
Sunday May 6, 3:00 pm
Discussing the future of music in Hawai‘i with John Berger and Jerry Brocklehurst

Title of latest album: Ukulele Island

Genre: Hawaii; ‘ukulele
Makuakane Music Corporation ; 2012
iTunes; $9.90

Reviews:

In a time of change, it is important that each of us do our part to help bring it about. However, for the change to be truly effective, we must bring with us the values and importance of our individual families and cultures to share with others.

The latest CD Release entitled “The Dash” – that which appears between the year you were born and the year you pass on, your life and what you do with it.  In the words of Albert Pine, “What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.”  To know and work with Kenneth is to know that he and his work will live on.

For me, meeting Kenneth for the first time was like meeting Barry Manilow. Remember when Manilow was first introduced to national television?  No one knew who he was, but they certainly knew the songs he wrote. This album is a reflection of Kenneth’s work; old songs written by him and recorded by others, and new contemporary works from Traditional Hawaiian to an Island Groove.

My favorites?  Well, there are many.  I love the more traditional “Ku‘u Pua Lei Mēlia” and driving “Ka Napoleona O Ka Pakipika” taking us back to the day.  Then there are golden hits “Sway it Hula Girl” and “Okie Dokie Mākou.”  I’m drawn to the lyric of the more contemporary “So Free and Just Like Me.”

Whatever you call this “live” recording; a leap of faith, a departure, new direction, it will be like inviting songwriter, and musician extraordinaire Kenneth Makuakāne into your living room for a lush, up close and personal, musical experience.

Kenneth Makuakāne is not just an internationally known music artist, he is a gift of insights that reminds and brings us back to what is truly important to us; our families and friends and the passions in our lives.

– Jim Uyeda

Kenneth Makuakāne has been most visible in recent years as a producer of other local artists. “The White Bathtub” is a welcome return to the performer’s spotlight that displays both his imagination as a composer and his talent as a modern Hawaiian recording artist.

– John Berger, Star Bulletin

After spending years composing and producing albums for other artists, Kenneth Makuakāne is releasing his own solo project. It’s a dream come true for Makuakāne, who explains it was only possible with the constant urging of a loved one, and thanks to those who are living and those who have passed.

– Melissa Moniz, Midweek

Kenneth Makuakāne  is recognized as a successful innovator in producing and recording Hawaiian music. He has over one hundred albums to his producing credits, working with artists such as the Brothers Cazimero, Na Leo, Kapena, Hapa, Amy Hānaiali‘i Gilliom, Raiatea Helm, Obrian Eselu, Jeff Rasmussen, Loyal Garner and Gary Haleamau, as well as international artists from Japan like Yuri Chika and Yuki Miyamae. He performs with the multi-award winning group The Pandanus Club, composing, engineering and producing each release. His songs have even been performed many times over at the annual Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, Hawaii’s Olympics of Hula. He produced a track on Kenny Loggins 2000 CD release “More Songs from Pooh Corner,” and his music has been on the soundtrack of major films like Honeymoon in Las Vegas and Parent Trap In Paradise.

Makuakāne has received a total of twelve Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, the Hawaii equivalent of the Grammy Awards. In 1990, Kenneth won a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for Producer of the Year. 1990 also brought him the Composer of the Year award from the prestigious Kamehameha Schools. In 1992, Makuakāne won a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for his solo, religious album, Conversations With My Heart. In 1996, 1997 and 2000, he again garnered the Producers Award, earning him the “Babyface Of Hawai‘i” label. Makuakāne won Song of the Year honors in 2000 for his hit composition, I Miss You, My Hawai‘i. He has been recognized in the National Registry of Who’s Who.

On June 8, 2006, Kenneth was inducted into the Kamehameha Schools Alumni Gallery Hall of Fame. The gallery recognizes outstanding men and women graduates who have been positive role models in both their professional and personal lives, have contributed to and made a significant difference in the community, society in general, The Kamehameha Schools, and have a high level of respect in the professional community by peers and colleagues.

http://www.islandbeats.com/view_album.php?album=728

Pili Mau Me ‘Oe – Kenneth Makuakane at Pakele Live

Hawaiian Music – Kenneth Makuakāne – Okie Dokie Makou

Ken Makuakāne talks about Hawaiian music composition

Other works:

Kaiwa (with Keola Donaghy); Makuakāne Music Corporation; 2011

Ukulele Summit; Makuakāne Music Corporation; 2010

Kawaipono; Makuakāne Music Corporation; 2010

Prodigal Sun; Makuakāne Music Corporation; 2010

The Dash; Makuakāne Music Corporation; 2009

The White Bathtub; Makuakāne Music Corporation; 2008

Makuakāne; Makuakāne Music Corporation; 2006