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Kani Ka Pila Grille invites up-and-coming island artists to be part of its 7th annual talent search

RELEASE NUMBER 62/15

Photo captions: The group Kaiao took home the prize at last year’s 2014 Kani Ka Pila Grille Talent Search. The finals were held at the Made in Hawaii Festival. Shown in the photo above are: (L-R) judge John Vierra, program coordinator for the MELE program at Honolulu Community College; judge Wendell Ching, producer/owner Studio One Recording Services; Kaiao-Ekolu Chang, Ku Souza and Liki Tavete; judge Cyril Pahinui, Grammy-nominated and Na Hoku Hanohano award-winning slack key guitar master; and Luana Maitland, music director at Kani Ka Pila Grille.
Photo captions: The group Kaiao took home the prize at last year’s 2014 Kani Ka Pila Grille Talent Search. The finals were held at the Made in Hawaii Festival. Shown in the photo above are: (L-R) judge John Vierra, program coordinator for the MELE program at Honolulu Community College; judge Wendell Ching, producer/owner Studio One Recording Services; Kaiao-Ekolu Chang, Ku Souza and Liki Tavete; judge Cyril Pahinui, Grammy-nominated and Na Hoku Hanohano award-winning slack key guitar master; and Luana Maitland, music director at Kani Ka Pila Grille.

WAIKIKI, HONOLULU, OAHU – The 7th annual Kani Ka Pila Grille Talent Search is underway and emerging island musicians are invited to be part of this year’s competition. Musical entries are being accepted now through July 18, with the finals to be held at the Made in Hawaii Festival at the Neal Blaisdell Center’s Pikake Room on Saturday, August 22, 2015, from 3:30 to 8 p.m.

Traditional and contemporary Hawaiian musicians are encouraged to enter the talent search by submitting a music sample on DVD or by providing a link to an online performance. Submissions can be emailed to luana.maitland@outrigger.com or mailed to Luana Maitland, Kani Ka Pila Grille, c/o Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, 2169 Kaila Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815. For more information, log onto www.outrigger.com/kkpgtalentsearch.

All entries must be received by July 18, 2015, and must include:

  • artist/group name
  • artist/group photo (high resolution, 300 dpi)
  • contact person
  • email address
  • phone number

The winning artist or group will receive a one-month paid contract to perform at Kani Ka Pila Grille on the four Thursday evenings during the month of September 2015 (Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24). The prize also includes a personalized promotions and marketing plan consisting of a studio recording and electronic press kit from the Honolulu Community College’s Mike Curb MELE (The Music & Entertainment Learning Experience) Studios.

Five finalists will be selected and announced on July 25, 2015. These artists will then be invited to perform live on stage on Saturday, August 22, 2015, from 3:30 to 8 p.m. at this year’s Made in Hawaii Festival in front of a panel of distinguished judges that will include:

  • Cyril Pahinui, Grammy-nominated and Na Hoku Hanohano award-winning slack key guitar master
  • Kawika Kahiapo, Grammy-nominated and Na Hoku Hanohano award-winning slack key guitar master
  • John Vierra, program coordinator for the MELE program at Honolulu Community College
  • Luana Maitland, music director for Kani Ka Pila Grille and events and activities manager for Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort

“It’s such an honor and privilege to be able to showcase Hawaii’s multifaceted artists through our annual Kani Ka Pila Grille Talent Search,” said Luana Maitland. “We’re especially proud to see a number of our past winners go on to successful and award-winning careers!

“I was particularly excited to stand on stage at this year’s Na Hoku Hanohano awards program with Kellen and Lihau Paik, who everyone knows as Kupaoa,” Maitland continued. “They were our first Kani Ka Pila Grille talent search winners back in 2009. Since then they have taken home a number of Na Hoku awards on their own; and there we were, standing side by side at the Na Hoku event awarding this year’s Hawaiian Album of the Year together. It doesn’t get any better than that!”

Every night of the week from 6 to 9 p.m., some of the islands most notable Hawaiian musicians take the stage at Kani Ka Pila Grille. Headliners include Cyril Pahinui, Weldon Kekauoha, Kawika Kahiapo, Sean Naauao, and a revolving selection of other award-winning island artists. Located poolside at the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, Kani Ka Pila Grille is open daily for dining from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. For reservation or restaurant information, call (808) 924-4990.

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