Warm Aloha for Wai-nani at Redondo Slack Key Fest

I am honored to be a guest speaker at the VIP Meet and Greet Reception to kick off the largest gathering of great slack key artists on the West Coast.  Thanks to James Kimo West,

 who will be playing with other masters on the main stage of the Redondo Beach Slack Key Fest, I was invited to share my book-

James Kimo West

Wai-nani, High Chiefess of Hawai'i who speaks directly to the reader from the spirit well. Inspired by the life of the precocious  Ka'humanu who rose to become the most powerful woman in old Hawai'i the story spans the most dynamic period of Hawaiian History from 1750-1819.

Comic, producer, writer, actor and master of ceremonies Kamaka Brown will perform his orginal Hawaiian pidgin English stories about growing up in Hawai'i accompanied by beautiful Ki ho'alu style instruments.

Ono food, good company and a festive atmosphere promises to be a great evening for all who attend.
Tickets for this event include front row seats for the 2:00 PM performance at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center on Jan 19th. Purchase tickets at www.slackkeyfest.com

The Aloha Market Place filled with all things Hawaiian is open from 11:00 to 5:30 PM on the 19th is free to enter.

VIP Meet the Artists Reception is on Jan. 18th  from 5:30 to 8:30 at PS Zask Art Gallery
Promenade on the Peninsula, 550 Deep Valley Drive, Ste 151
Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274

Kimo West shares Warm Christmas Aloha

Kimo in Hana

Christmas aloha filled the cozy Coffee Gallery last night. James Kimo West and friends spread good cheer with a range of tunes from a Here Comes the Sun makeover, to classic slack-key. Kimo held center stage with tender renditions of Hawaiian favorites. Taught by the legendary masters of slack-key, Kimo is carrying on the fine tradition of soulful guitar. Often slipping into a jazz-like riff he takes you on a lovely ride. Quoted has having a “soft, sweet, or gentle voice” his music is a fusion of old and new rooted deeply in tradition. When the violinist, Dave, and local boy guitarist Kapo Ku, joined in the place got jumping. A sensual hula dancer, along with a fine vocalist added to the brew.

Kimo sharing aloha at Coffee Gallery

Kimo is making several stops on the mainland this holiday season. You can find him in Santa Barbara, Redondo Beach at the annual Slack-key fest, and back at the Coffee Gallery where seating is limited and gets sold out early with another slack-key artist in January. You can get full details of upcoming venues on his website Jim Kimo West

If you can’t make it, his Christmas CD and other more classic renderings are available at most online distribution sites.