For those to whom EKK Mondays has become a ritual, that inevitable question keeps popping up: "So, what are we going to do on Monday nights?" With just two more Mondays left, the regular attendees of the weekly Hawaiian music program are already starting to experience their music withdrawal symptoms.

Paul Togioka, Dolly Kanekuni and Brent Eynon are preparing for an evening of full-on singing and some instrumental surprises this coming Monday. The final week with Aaron Sala will top off a great season of EKK Mondays. We end our Silver Anniversary with an all-star cast of performers on Sunday, April 13 -- Dennis and David Kamakahi with Aaron Mahi, Natalie Ai Kamauu with Iolani Kamauu and Chad Ai and Kapu Kinimaka's Ladies of Na Hula O Kaohikukapulani.

It's been an interesting and different season with Na Alo Hou (The New Faces) sharing their talents. David Kahiapo, Dean Wilhelm and Walt Keale of the group Kaukahi led off the season following the opening EKK concert and touched everyone at a very emotional level. Keola Alalem, Wes Kaui and Charlie Iona sang the evening away. Malani Bilyeu of the group Kalapana took us back in time with music of yesteryear. Anthony Natividad shared the way of the noseflute; he shared the stage with Ethel, the string quartet, and Jeff Peterson. Mihana Souza of Puamana and 100 year old Bill Tapia made it Hawaiian party time for all. Kumu hula Keala Ching, his halau and Rolinda Bean gave us a glimpse into the world of hula. Napua Greig, Kamakoa Lindsey-Asing and Sean Naleimaile won the hearts of everyone with their Maui and Big Island music. The Kama'ainas - Ambrose Smith, David Sproat, Gabby Manintin, Edward Punua and Mark Faye - gave us a Kaua'i style kanikapila. Steve Inglis and Makana poured it on with new music, old favorites and personal insights into kiho'alu. Ozzie Kotani and Danny Carvalho took us on their kiho’alu journey.

Ozzie Kotani and Danny Carvalho Share their Kiho'alu Journey

Both of them do not read music but learned to play music by ear. That being their gift, they both shared their music with an audience of folks who do not play music by ear. Both are instrumentalists and singing is not their forte but they took on the challenge to teach us some songs. Hats off to Ozzie and Danny for stepping outside their comfort zone to share their music at EKK. Expecting an intimate setting, Danny kept remarking at the size of the audience; he did not realize so many people attended EKK.

Seventeen year old Danny Carvalho, a junior in high school, is probably our youngest instructor ever. He took the ukulele group for the first hour while Ozzie Kotani worked with the guitar group. While not reading music, Ozzie had prepared tablature for something he calls "slack uke". This should give ukulele players something new to look forward to. I sat in on Ozzie's masters class in kiho'alu and found it fascinating to watch the exchange between teacher and students. They ask the questions and he plays the answer on his guitar. One of the participants, Sage, wanted to hear how a song was played so he sang it with such passion while Ozzie accompanied him on this guitar ... that was a moment that Sage will long treasure.

Ozzie and Danny opened with a duet, "Kimo Henderson Hula" by Helen Desha Beamer. One can see the connection between the two musicians. Ozzie has been mentoring Danny for several years -- Danny Ozzie learned from Sonny Chillingworth; Danny learned from Ozzie -- and so the thread continues. Ozzie, who has taught many aspiring guitar players, said that Danny is not the usual student but is exceptionally gifted. "Some musicians just have it," he said. Danny and Ozzie played different parts in an awesome duet, “Kauai Beauty”, a favorite of Gabby Pahinui’s wife. Ozzie and Danny both love ballads so they played one by Lena Machado.

Danny shared a song that he composed 2 - 3 years ago when he was a freshman in high school. He suffered the loss of his dog "Allie". Shortly after, his grandmother passed away. Grieving for his losses, he composed "Song for Allie" which he played; it was a song that clearly showed the deep emotional impact that losses of dear ones had on him. Danny's Dad Eugene Carvalho shared with me that Danny would be sitting on his bed playing the song for hours with tears streaming down his face. Eugene Carvalho and Ann Iwai, Danny's parents, travel with Danny on his gigs; he is after all, still a minor....but he is destined to be a major player on the Hawaiian music scene.

"Aloha Chant" is a chant composed by Pilahi Paki in response to a news reporter who insisted that the meaning of "aloha" was lost to the people of today. Kekau'ilani "Nana" Kalama gave it voice and shared it with all as a way to clear the proper space for a sincere performance of hula. Danny took on the lion's share of teaching the songs. Although he is not a singer, he is taking singing lessons. Ozzie shared that George Helm, who was well known as a falsetto singer, used to be called "Frog" when he was young because of his voice. I guess that gives us all hope.

In old Hawai'i, it was kapu for men and women to eat together in the same room. Kamehameha II abolished the old practice so that men and women could break bread together. The song, "He 'Ai Na Ka Lani", one of many songs composed by Queen Lili'uokalani addressed this concept and celebrated the new decree imposed by the King.

After the break, Danny and Ozzie shared some of their personal favorites. "Ku'u Home O Kahalu’u" by Olomana is one of Ozzie's favorites; it’s a song that many already knew by heart and could sing along. He shared the first song he ever learned, "In the Real Old Style" by Keola Beamer.

By request, Danny played the exquisite song "Sanoe" which is on his CD. He also played "Slack Key #1" by Sonny Chillingworth and tagged on Ozzie's version to the one that was taught by Sonny...this was an impromptu surprise for Ozzie. Ozzie said that Danny is so talented that he improvises a lot. Danny played "Europa" to everyone's delight, but the surprise was that he played it in taro patch “G” tuning.

All too soon the time is up and "Hawai'i Aloha" wraps the whole evening up. I can hear them as they walk out, "So, what are we going to do on Monday nights?"

Final two sessions:

March 31 - Paul Togioka, Dolly Kanekuni and Brent Eynon.

April 7 - Aaron Sala, known as The New Traditionalist, will be our last Monday EKK presenter.

April 13 - EKK ends with a Finale Concert at KCC PAC featuring Aaron Mahi, Dennis and David Kamakahi, Natalie A’i Kamau’u with Iolani Kamau’u and Chad A’i, and the Ladies of Kapu Kinimaka’s Na Hula O Kaohikukapulani.

(s) Carol Kouchi Yotsuda, www.gardenislandarts.org -- “Celebrating 31 years of bringing ARTS to the people and people to the ARTS”

E Kanikapila Kakou 2008 -- EKK Silver Anniversary -- Hawaiian Music Program is funded in part by the Hawai’i Tourism Authority, the County of Kaua’i Office of Economic Development, and Garden Island Arts Council supporters. Space made available by Island School.

Garden Island Arts Council programs are supported in part by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts through appropriations from the Legislature of Hawai’i and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts.