So let’s say you want to get your musician cousin/son/daughter/uncle/aunty/grandma/dog/friend/mom/dad a new guitar… Well see if you can find out what he wants first before buying just anything that has 6 strings on it! Music and instruments are very personal things to most people, and while one guitar may work for someone, it may not work for someone else.

Does he want an acoustic or an electric guitar? If you don’t know this, what kind of music do they listen to or what do they want to play? Jack Johnson? Probably acoustic.  Led Zeppelin? Probably electric… But not always!

Try to give us as much information about the person receiving the gift when you come in to our stores and we’ll get you what we think the right product may be.  But we always say that it’s best to bring the person into our store and let them choose their gear themselves. The same goes for drums, keyboards, ukulele, etc.

We offer gift cards for any amount, and maybe it’s wise to give them an early present.  We will also be extending the return period* for the holiday season, just in case you didn’t see that Marshall Full Stack under the Christmas tree, but instead a Microcube. (You did ask for a BIG guitar amp, right?)

So come into our stores, browse around and let us know what you’re looking for.  We’ll help you pick out the right gift to put under your tree. We may suggest some accessories for your guitar buddy and that he should come in and choose the guitar himself.  But do know that a $100 card to a musicians candy store brings a big smile too!

– Chris

*You have a few more days to return the items, but they still must be unopened and resalable as new.

The Mai Tai Rumble is underway too at Mai Tai Bar in Ala Moana. It’s like a Battle of the Bands competition with 2 categories: Open Mic and Island Contemporary. Some of our own staff has entered and they sounded great. I see a lot of other musicians playing and watching, so go check it out on Tuesdays through November. I think you can still sign up to enter for next month. There’s some great prizes too, so use this opportunity to play on the Mai Tai stage for lots of people!

Christmas is coming up fast so get your wish lists out! We’ll be open at King Street on the 2 Sundays before Christmas, December 13 and 20 so please come by and keep us company on those days. That’s it for now. Oh, some new iMacs came out yesterday and they look amazing! Quadcore processors and 27″ screens? Where do I sign up! Ahh, but I digress.

Darn, I just noticed that some of our things on the website don’t work! I just upgraded to the latest version of WordPress and now some things don’t work… Oh well that’s how it goes! I gotta fix it, see you next time.

Do not miss this one. Holunape will be performing at Easy Music Center King St.

These guys are wonderful performers and just great human beings. They are a pleasure to watch play. Don’t miss out!

Group members Kama Hopkins, Kekoa Kaluhiwa and Kanai’a Nakamura have committed themselves to careful perpetuation of the Hawaiian language and are devoted to the playing of traditional and contemporary Hawaiian music. This firm foundation makes Holunape a popular band among hula enthusiasts in Hawai‘i and around the globe. The name “HOLUNAPE” refers to a gentle bending and swaying motion, akin to a coconut frond in a light tropical breeze. As such, the nahenahe (soothing) music performed by the trio often compels the listener to sway in similar fashion. |

In 2006, Holunape’s debut CD, “He ‘Olu,” garnered the trio two Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for “Best Use of Hawaiian Language” and “Group of the Year” as well as “Best Traditional Hawaiian Album” by the Hawai’i Music Awards.
In April of 2008, Holunape released their second CD titled ”Ahea? ‘Ano!“. The men of Holunape take pride in perpetuating the beautiful compositions that have come before them, yet recognize the importance of composing new mele. This latest recording is a perfect representation of what Holunape has grown to be — performing a blend of classic melodies, hapa haole tunes and original compositions. Listeners will no doubt appreciate the trio’s instrumental versatility and strength in voice. Every emotion of the heart and mind will be satiated by the group’s delicate harmonies. Both recordings by Holunape can be found in music stores throughout Hawai‘i.

For more information, visit www.holunape.com or call (808) 384-5450.

Recent Reviews:

“Holunape’s long-awaited debut album, “He ‘Olu,” won two major Na Hoku Hanohano awards in 2006. The high quality of their second release makes them front-runners for similar recognition in 2009. It would be an excellent choice next year for voters at the Grammys…”
- John Berger, Star Bulletin
May 2, 2008

“Holunape is on a roll, with a CD that should elevate its star in the Island galaxy.”
– Wayne Harada, Honolulu Advertiser
May 2, 2008