Ok, I neglected to leave you News Flash, and Fun Facts About Hawaii on my last post, so we’ll “kiss and make up” with two of each.

News Flash: An event that has been going on in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island for several weeks now, is going to wrap up in late May. It’s called 2008 Kona Earth Festival. But here’s the thing, and this is especially true if you have keikis (kids), one of the major events is called Jack’s Diving Locker Ocean Fair ,and it takes place on Saturday, May 24, 2008.

Second News Flash: Have you read the claims AAA has made about what it costs to vacation in Hawaii for just one day. Get this … according to a AAA survey released Monday [5/5/2008] … it costs two adults an average of $793 a day for food and lodging alone. Here’s my take: COMPLETELY IGNORE THE STATEMENT!

Even the most rudimentary research online (and that’s where you should be making your arrangements) will show the $793 figure as just crappy … did I just type crappy? … bean counting analysis. Having a simply glorious Hawaiian vacation is going to cost you far less than that.

Two Fun Facts About Hawaii:

• The State Bird is called a Nene. It’s a flightless goose slightly smaller, but similar in appearance, than a Canadian goose.

• The State Flower is a Yellow Hibiscus. No, not a Red Hibiscus, a Yellow Hibiscus.

OK, I’m gone.

Aloha a hui hou.

Ukulele facts, the history of ukulele, and ukulele cord charts are all over the internet. Just Google any of those terms and you’ll have at least an afternoon’s reading.

What sometimes is missing, is what a love affair there is between the ukulele and the music from it, and the people of Hawaii. Almost every school, grade school on up, has a ukulele band. Bet you don’t have that in Yuma, Arizona or Portland, Maine.
The instrument, and the music from it, is rooted in the arrival of Portuguese immigrants in the 1870′s, sugar plantation workers, and the culture’s just plain love of music. It’s “everyman’s” musical instrument; portable, basic cording is pretty easy, and very versatile (just ask Jake Shimabukuro).

Oh, about the “jumping flea” part. There are many stories as to the origin of the name “ukulele.” One, of many, is that when people saw it played rapidly, fingers dancing and strumming, it reminded them of a flea jumpng around.
In Hawaiian:
uku (oo coo)=flea
lele (leh leh)=jump,leap
Put ‘em together folks and you get “ukulele.”

OK, OK, here’s the announcement … I’ve edited it somewhat in the interest of brevity. If you wrote it, I guess you can just come over and slap me:

SAN CLEMENTE, Ca. -May, 2008. The Surfing Heritage Foundation will be hosting ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro on Sunday, May 25th. The concert will be held at the Foundation’s cultural heritage facility … 110 Calle Iglesia, San Clemente, CA 92672. Show time 7:30 pm and doors open to the general public at 6:30 pm. General admission is $25. VIP tickets, include dinner, drinks and premiere seating,$75. Proceeds go to the Surfing Heritage Foundation … .

Jake Shimabukuro is fast becoming recognized [he's already recognized] as one of the world’s top ukulele musicians. His virtuosity defies label or category, playing jazz, blues, funk, classical, bluegrass, folk, flamenco, and rock, Jake’s mission is to show everyone that the instrument is capable of so much more than Hawaiian music. Jake has played and recorded with a treasure trove of other musicians including; Jimmy Buffet, Diana Krall, Fiona Apple, Bobby McFerrin, and Ziggy Marley. He has also appeared on The Late Show with Conan O’Brien.

Here’s a good place to start on your ukulele research:

Aloha a hui hou