Hawaii’s
Back yard
Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi
Hilton ‘Paradise’
is a return
to isle musicWhen the Hilton Waikoloa Village invites you to "Return to Paradise," it's not only referring to its beautiful seaside location on the Big Island's Kohala Coast. It's also talking about a state of mind.
Kona residents Milo and Debbi Williams know exactly what this means. Last year, they saw Cecilio & Kapono perform during the resort's inaugural "Return to Paradise" concert series.
'Return to Paradise'
Place: Grand Ballroom, Hilton Waikoloa Village
Dates: Saturday through Sept. 28
E-mail: info@hiltonwaikoloavillage.com
Web site: www.HiltonWaikoloaVillage.com or www.RTParadise.com
The concert schedule
>> Saturday: Hawaiian Slack Key Festival begins at 4 p.m. Tickets: $5.
>> Next Sunday: Kalapana performs, 8 p.m. Tickets: $25.
>> Sept. 13: Na Leo Pilimehana performs, 8 p.m. Tickets: $30.
>> Sept. 27: Cecilio & Kapono perform, 8 p.m. Tickets: $35.
>> Sept. 28: Roy Sakuma Ukulele Festival begins at 1 p.m. Tickets: $5.
Although some 30 years have passed since C&K hit the top of the local charts, the Williamses remain avid fans.
"We know the words to all of C&K's songs," says Debbi. "To be able to stand up and sing along really took us back to the fun times we had listening to C&K in years past. It was a terrific way to forget about our troubles today and relive our younger years."
As part of their 30-year reunion tour, Cecilio & Kapono will be headlining "Return to Paradise" again this year, along with Kalapana; Na Leo Pilimehana; Hapa; ukulele virtuosos Ohta-san and his son, Herb Ohta Jr.; and slack-key guitar masters Nathan Aweau (2003 Na Hoku Hanohano Male Vocalist of the Year), John Keawe, Sonny Lim, Cyril Pahinui, Brother Noland and George Kuo.
It's a stellar lineup that Hilton Waikoloa Village executives hope will draw some 5,000 music lovers, both visitors and local.
"We are featuring Hawaiian music that has lasted for three decades and will continue to work its magic into the future," says Leanne Pletcher, the resort's marketing manager. "This is the music the children of Hawaii in the '60s and '70s grew up with and continue to enjoy."
IN EARLY 2002, when the Hilton Waikoloa Village was exploring themes for a new annual signature event, music kept topping the list of ideas. "Music is a form of communication that everyone understands," Pletcher explains.
"It brings people together and recalls fond memories of time spent with family and friends.
"Talk to any kamaaina, and they'll tell you how they associate a particular song by C&K with cruising in their first car or how a Kalapana tune reminds them of a high school sweetheart or how anything slack key means hanging loose on the lanai or in the back yard."
While Hawaiian music can be enjoyed on every island, "Return to Paradise" is unique in that it is presented as a series of concerts throughout September. Each of this year's five two-hour performances will be held in the Hilton Waikoloa Village's Grand Ballroom, which has a seating capacity of close to 2,000.
"The acoustics there are top notch, and the ballroom provides a very comfortable setting for the audience," says Pletcher.
"Special lighting and props add to the ambience of the event. We've set the bar for outstanding concerts in our community; our concerts are not just musical presentations, they are full-scale productions."
SO STRONG WAS the camaraderie at last year's "Return to Paradise," it seemed everyone in the house was singing along with the performers. Some even jumped up from their seats to dance.
"This is the music that formed many of today's basic styles in Hawaiian songwriting," notes Pletcher. "This is the music that has extended across the seas to other cultures."
The Williamses are two of the countless malihini (newcomers) who've been touched by the distinctive rhythms and sounds of Hawaiian music.
Originally from Santa Cruz, Calif., they first came to the islands on a family vacation in 1986. They immediately fell in love with the beauty of Hawaii and its music.
It was no surprise, then, that several local albums and cassette tapes -- including the music of Cecilio & Kapono -- were among the cache of souvenirs the couple took home. They visited Hawaii frequently over the following years, always adding to their collection of island music, which now numbers more than 100 CDs.
The couple moved to Kona in 2000.
"The music of Hawaii is definitely something that drew us here," says Debbi. "I like the vocals, my husband prefers the ukulele and slack-key instrumentals, and we both love going to concerts. Usually, we buy more music after we go to a concert. When we're home we're always listening to Hawaiian music; if it's not on the radio, we're playing our CDs."
Having enjoyed Cecilio & Kapono's recordings for 30 years, the Williamses were thrilled to see the duo perform live for the first time at last year's "Return to Paradise." And, yes, they'll be in the audience for C&K's concert again this year, no doubt joining in on at least a tune or two.
Delicious adventures
In addition to the music, "Return to Paradise" will offer two off-property culinary adventures:>> Scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 11, the Upcountry Chef's Tour includes a visit to Parker Ranch, the town of Waimea and the orchards and gardens of local farmers.
Led by the Hilton Waikoloa Village's executive chef, Wilhelm Pirngruber, the day winds up at Habein's Livestock Co., which produces all-natural, pasture-raised beef and lamb.
The cost is $130 per person, including transportation, refreshments and a barbecue lunch featuring Habein's Kamuela Pride beef.
>> From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 12, foodies can join the resort's executive pastry chef, David Brown, on an excursion to Kona's famous coffee country. Stops will be made at historic and modern coffee farms as well as Kailua Candy Co., where they'll enjoy a chocolate demonstration and samplings.
The cost is $130 per person, including transportation, refreshments and a gourmet picnic lunch at Kona Blue Sky coffee plantation.
Reservations are required for both tours. Call the resort at 808-886-1234 and ask for Restaurant Reservations, ext. 54.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi is a Honolulu-based free-lance writer and Society of American Travel Writers award winner.
