This is what Hawai’i in New Jersey looked like Saturday night. 🌺
Our best turnout since we started in 2009.
The Masters of Hawaiian Music returned to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Chatham, and the room was full of people who came to feel something you can’t stream.
This year’s concert featured three extraordinary artists who represent the very heart of Hawaiian musical tradition:
George Kahumoku, Jr. – His masterful storytelling wove through every song, connecting the audience to the islands in a way only a 4-time Grammy winner can.
Led Kaapana – This was Led’s return to Chatham since 2016. A decade away. The crowd was awed and delighted by his musicianship. Many longtime attendees still talk about that magical evening. This one will be remembered just as fondly.
Sonny Lim – His beautiful touch and virtuosity made the most complex passages look effortless. He brought the style of his Big Island family to our small New Jersey church.
I had the honor of opening the show with my friend Bill Wynne, winner of the 2005 Aloha Festivals Falsetto Contest, and we joined the masters for the second half. After 17 years of producing these concerts, performing alongside my musical idols never gets old.
This concert was a family affair.
→ My kids and I hung flyers around town
→ My daughter ran the sound board like a pro
→ My wife handled catering, scanned tickets, sold tickets at the door
→ My son was the muscle, setting up/breaking down gear and loading the car
→ Church members helped scan tickets and ran the bar
It takes a village.
What makes this concert special isn’t just the music. It’s the intimacy. Hearing Grammy-winning artists up close, in a community setting, creates a feeling that’s part concert, part cultural gathering.
Proceeds support St. Paul’s outreach programs, helping local families and neighbors in need.
Mahalo to everyone who came out. The aloha spirit is good for the soul. 🤙
See you next year.
